AMC congratulates Long Plain First Nation and all member Nations that have reached land back settlements this year
December 2, 2021
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) congratulates Long Plain First Nation, its Chief and Council and citizenship for going through Canada’s specific claims process and for reaching an agreement for compensation for the mismanagement of the sale and dispossession of reserve lands in 1916. Long Plain is the most recent AMC member First Nation to reach a settlement this year with Canada on unjustly appropriated or historical grievances over reserve lands.
The AMC sends congratulations again to Chief Murray Clearsky and the Waywayseecappo First Nation on its major settlement this past August; and Chief David Crate and the Fisher River Cree Nation for reaching an agreement with Canada in May.
AMC Grand Chief Arlen Dumas stated, “On behalf of the Assembly, I commend and congratulate all AMC member First Nations who have reached settlements this year on outstanding land claims. I applaud Chief Dennis Meeches, Long Plain First Nation Council, and Long Plain citizens for diligently pursuing justice for more than 20 years within Canada’s specific claims process. The claims process is punitive and arduous to First Nations. I extend best wishes to Long Plain First Nation and all First Nations in their pursuit of just and fair compensation for First Nations’ lands that have been expropriated under assumed Crown sovereignty.”
Grand Chief Dumas further stated, “I concur and fully agree with Chief Meeches’ statements that First Nations should not have to go through a colonial specific claims process for properties that are theirs to begin with. First Nations demand land back, and all people in this province have benefited at the expense of First Nations citizens. It is time that First Nations also benefit from the wealth generated on and through their ancestral land and waters in Manitoba. While we share under Treaty, this is, was and will always be First Nations’ land,” concluded Grand Chief Dumas.
Long Plain ratified and recently signed a $32 million settlement with Canada as represented by Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller and will now move to acquiring land back into existing reserve lands held by the Long Plain First Nation. Waywayseecappo signed an agreement in August for its 1881 surrender specific claim for $287.5 million; and the membership of Fisher River Cree Nation ratified an agreement for $15 million for outstanding reserve lands owed by Canada.
