Red Pheasant First Nation gets an urban reserve

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The total of urban reserves in Saskatchewan grew to 21 on Dec. 12, as a parcel of land on the outskirts of North Battleford was designated as part of Red Pheasant First Nation's reserve lands.

The 347-acre parcel of land is located on the edge of North Battleford, and is currently zoned for agricultural use. The land was purchased by the band under the Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) Framework Agreement, which provides funds for First Nations to buy land in order to bring their land base in line with what was guaranteed them under their treaty agreements.

According to Red Pheasant band councillor Harry Nicotine, the band has no immediate plans to use the newly designated reserve land for anything other than agriculture, adding that any future plans will involve conducting a community planning study.

"We have to know the City, what are their long range plans, and we also have to know what our long range plans are with that land," he said.

With this recent designation, North Battleford now has two urban reserves within its municipal boundaries. The other reserve, a section of commercial property that is home to the Gold Eagle Casino, became a reserve of the Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nation in January 2002.

The provinces' first urban reserve was created in Prince Albert in 1982. Since then, urban reserves have been created in Yorkton, Saskatoon, Meadow Lake, Fort Qu'Appelle, and in other smaller communities throughout the province.