Treaty Land Entitlement

Between 1871 and 1910, Canada signed the Numbered Treaties with 58 First Nations. Canada agreed to set aside a certain amount of land as reserve for First Nations under these treaties, based on population and the per capita formula in the Treaties. Most First Nations in Manitoba received their full land allocation but some did not. First Nations who did not receive all the land they were entitled to file a Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) claim with the Government of Canada. Once Canada accepts a TLE claim, Canada negotiates, approves, signs and implements a TLE settlement agreement with the Entitlement First Nation.

Manitoba is party to TLE settlement agreements due to the Natural Resources Transfer Acts (NRTA) of 1930. Through the NRTA, Canada transferred administration and control of lands and natural resources to the Prairie provinces. The NRTA requires that Manitoba provide Crown land to Canada to assist in fulfilling outstanding land-related treaty obligations to First Nations. TLE is a constitutional requirement for Manitoba, confirmed as Schedule 1 of The Constitution Act of 1982.

Between 1994 and 2006, 29 First Nations negotiated TLE settlement agreements. The largest TLE settlement agreement, the Manitoba Framework Agreement of 1997, includes 21 Entitlement First Nations. Eight Entitlement First Nations have individual TLE settlement agreements. All TLE settlement agreements include the amount of land that an Entitlement First Nation may purchase on a "willing buyer willing seller" basis (acquisition) and/or select at no cost from Crown land, as well as financial compensation. The agreements also cover the principles and processes of land selection and acquisition and other matters related to reserve creation. Under all TLE settlement agreements in Manitoba, First Nations are entitled to 1.432 million acres.

Indigenous Economic Development is the lead provincial department responsible for implementing TLE alongside Entitlement First Nations, Canada, and the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee Inc. We work collaboratively with all TLE parties to resolve barriers to transfer land and reserve creation so that Manitoba can fulfill TLE obligations and strengthen partnerships with other orders of government.

Treaty Land Entitlement Documents

Island Lake Tribal Council Treaty Land Entitlement Agreements:

• Garden Hill First Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement Agreement (1994) (PDF)
• Red Sucker Lake First Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement Agreement (1994) (PDF)
• St. Theresa Point First Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement Agreement (1994) (PDF)
• Wasagamack First Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement Agreement (1994) (PDF)

Manitoba Framework Agreement (1997)

Entire Manitoba Framework Agreement (1997) (PDF)

• Barrens Land First Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1999) (PDF)
• Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1998) (PDF)
• Buffalo Point First Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1998) (PDF)
• God’s Lake First Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1999) (PDF)
• God’s River First Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1999) (PDF)
• Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1998) (PDF)
• Northlands First Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Agreement (1999) (PDF)
• Norway House Cree Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1998) (PDF)
• Opaskwayak Cree Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1999) (PDF)
• Oxford House First Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1999) (PDF)
• Rolling River First Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1998) (PDF)
• Sapotaweyak Cree Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1998) (PDF)
• War Lake First Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1999) (PDF)
• Wuskwi Sipihk Cree Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (1998) (PDF)

Six First Nations have yet to sign their Treaty Entitlement Agreements under the Manitoba Framework Agreement.

Individual Agreements:

• Long Plain First Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement (1994) (PDF)
• Swan Lake First Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement (1995) (PDF)
• Roseau River First Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement (1996) (PDF)
• Peguis First Nation Treaty Entitlement Agreement (2006) (PDF)