By paNOW

FSIN, government mark 25 years of Treaty Land Entitlement agreement

Oct 20, 2017 | 1:00 PM

Over 25 years ago an agreement signed by the governments of Saskatchewan, Canada and 25 Indigenous communities addressed outstanding Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) claims.

Through TLE, over 860,000 acres of reserve lands were created and brought economic development opportunities in a wide variety of ventures through a “complex and lengthy process” according to a release from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.  

Since the agreement was signed, eight additional agreements were made based off of the framework of the original TLE agreement in 1992.

Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron addressed the importance of Treaty Land Entitlement to bands in Saskatchewan in a media release.

“All parties must honour the Treaties, the Treaty Land Entitlement is an important part of that process, the TLE is about continuing the relationship between First Nations and the Crown, and First Nations and the land,” Cameron said. “It’s about creating opportunity and development on these lands for economic prosperity and correcting historic wrongs.”  

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During celebrations in Saskatoon yesterday, the FSIN honoured Roland Crowe, who was hief of the organization when the Treaty Land Entitlement agreement was signed in Septembere of 1992.

Dignitaries from both the provincial and federal government offered comments on the agreement’s anniversary.

“The government of Saskatchewan remains committed to this process and to ongoing cooperation with our partners as we travel this road together for the betterment of all Saskatchewan residents,” Larry Doke, the provincial minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs and minister of government relations said.

Minister of Indigenous-Crown relations Carolyn Bennett offered her congratulations on the historic event; she called TLE a step towards reconciliation.

“Fulfilling these Treaty obligations by setting new lands aside for reserve is one way we are working together to advance our reconciliation journey,” Bennett said. “Adding lands to reserve offers First Nations opportunities to create stronger communities and economies, which benefits all.”

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