Archived News Releases

October 5, 2004

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Transfer to Enable Canada to Meet Treaty Land Entitlement Obligations

To meet

Manitoba 's obligation under treaty land entitlement (TLE) agreements, approximately 6,529 acres of provincial Crown land will be transferred to Canada for the God's Lake First Nation, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

"We are pleased to see the transfer of land under TLE which has long been owed to God's Lake First Nation.

Manitoba continues to work with Canada and First Nations on a number of initiatives leading to greater self-government in areas such as land, and child and family services delivery," said Struthers.

6,529 acres of land known as the North Prominent Ridge Selection will be transferred to

Canada for God's Lake First Nation (Treaty 5). Crown lands previously transferred to Canada on behalf of God's Lake First Nation amount to 454 acres.

"By partnering with First Nations to address treaty land entitlements and land ownership, these communities will be better positioned to address social and economic challenges facing First Nation communities in our province," said Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson.

Under the 1997 Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement,

Manitoba will set aside 42,600 acres of unoccupied Crown lands so that Canada can fulfill its TLE obligations to the God's Lake First Nation. The remaining 35,617 acres have been selected and are in the final stages of the technical review process. Manitoba obligations under the Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement require the setting aside of 985,949 acres of Crown land. To date, 843,650 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 the province under The Crown Lands Act or any other statute.

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