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Crown Land Records

The Government of Canada retained jurisdiction over natural resources, including Crown land, in the three Canadian prairie provinces from 1870 until 1930. Following passage of the first Dominion Lands Act in 1872, the Department of the Interior was established to administer public lands and other natural resources. Among other functions, the Department was responsible for surveying Crown lands and the disposition of these lands through homesteads and other grants. In 1930 responsibility for Crown lands and other natural resources was transferred to the Manitoba Department of Mines and Natural Resources. A huge transfer of records occurred in the next 10 to 15 years, as the western provinces assumed their new responsibilities.

Manitoba Natural Resources currently maintains a large database called the Crown Land Information System, to track Crown land dispositions and various other transactions. Information on Crown land dispositions since 1870 is included in the database. The System generates a "Historic Holders" report which is very useful for genealogists. It consists of a nominal listing of all individuals who obtained patent to Crown land through homestead entry, purchase or grant. It includes basic information about the homestead, purchase or grant (legal description, type of grant, size, date of entry and date of patent). Researchers can also search by legal description.  A microfiche copy of the Historic Holders Report is available at the Archives of Manitoba.

Once Crown land has been privatized, all further transactions are recorded in the appropriate Land Titles Office. For further information, contact the Land Titles Office.

Title: Manitoba, Department of Natural Resources, Land Surveyors' Field Notes

Ref: NR 0157
Microfilm: Reel numbers available from Manitoba Natural Resources, Survey Services.
Dates: 1869-1983
Content: Field notes compiled by the Dominion Land Surveyors and subsequently by Manitoba Government Surveyors, recording mainly technical data and natural features of the land.
Finding Aids: list by legal description and by volume number
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Manitoba, Department of Natural Resources, Land Registers

Ref: NR 0211
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: ca. 1870 - 1976
Content: Registers originating in the Dominion Lands Branch of the Department of Interior, recording the disposition of Crown land in Manitoba through homesteads and other grants. Included are Township General Registers and Parish and Settlement General Registers, as well as more specific registers.  Registers provide name of patentee, nature of grant, and date of transaction. Includes names of persons who entered a homestead but did not obtain patent.
Finding Aids: Historic Holders Report
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Township and Parish Cadastral Plans

Ref: NR 0212
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: ca. 1870 - 1930
Content: Consists of Department of Interior cadastral plans for townships and parishes. The township plans show name of patentees and patent numbers; Parish Plans provide name of owner and parish lot number.
Finding Aids: Historic Holders Report and Land Registers
Type of Material: textual and cartographic, click here for the cartographic records page.
Access Conditions: none

Title: Manitoba, Department of Natural Resources, Parish Files

Ref: NR 0217
Microfilm:
Dates: ca. 1874 - 1959
Content: Consists of documents that establish ownership and occupancy of parish lots in the Red River Settlement, as required to obtain patent under the 1870 Manitoba Act. Contains information on pre-1870 settlers, including personal data, use of land and improvements. The majority of files cover the period 1878-1930. In some cases, where title was disputed or land reserved, files continue until 1959. The series is incomplete. Missing files may be in Department of the Interior Manitoba Act Files (available on microfilm at the Archives of Manitoba). Some files may still be with Manitoba Natural Resources.
Finding Aids: Historic Holders Report. Parish and Settlement General Registers.
Type of Material: textual and microfilm
Access Conditions: none

Title: Manitoba, Department of Natural Resources, Homestead Files

Ref: NR 0215
Microfilm: contact the Archives of Manitoba for reel numbers
Dates: ca. 1870 - 1930
Content: Records of the administration of Dominion lands in Manitoba made available for settlement through homestead entry and associated pre-emption and sale. Files were generated in Ottawa at the Dominion Lands Branch, as well as in some local agencies in Manitoba.  Files contain: applications for entry, homestead inspectors' reports, notices of cancellation, applications for Letters Patent, internal memoranda between Dominion Lands agents, head office and other branches of the Department, and correspondence with applicants. Files also include information on individuals who made application for homesteads but did not obtain patent.
Finding Aids: Historic Holders Report; Township General Registers
Type of Material: microfilm
Access Conditions: none

Title: Manitoba, Department of Natural Resources, Fiats

Ref: NR 0213
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: 1872 - ca. 1930
Content: Forms prepared in the Patent Branch of the Department of the Interior to authorize preparation of Letters Patent. They record name, address and occupation of grantee, legal description of land, size of grant, type and number of grant, and fiat number.
Finding Aids: list by legal description
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

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