Salt River First Nation
Agreement
- Salt River First Nation Treaty Settlement Agreement
Agreement Type
- Settlement agreement addressing treaty land entitlement claim (specific claim)
Signatories
- Salt River First Nation #195
- Government of Canada
- (The Government of the Northwest Territories signed Schedule “B”, Appendix A and Appendix C)
Map of the Settlement Area
Overview
The Salt River First Nation (SRFN) Treaty Settlement Agreement (TSA) was signed by the SFRN #195 and the Government of Canada in March 2002.
Under the TSA, the SRFN received a capital transfer of approximately $83 million from the Government of Canada. The TSA also provides for 102,400 acres, or 414 square kilometres, of land to be established as reserve land. The land is in multiple parcels, dispersed within the NWT and Wood Buffalo National Park.
On September 5, 2008, through an Order-in-Council, the Government of Canada established the Salt River First Nation Indian Reserve No. 195 and also set apart the first block of selected lands for Reserve. The federal “Additions to Reserve” process was utilized in 2009 and 2011, and will be utilized in the future, to add the additional selected parcels of land to the Reserve. The TSA also provides for a SRFN corporation to acquire fee simple title to select lands from Canada. These lands are not part of the reserve and may be sold by the SRFN Corporation at its discretion. The TSA also provides the SRFN with the option of purchasing certain lots in the Town of Fort Smith, for transfer to Canada to be added to the Reserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who are the Salt River First Nation?
The Salt River First Nation are Chipewyan descendants of Aboriginal peoples who traditionally used and occupied land in the Slave River area. Specifically, the Salt River First Nation is comprised of descendants of the distinct Chipewyan group known as the 'Dedharesche'.
2. What type of agreement did they negotiate?
The SRFN Treaty Settlement Agreement is a specific claim that fulfills outstanding obligations associated with Treaty 8, which was signed in 1899. The SRFN were seeking a treaty land entitlement through the establishment of a reserve the town of Fort Smith and surrounding region. In March 2002 the SRFN and the Government of Canada signed the SRFN Treaty Settlement Agreement, and the reserve was officially created in September 2008. The GNWT signed Schedule “B” and Appendix “A”.
3. Why was the GNWT involved in negotiating the Agreement?
The GNWT is a party to Schedule “B” and Appendix “A” of the TSA because certain parcels of land in the Town of Fort Smith that were selected to become part of the SRFN reserve where under the administration and control of the Commissioner of the NWT and would need to be transferred to Canada. Within Schedule “B”, the GNWT is a party to Schedule C of the TSA which sets out a process for trilateral discussions concerning how programs and services can be delivered to SRFN members.
4. Over what geographic area does the SRFN Treaty Settlement Agreement apply?
The Treaty Settlement Agreement applies to approximately 401 square kilometres of land made up of a number of various parcels in and around Fort Smith, as well as approximately 13 square kilometres of reserve lands at four sites in Wood Buffalo National Park.
