May 26, 2006

To meet Manitoba’s obligation under treaty land entitlement (TLE) agreements, 3,982 acres of provincial Crown land known as the Wolf River Selection will be transferred to Canada for the Garden Hill First Nation, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin and Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

"Manitoba continues to co-operate with the governments of Canada and the First Nations to fairly settle treaty land entitlements as First Nations move toward a greater level of self-government and increased economic opportunities," said Lathlin.

"First Nations in Manitoba signed treaties with Canada between 1871 and 1910 to provide lands and, in Manitoba, a majority of First Nations received their land allocations," said Struthers. "The treaty land entitlement process moves all governments closer to completing land transfers."

Under the 1994 Garden Hill Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement Agreement, Manitoba was to set aside 44,907 acres of unoccupied Crown lands so Canada would fulfil its treaty land entitlement obligations to the Garden Hill First Nation (Treaty 5). Land transferred after today’s announcement totals 43,144 acres, leaving approximately 1,763 acres to be reviewed and recommended for transfer.

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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