Land entitlement claim settlement finalized between governments, Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation

The Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation and the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have announced a settlement agreement for the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Claim.

The Cree Nation submitted the claim in July 2001 and it was accepted for negotiations in May 2010. First Nation members approved the settlement in a community vote last October, with 97 per cent of those who voted voting in favour.

“The Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation will receive compensation of $43.3 million,” a media release said. “Of that amount, Canada will provide $30.7 million and the Government of Saskatchewan will provide the remaining $12.6 million.

“As part of this agreement, the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation has the option to acquire up to 40,659.97 acres to add to their reserve lands. Canada and Saskatchewan will also set aside $6.7 million as compensation to rural municipalities and school divisions once taxable land is set apart as reserve.”

The Ahtahkakoop Cree First Nation is located 72 kilometres northwest of Prince Albert.

Ahtahkakoop adhered to Treaty 6 in 1876, which promised one square mile per family of five, or 128 acres per person. In 1878, a federal Order in Council set apart 42,988.8 acres of land as reserve for the First Nation, enough for 336 people.

The Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation asserts the total eligible membership was 368 individuals, resulting in a Treaty land entitlement shortfall of 4,115.2 acres.

“Righting this historical wrong is key to renewing Canada’s relationship with the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation,” Marc Miller, the federal minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, said in the release.

“We recognize the harms caused to the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation and are committed to addressing them through concrete actions, for the development of the community — and all future generations.”

“Thinking of our future generations, this settlement will provide for hunting and trapping lands, cultural and ceremonial lands, as well as additional lands for our members to benefit from,” Chief Larry Ahenakew added in the release. “In the not too distant future, this settlement will also provide for our members, economic development opportunities and create much needed employment on Ahtahkakoop owned commercial and urban lands.

“Ahtahkakoop would like to recognize the countless hours of work completed by the many team members from Canada and Saskatchewan, as well as our own legal teams; thank you all for your hard work. This has been a very lengthy process and Ahtahkakoop is pleased that this historic Treaty Land Entitlement Claim has finally been settled.”

Treaty Land Entitlement claims are intended to remedy historic allegations where First Nations received insufficient reserve land promised to them under Treaty.