PROVINCIAL CROWN LAND TRANSFERRED TO CANADA FOR SAPOTAWEYAK CREE NATION

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Transfer Enables Canada to Meet Treaty Land Entitlement Obligations: Lathlin

To meet Manitoba’s obligations under treaty land entitlement (TLE) agreements, 65,465 acres of provincial Crown land will be transferred to Canada for the benefit of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin and Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

 

“The transfer of lands to First Nations is an ongoing process this government fully supports,” said Lathlin.  “We look forward to future co-operation with the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation and all First Nations on land management issues to help strengthen communities.”

 

“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.”

 

Approximately 65,465 acres of land known as Dawson Bay will be transferred to Canada for Sapotaweyak Cree Nation (Treaty 4).

 

Under the 1997 Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement, Manitoba agreed to set aside 108,134 acres of unoccupied Crown lands so Canada would fulfil its treaty land entitlement obligations to the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation. Land transferred after today’s announcement totals 70,031 acres.

 

Manitoba’s obligation under the Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement requires 985,949 acres of Crown land to be set aside. Currently, 839,903 acres are selected by the entitled 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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