Cowessess receives mineral rights through treaty land entitlement agreement

A Saskatchewan First Nation is receiving about 147 acres of Crown mineral rights through a settlement agreement.

According to the Government of Saskatchewan, the mineral rights for nearly 60 hectares of land — about 147 acres — will be transferred to the Cowessess First Nation after the surface attains reserve status. The transfer comes as part of the Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) Settlement Agreement, which has transferred about 885,500 acres to First Nations since 1992.

The TLE agreements provide First Nations with entitlement funds, allowing them to purchase land anywhere in Saskatchewan to add to their reserves.

“Under the terms of the TLE Agreement, all undisposed provincial Crown minerals underlying lands purchased by the First Nation are to be transferred to the Government of Canada for purposes of reserve creation at no cost,” the government explained in a statement.

Don McMorris, Saskatchewan’s minister responsible for First Nations, Métis relations and northern affairs, said the transfer of the mineral rights is a good step towards reconciliation.

“Reconciliation is demonstrated through TLE settlement agreements, which support First Nation land acquisition for new reserve lands,” McMorris said in a statement.

“The TLE process exists in order to ensure that the federal and provincial governments are meeting our Treaty obligations and working with First Nation communities as they grow and succeed.”

Saskatchewan has transferred more acres to reserve status under its TLE agreements than any other province, the government said.