Bigstone Cree Nation has four Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) parcels (or plot) to reserve status. But Bigstone Cree Nation says further work is needed to complete outstanding additions for the Chipewyan Lake and Wabasca community.

Bigstone Cree Nation Chief Silas Yellowknee read the Nation’s news release on June 17.

It says that Canada notified the Nation on May 15. The Minister of Indigenous Services had signed orders adding four Treaty Land Entitlement parcels to reserve status.

The newly added plots include Chipewyan Lake (South), Calling Lake (North), Calling Lake (South), and Rock Island Lake.

However, Bigstone says the process is not yet complete.

After reviewing the federal documents, the Nation found that while land for Chipewyan Lake South had been added, the reserve for the Chipewyan Lake community (Chip Lake IR 166E) was not included.

“The Nation is presently litigating the many years of delay in Canada’s failure to honour Treaty promises made in 1899 and then re-promised in the TLE Settlement in 2010,” Chief Yellowstone says as he reads the news release.

Bigstone Cree Nation says the land additions should have been completed through the TLE settlement.

The Nation is continuing to work on this issue, while its Lands Department and administration work on the remaining reserve additions for Chipewyan Lake and Wabasca.

“While this litigation continues, our Lands Department and Administration are working to complete through the remaining additions to reserve for Chipewyan Lake Community and Wabasca,” the release states. “We will provide updates as this work continues, additional reserves are added, and the promises made to us in Treaty 8 are finally realized.”

Chief Yellowknee signed the release.

Julia Magsombol

Lakeside Leader