Status Report on TLE Obligations in Manitoba

Minister's Message

I am very pleased to present this Status Report on Treaty Land Entitlement Obligations in Manitoba. It represents an historic milestone in the conversion of land pledged to First Nations, and demonstrates that Canada's New Government is dedicated to meeting its commitments.

On August 22, 2006 at the 18th Annual General Assembly of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Canada's New Government made the ambitious and challenging commitment to Manitoba First Nations to convert 150,000 acres a year over the next four years to reserve status. I am delighted to report that in the first year, this goal has been reached and surpassed.

As of August 20, 2007, just over 159,185 acres have been successfully converted to reserve status. This is more than the amount of land converted to reserve status between 1998 and 2006.

Fulfilling this commitment demands hard work and close collaboration among the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Entitlement First Nations, the Province of Manitoba and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. I extend congratulations to all those involved for achieving this year's goal, and I am fully supportive of the work that is currently underway to achieve the goal for the second year.

Adding lands to reserve, particularly those related to Treaty Land Entitlement implementation, offers First Nations opportunities that can help foster a healthier, sustainable future for individual First Nation communities, as well as bring economic benefits to surrounding areas. Stronger First Nations means a stronger Manitoba.

This report itself fulfils another aspect of this Government's commitment - to report in an open, transparent manner on progress made on this four-year commitment to Manitoba First Nations. Now the task at hand for all parties is to ensure that the momentum continues to carry us forward into year two and beyond so we continue to meet the goal we have established for ourselves.

The Honourable Chuck Strahl, PC, MP
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and
Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians

The Commitment

On August 22, 2006 after attending the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs 18th Annual General Assembly in Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Canada's New Government pledged to convert to reserve 150,000 acres a year over the next four years, for a total of 600,000 acres by August 2010.

It was an ambitious and challenging commitment, but after careful consultation with Oscar Lathlin, Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs for the Province of Manitoba, and listening to the concerns of all Manitoba Chiefs, it was decided that with hard work and close co-operation, it could be achieved.

The first year goal of 150,000 acres represented a number far beyond what had been achieved before. From 1998, the first year of land conversions under Treaty Land Entitlement in Manitoba, until the Minister's commitment in August 2006, a total of 129,821.56 acres of land had been converted to reserve (or approximately 10 per cent of the total 1.3 million acres to be converted).

First Year Achievement -
Fulfilling Our Legal Obligations

Through the dedication of First Nations and their leadership, the Province of Manitoba, the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee and government officials, the first year's goal was surpassed.

In the first year of this commitment, from August 22, 2006 to August 20, 2007, just over 159,185 acres were successfully converted to reserve status - more than the amount of land that had been converted between 1998 and 2006.

Of the 1.3 million acres to be converted to reserve in Manitoba under Treaty Land Entitlement Agreements, the percentage successfully completed went from 10 per cent to nearly 25 per cent in the first year of the four-year commitment.

Work is underway to help ensure that the goal for the second year of the commitment is reached.

Background on Treaty Land Entitlement in Manitoba

Between 1871 and 1910, most First Nations in Manitoba signed the numbered treaties with Canada. Each treaty provided for the setting aside of reserve land by Canada for a First Nation based on population. Some First Nations were not provided with the full amount of land provided in the Treaties. To fulfill its obligations, the Government of Canada entered into Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) Agreements.

Between 1994 and 1997, Canada, Manitoba and 28 Manitoba First Nations agreed on how best to address the shortfall through TLE settlements: 21 through the TLE Framework Agreement and seven under individual TLE settlements. Under these agreements, Canada and Manitoba committed to adding up to 1.3 million acres to reserve lands and to pay out more than $204 million in compensation. The Province of Manitoba's primary obligation is to provide 1,085,959 acres from unoccupied Crown land. The balance will be acquired from private land owners who are willing to sell.

The first TLE settlement in Manitoba was reached with the four Island Lake First Nations (Wasagamack, Red Sucker Lake, Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point) in March 1994. The settlement agreement included 100,000 acres of Crown land for reserve and payment of $90 million plus disbursements.

The Long Plain First Nation reached its settlement agreement in August 1994 and included a payment of $16.5 million to be used by the First Nation to purchase a minimum of 4,169 and maximum of 26,437 acres for reserve.

In March 1995, a TLE settlement agreement was reached by Canada and Swan Lake First Nation. It included a payment of $10.4 million to be used by Swan Lake First Nation to purchase between 4,484 and 13,035 acres for reserve.

In 1996, a TLE settlement agreement was reached between Canada and the Roseau River First Nation. It included a payment of $14 million to be used by the Roseau River First Nation to purchase between 5,861 and 16,218 acres for reserve.

The remaining 19 First Nations signed the Manitoba Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement on May 29, 1997 with Canada and Manitoba. It included 1.1 million acres of Crown land for reserve and $74 million in compensation. The Marcel Colomb First Nation has been included as party to the agreement due to its creation from Mathias Colomb First Nation and the O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation has been included in the agreement after their creation from Nisichiwayasihk Cree Nation. Currently, there are 21 First Nations that are party to the 1997 Agreement.

Implementing the Agreements

The signing of the Framework Agreement commenced a long and extensive process of reserve land creation. Each First Nation was required to obtain community ratification before starting the implementation process. For many of the signatories this was not completed until two years after the Framework Agreement was signed. To date there are five First Nations yet to ratify their agreements, which account for some 100,000 acres. These ratifications are needed before any addition to reserve can be started.

Treaty Land Entitlement Conversions in Manitoba
First Year
August 22, 2006 - August 20, 2007

First Nation	Site	Acres
Bunibonibee	Atikosis Lake	11.34
Bunibonibee	Bear Lake	993.00
Bunibonibee	Colen Lakes	4,294.70
Bunibonibee	Carrot Bay	361.00
Swan Lake	Mayer Property	6,514.29
South Indian	Pawistik	7.20
Wuskwi Sipihk	North Steeprock Lake	1,845.00
Roseau River	Hwy # 6	75.00
Bunibonibee	Oxford Lake North Shore	8,696.79
God's Lake	Esker Ridge	4559.00
Garden Hill	Bella Lake Exchange	432.01
Garden Hill	Wolf River	3,892.04
Norway House	North Molson Lake Phase 2 and Phase 3	13,513.00
Norway House	Combined parcels	7,058.71
Norway House	North Molson Lake - The Islands	2,021.25
Opaskwayak	Root Lake Beach Ridge	8,699.60
Sapotaweyak	Dawson Bay (revised)	58,745.20
Sapotaweyak	Pelican Rapids Access Road	20,780.00
Swan Lake	Conrad, Bonavista and McKay properties	2,230.00
Wuskwi Sipihk	Kettle Hills	14,456.00
Total Acres (Target 150,000)		159,185.13