April 15, 2004

To meet Manitoba’s obligation under Treaty Land Entitlement Agreements, provincial Crown land will be transferred to Canada for the God’s Lake, Wuskwi Sipihk and Norway House First Nations, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin and Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

Over 450 acres will be transferred for the God’s Lake First Nation, over 16,300 acres will be transferred for the Wuskwi Sipihk Cree Nation and over 2,000 acres will be transferred for the Norway House Cree Nation.

“We are committed to working in partnership with First Nations to address outstanding issues such as treaty land entitlements and land ownership,” said Lathlin. “By building upon our close relationship with these communities, we will be better positioned to help address some of the social and economic challenges facing First Nation communities in our province.”

“Land represents significant economic opportunities for First Nations,” said Struthers. “It is important that we continue to work with our First Nations and northern communities to increase opportunities and generate valuable employment.”

Approximately 168 acres of land known as Andrew Bay, 277 acres of land known as Chataway Lake/Knife Lake and eight acres known as Vermilyea Lake will be transferred to Canada for God’s Lake First Nation (Treaty 5).

Approximately 1,845 acres of land known as North Steeprock Lake and 14,456 acres known as Kettle Hills will be transferred to Canada for the Wuskwi Sipihk Cree Nation (Treaty 4) and 2,021 acres of land known as North Molson Lake Islands will be transferred to Canada for the Norway House Cree Nation (Treaty 5).

Under the 1997 Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement and other legislation, Manitoba agreed to set aside 42,600 acres of unoccupied Crown lands so that Canada could fulfil treaty land entitlement obligations to the God’s Lake First Nation, 44,168 acres to fulfil its obligations to the Wuskwi Sipihk Cree Nation and 104,784 acres to fulfil its obligations to the Norway House Cree Nation.

After today’s announcement, 454 acres will have been transferred to God’s Lake First Nation, 23,469 acres transferred to Wuskwi Sipihk Cree Nation and 5,920 acres transferred to Norway House Cree Nation.

The remaining 42,146 acres (God’s Lake), 20,700 acres (Wuskwi Sipihk) and 98,864 acres (Norway House) have been selected and are in the final stages of the technical review process.

Manitoba’s obligations under the Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement require the setting aside of 985,949 acres of Crown land. To date, 849,817 acres have been selected by the Entitlement First Nations.

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.

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