July 07, 2022 — Mistawasis Nêhiyawak — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan

Today, Chief Daryl Watson of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak; the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; and the Honourable Don McMorris, Minister Responsible for First Nation, Métis and Northern Affairs, announced that Mistawasis Nêhiyawak, the Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan have negotiated a tripartite settlement agreement regarding the Mistawasis Nêhiyawak Treaty Land Entitlement Claim.

Treaty Land Entitlement claims intend to address historical allegations where First Nations received insufficient reserve land agreed to them under Treaty. In 1876, Mistawasis Nêhiyawak adhered to Treaty 6, which provided that the Crown set aside 128 acres of land per First Nation community member. In 1889, an Order in Council set apart 49,280 acres of land as reserve for the First Nation, enough for 385 people. Mistawasis Nêhiyawak affirm the total eligible membership at the time was 419 individuals, resulting in a Treaty land entitlement shortfall of 4,352 acres.

This settlement will allocate to Mistawasis Nêhiyawak a compensation amount of $31.6 million. Canada agrees to pay $22.5 million of this amount and Saskatchewan will pay the remaining $9.1 million. The settlement agreement supports Mistawasis Nêhiyawak in adding up to 29,394.18 acres of land to their reserve. Canada and Saskatchewan further agree to set aside a total of $4.9 million as compensation to rural municipal and school divisions once taxable land is set apart as reserve.

Honouring Canada’s legal obligations to Indigenous Peoples and working collaboratively to resolve historical grievances is fundamental to advancing reconciliation in Canada.