Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan
Today, Chief Larry Ahenakew; the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; and the Honourable Don McMorris, Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs; have announced that the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan have concluded tripartite negotiations and reached a settlement agreement for the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Claim.
Treaty Land Entitlement claims are intended to remedy historic allegations where First Nations received insufficient reserve land promised to them under Treaty. 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. Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation asserts that the total eligible membership was 368 individuals, resulting with a Treaty land entitlement shortfall of 4,115.2 acres.
Under this historic settlement, the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation will receive compensation of $43.3 million. 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.
