TLE framework agreement turns 10

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It's been a decade since 25 Saskatchewan First Nations joined the federal and provincial governments in signing the Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) Framework Agreement.

The agreement, signed Sept. 22, 1992, was created to allow both levels of government to provide First Nations with the amount of land they were entitled to under Treaties 4, 6 and 10, but did not receive.

The agreement also sets down the principles to be used in negotiating other land claims in the province.

A total of $440 million has been allocated to TLE process under the agreement, to be used by the First Nations involved to buy land, mineral rights, and improvements. The agreement also set a time frame of 12 years in which to bring the First Nations' lands in line with what was promised them under the treaties.

In the first 10 years following the agreement signing, $407 million has been given to the First Nations, and 900,000 acres of land has been transferred to their reserve land-base.

So far, 16 of the original 25 First Nations to sign have achieved shortfall, which means they have purchased the minimum amount of land they are required to purchase under the agreement, Those include Beardy's and Okemasis, Canoe Lake, English River, Flying Dust, Keeseekoose, Moosomin, Muskeg Lake, Muskowekwan, Okanese, One Arrow, Pelican Lake, Red Pheasant, Saulteaux, Sweetgrass, and Witchekan First Nations, and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. Still to achieve shortfall are Little Pine First Nation, Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nation, Ochapowace First Nation, Onion Lake First Nation, Piapot Cree Nation, Poundmaker Cree Nation, Star Blanket Cree Nation, Thunderchild First Nation, and Yellow Quill First Nation.

Since the agreement was first signed 10 years ago, four other First Nations have also signed- Carry the Kettle First Nation, Cowessess First Nation, Kawacatoose First Nation, and Nekaneet First Nation. Of these four, only Nekaneet has achieved shortfall.