Moving Forward On Province’s Treaty Land Entitlement Commitment: Ministers

July 31, 2007
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Land Transferred to Canada for Six First Nations

Manitoba has completed the transfer to Canada of over 300,000 acres of land under treaty land entitlement agreements, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin and Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

A total of 113,781 acres of provincial land has recently been transferred to Canada for the Bunibonibee, Manto Sipi, Mathias Colomb and Sapotaweyak Cree Nations, and the Long Plain and Gods Lake First Nations.“Manitoba continues to work with First Nations to complete treaty land entitlement obligations. Treaty land entitlement is a priority of our government,” said Lathlin.

“The cumulative transfer of more than 300,000 acres of land by the end of July is welcome progress on our commitments to First Nations people living in Manitoba,” said Struthers. “Moving forward, we will continue to work toward completing the transfer to Canada of 1.2 million acres of selected land over the next four years.”

A total of 299,048 acres of the 839,696 acres selected by the First Nations under the 1997 Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) Framework Agreement have now been transferred to Canada. Manitoba’s obligations under the 1997 TLE Framework Agreement require the setting aside of 985,949 acres of land making up approximately 78 per cent of the total of 1.2 million acres contained within the various TLE agreements in the province. Additionally 1,270 acres of private lands have been recently transferred to Canada under the 1994 Long Plain First Nation TLE settlement.

Today’s announcement includes the transfer of 113,781 acres of provincial land:

· Approximately 3,684 acres of land known as Munro Lake Ridge have been transferred to Canada for Bunibonibee Cree Nation (Treaty 5). Manitoba’s commitment was to set aside 35,434 acres for the Bunibonibee Cree Nation. To date, 18,052 acres have been transferred.

· Approximately 4,284 acres of land known as Chepi Lake, Prominent Ridge and Hurley Island have been transferred to the Manto Sipi Cree Nation (Treaty 5). To date, 4,284 acres of a total commitment of 8,725 have been transferred to the Manto Sipi Cree Nation.

· Approximately 82,574 acres of land known as the Churchill River area have been transferred to Canada for the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Treaty 6). Manitoba was to set aside 217,364 acres for the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and, to date, 82,574 acres have been transferred.

· Approximately 20,780 acres of land known as Pelican Rapids Access Road – Phase 1 have been transferred to Canada for the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation (Treaty 4). This brings the total to 90,810 acres set aside to date of the 108,134 acres to be set aside for the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation.

· Approximately 1,189 acres of land known as Esker Ridge Site A have been transferred to Canada for Gods Lake First Nation (Treaty 5). Under the 1997 Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement, Manitoba was to set aside 42,600 acres of unoccupied Crown lands so Canada may fulfil its treaty land entitlement obligations to Gods Lake First Nation. Land transferred after today’s announcement totals 14,464 acres.

· Approximately 1,270 acres of private lands have been transferred to Canada under the 1994 Long Plain First Nation TLE settlement.

The land transfers fall under treaty land entitlement agreements that require Manitoba to transfer unoccupied lands to Canada so that they can fulfil the treaty land entitlement obligation.

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