Treaty land entitlement claim settled for $20.5 million

A tripartite agreement between Zagimē Anishinabēk, a First Nation in southern Saskatchewan, and the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan will settle a land entitlement claim dating back to 1874.

In 1874, Zagimē Anishinabēk signed Treaty 4, an agreement that saw the Crown promise 128 acres of land per person. The First Nation received only 31,829 acres at the time, which was short 2,859 acres based on a population of 271 when the treaty was signed.

On Thursday, Chief Lynn Acoose of Zagimē Anishinabēk joined with Marc Miller, federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and Don McMorris, Saskatchewan’s minister responsible for First Nation, Métis and northern affairs, to announce the settlement agreement.

The settlement will see the First Nation provided with $20.5 million, with $14.5 million coming from the federal government and $5.8 million coming from the Province.

The agreement will support Zagimē Anishinabēk adding “up to 18,620.42 acres” of land to its reserve, and a further $3.1 million was put aside as compensation for rural municipalities and school divisions “once taxable land is set apart as reserve.”

“We look forward to the benefits, for current and future generations, that will result from this settlement,” Acoose said in a statement.

“In addition to supporting Zagimē Anishinabēk community and economic development goals, we anticipate ongoing positive relations with Canada and Saskatchewan as the work of adding to our land base proceeds under the settlement agreement.”

McMorris said the provincial government was happy to fulfill the past promise.

“There will now be opportunities for land investment, economic development, and community enhancements,” the minister said in a statement. “The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to working together with First Nations and Métis partners to advance reconciliation.”