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The Government of Saskatchewan has given its stamp of approval to transfer Crown mineral rights on a parcel of land to the Cowessess First Nation.
The transfer will see the southern Saskatchewan First Nation take over the mineral rights on 58.74 hectares (145.1 acres) of land.
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The government said the latest agreement means the mineral rights for roughly 72,530 acres have been transferred to the First Nation in support of the Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement.
The 21,488-ha Cowessess Reserve is 13 km northwest of Broadview, and an additional 257.1-ha reserve (73A) is situated 31 km west of Esterhazy. There are 3,266 band members, 597 of whom live on reserve, according to the Cowessess website.
That agreement was signed by the provincial and federal governments, along with a number of First Nations that did not receive all of the reserve land they were promised under historical treaties.
In May, the government said 63 hectares of Crown mineral rights were to be transferred to the Ocean Man First Nation near Stoughton.
The province said at that time First Nations can submit a written request to the Government of Saskatchewan to start the transfer process, identifying the Crown minerals for selection.
The First Nation and the government then negotiate a purchase price for the minerals, with all sales requiring the consent of any existing Crown mineral rights holder.
Eric Schmalz, Saskatchewan’s minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and northern affairs, said the process is an important part of Saskatchewan’s responsibility to live up to the commitments made in the treaties.
“Each transfer brings us closer to fulfilling these commitments and creates opportunities for long-term economic growth that benefit First Nations and the wider Saskatchewan community,” Schmalz said in a statement.
The provincial government said Saskatchewan “continues to lead the country in land transfers under Treaty Land Entitlement, supporting reconciliation and economic development for First Nations across the province.”
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