November 2, 2009
Reason to Celebrate
LAND SET ASIDE FOR NISICHAWAYASIHK CREE NATION– – –Transfer Fulfils Treaty Land Entitlement Commitment: Struthers

NISICHAWAYASIHK CREE NATION - Manitoba has completed the transfer to Canada of over 33,816 acres of land for the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) to date under the 1997 Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced at a meeting here today with the NCN chief and council.

“Fulfilling treaty land entitlement obligations to First Nations is a government priority,“ said Struthers. “Today we are one step closer to honouring our commitment.”

Manitoba recently transferred to Canada three parcels of land totalling 7,922 acres of Crown (Manitoba) land known as Mile 20 Second Revision (1,821 acres), Wapikunoo Bay (4,438 acres) and Suwannee Lake (1,663 acres) for the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.

Previously, 25,894 acres of land were transferred to Canada for the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. With today’s announcement, the remaining Crown land entitlement for the NCN is just under27,945 acres, for a total commitment of 61,761 acres.

“Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation is to be commended for its economic development initiatives to date,” said Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport Minister Eric Robinson, acting minister of Aboriginal and northern affairs. “The land base provided through the treaty land entitlement process is a key part of continuing those successful efforts into the future.”

The land transfers fall under treaty land entitlement agreements that require Manitoba to transfer unoccupied lands to Canada so it can fulfil treaty land entitlement obligations.