January 5, 2005

NELSON HOUSE-Provincial Crown land totalling just over 8,304 acres will be transferred to Canada for the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation as part of Manitoba’s obligation under treaty land entitlement agreements, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers and Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin announced today while in the community.

“The treaty land entitlement process ensures the fair and orderly transfer of lands by governments to meet long-standing commitments to First Nations people living in Manitoba,” said Struthers.

“Manitoba continues to work with Canada and First Nations on a number of initiatives leading to greater self-government in areas such as land ownership and the delivery of child and family services,” said Lathlin.

Approximately 8,304 acres of land known as Birch Tree Brook West Revised, Gauer River, Harding Lake and Leftrook Lake will be transferred to Canada for Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (Treaty 5).

Under the Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement, Manitoba would set aside 79,435 acres of unoccupied Crown lands so that Canada could fulfill its treaty land entitlement obligations to the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. The remaining 71,131 acres have been selected and are in the final stages of the technical review process.

The Crown lands will be transferred according to the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement including mines and minerals and other interests normally reserved for Manitoba under the Crown Land Act or any other statute.