Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation settles land claim with provincial and federal governments

Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation will receive compensation of $43.3 million, with $30.7 million coming from Canada and $12.6 million coming from Saskatchewan.

The Canadian and Saskatchewan governments have settled a land entitlement claim with Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, nearly 21 years after the First Nation submitted the claim.

The First Nation will receive compensation of $43.3 million, with the Canadian government covering $30.7 million and the Saskatchewan government providing the remaining $12.6 million.

Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, located approximately 160 kilometres north of Saskatoon, submitted the treaty land entitlement claim in July 2001 and it was accepted for negotiations in May 2010, according to a government release.

The release further stated the First Nation members approved the settlement in October 2021 with 97 per cent voting in favour.

The provincial government executed the settlement agreement in January 2022 and the Government of Canada executed the settlement agreement in March 2022.

“Canada has a longstanding policy and process in place to resolve these claims by negotiating settlements with First Nations,” the release stated.

“Since January 1, 2016, it has settled more than 183 specific claims with First Nation partners, totalling $8.9 billion in compensation. In fiscal year 2020-21, 56 claims were filed, 46 claims were assessed (41 accepted for negotiations and five not accepted), and 36 claims were resolved through negotiations.”

The joint release added that treaty land entitlement claims are meant to “remedy historic allegations where First Nations received insufficient reserve land promised to them under Treaty.”