Treaty Land Entitlement Committee of MB

07/27/2026

TLEC’s BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2026-2028

Last Friday July 24, 2026, the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba held its 2026 Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg, MB.

It was there that TLEC’s Member Entitlement First Nations (EFNs) elected its Board of Directors for a new two year term.

The following individuals were elected to the Board:

Chief Nelson Genaille, Sapotaweyak Cree Nation - Board President;

Chief Gordon BlueSky, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation - Board Vice-President;

Councillor JP Martin, Opaskwayak Cree Nation - Board Treasurer;

Councillor Jeremiah Spence, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation - Board Secretary; and,

Chief Season Roulette, Norway House Cree Nation - Board Director.

The TLEC is a signatory to the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement (MFA) on Treaty Land Entitlement, along with the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba.

29 years after its signing, Canada has set aside 570,559 acres as Reserve under the MFA for TLEC’s 15 Member EFNs.

The TLEC thanks former Board members, Chief Elwood Zastre (Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation) and Chief Betsy Kennedy (War Lake First Nation), for their dedicated service and support.

Ekosani/Miigwech/Masi Cho/Thanks!

05/29/2026

LAND BACK? OR LAND LACK?

29 years ago today, the Manitoba Framework Agreement (MFA) on Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) was signed on May 29, 1997, in the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba.

This Treaty land claim agreement was originally intended to address and resolve outstanding TLE claims of First Nations belonging to the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba Inc.

It was signed by the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the TLEC, who represented 19 TLE Entitlement First Nations (EFNs) at that time.

Only 15 EFNs would accept their specific land and financial deals under the 1997 MFA.

29 years later, 570,559 acres has been set aside as Reserve for these 15 EFNs by Canada.

Canada also breached the 1997 MFA by unilaterally changing the TLE land conversion process without the written consent of the TLEC’s Member EFNs. This dispute would be confirmed by a Federal Court Decision on April 23, 2021.

The EFNs then elevated this dispute by launching a new legal claim for loss of use of TLE lands in the Federal Court of Canada in June 2022.

In 2023, the TLEC EFNs and Canada agreed to try and negotiate an out-of-court settlement that would address compensation, formally amending the 1997 MFA, and agreeing to Canada’s consultation process under its TLE land conversion policy (commonly referred to as ‘Additions to Reserve’).

In 2024, negotiators for TLEC and Canada reached a tentative agreement for $3.5 billion. However, the federal Cabinet was required to formally approve of this deal.

Unfortunately, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet failed to approve this out-of-court settlement.

As a result, the TLEC EFNs resumed its 2022 Federal Court action in 2025.

Canada’s Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty virtually met with the TLEC’s Chiefs on October 9, 2025, and the main topic of discussion was the proposed $3.5 billion settlement.

During this meeting, and in reference to the proposed settlement, Minister Alty stated:

“It is a priority of mine. It is a priority of the government. We’re working internally to move this file forward. I understand the frustrations. But I want to reassure everybody this is still a priority. We are continuing to work on it internally.”

Since that meeting, no new updates were provided by Minister Alty’s office.

A court hearing took place on March 31 & April 1, 2026, before Justice Blackhawk in the Federal Court in Winnipeg.

If the Judge agrees with the TLEC’s lawyers, she could rule that Canada is liable for compensation owing to the First Nations dating back to when the Treaties were first signed, due to Canada’s failure to provide the promised Reserve lands; this could potentially be in the billions.

The proposed $3.5 billion settlement that was agreed to by the negotiators for Canada and TLEC, was designed to avoid expensive and prolonged years of litigation. Again, it failed to reach former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Cabinet.

If Prime Minister Mark Carney believes in reconciliation, he would honour this out of court settlement and have it immediately approved by his Cabinet.

Justice Blackhawk is expected to issue her decision within 2 to 6 months.

03/30/2026

INW NEWS RELEASE (MANITOBA): TLE First Nations resume loss-of-use litigation after $3.5 billion settlement offer evaporates

News provided by: The Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba

WINNIPEG, MB, March 30, 2026 /INW/ – The Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba has resumed its Statement of Claim against Canada for its on-going violations of the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement (MFA) on Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE).

This court action (*File No.: T-1346-22) will have its first formal hearing in Winnipeg tomorrow, Tuesday March 31, 2026, at the Federal Court of Canada, 363 Broadway Avenue, starting at 9:30 AM (cst).

Prior to this hearing, TLEC’s President, Chief Nelson Genaille of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, will be joined by other Chiefs and Elders outside of the federal court house for a ceremonial drum honour song at 8:45 AM.

The MFA was signed on May 29, 1997 by the TLEC, Canada and Manitoba to address and resolve the outstanding TLE claims of the TLEC’s Member Entitlement First Nations (EFNs). It was originally intended to provide 1.1 million acres of additional Reserve land throughout Manitoba to the TLEC EFNs.

Delays and unilateral changes by Canada have plagued the MFA’s implementation process. In 2018, a binding arbitration decision ruled that Canada breached the MFA by unilaterally altering the MFA’s step-by-step Reserve creation process. This violation continued and resulted in the TLEC going to Federal Court in 2019; and in 2021, the court upheld the binding arbitration award.

In 2023, TLEC agreed to work with Canada on a without prejudice and confidential basis to negotiate an out of court settlement.

The objectives of these negotiations was to address and resolve the following:
· Compensation for loss-of-use and delays payable to the EFNs;
· Amendments to the 1997 MFA; and,
· A consultation process and protocol with other Aboriginal groups in Manitoba.

During these negotiations, a global settlement of $3.5 billion was reached by negotiators for Canada and TLEC. Regrettably, a final deal failed to materialize in 2024.

However, on March 8, 2025, Canada’s previous Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, announced an advance payment of $210 million for TLEC’s 14 Member EFNs while they waited for the $3.5 billion global settlement.

This advance payment was partial compensation for the losses caused by Canada’s past failure to implement the 1997 MFA in accordance with the honour of the Crown.

In the new claim, the TLEC alleges:
“Canada is liable for all losses resulting from its failure to honour the treaty land entitlements in a diligent, timely and purposeful manner and in accordance with the honour of the Crown, the fiduciary duties engaged, and the principle of reconciliation.”...

To READ full release and to SUBSCRIBE to INW News Releases, please visit: https://indigenousnewswire.com/

01/08/2026