January 10, 2005

To meet Manitoba’s obligation under Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) Agreements, 4,566 acres of provincial Crown land will be transferred to Canada for the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin and Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

"True independence through self-government can only come about with the settling of outstanding issues such as treaty land entitlements and land ownership," said Lathlin.

"The treaty land entitlement process was created as part of land stewardship requirements when Canada transferred responsibility for provincial lands to Manitoba over 70 years ago," said Struthers. "The process sets out the fair and orderly transfer of land."

"The Manitoba government is also working with First Nations in other areas of treaty entitlements and service delivery such as child and family services to increase opportunities for First Nation participation," said Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk.

Approximately 4,566 acres of land known as Spruce Island will be transferred to Canada for Sapotaweyak Cree Nation (Treaty 4).

Under the 1997 Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement, Manitoba was to set aside 108,134 acres of unoccupied Crown lands so Canada would fulfill its treaty land entitlement obligations to the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation. Land transferred after today’s announcement totals 4,566 acres. The remaining 103,568 acres have been selected and are in the final stages of the technical review process.

Manitoba’s obligations under the Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement requires the setting aside of 985,949 acres of Crown land. To date, 838,148 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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