Treaty Land Entitlement Committee of MB

03/31/2026

TLE FIRST NATIONS resume loss of use litigation after $3.5 billion settlement offer evaporates

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.”...

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01/08/2026

08/29/2025

TLEC PAYS TRIBUTE TO ITS FOUNDING PRESIDENT

Today, August 28, 2025, the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba learned of the passing of Ogiimaa Jim Bear, former Chief of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation (BON) and TLEC’s founding President.

The Late Chief Bear was a driving force behind Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) research in Manitoba in the 1970s. This would lead to the formation of the TLEC in 1977, at which time he became TLEC’s first President.

In September 1998, as a citizen of the BON, he would witness his First Nation signing its TLE Agreement under the terms of the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement on TLE.

Chief Bear would once again return to the role of Chief in BON in 2015 and would continue to advance and implement BON’s TLE Agreement.

The TLEC offers its deepest condolences and prayers to the Late Chief Bear’s family and the BON on the passing of this valiant Treaty warrior and TLE advocate!

Rest in Power, Ogiimaa.

04/30/2025

The Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba congratulates Chief Nelson Genaille, of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation (SCN), on his re-election as Chief.

The SCN held its General Election yesterday, April 29, 2025.

Chief Genaille has been serving as SCN Chief since 2010, and has been TLEC’s President since 2008.

The SCN is signatory to Treaty Four and is one of the 15 Entitlement First Nations signatory to the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement on Treaty Land Entitlement.

04/09/2025

SCN UNVEILS PLANS FOR NEW HOTEL AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

Today, April 9, 2025, Chief Nelson Genaille, of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation (SCN), and Mayor Lance Jacobson, of the Town of Swan River, announced the SCN’s plans to build a Microtel and entertainment centre on the SCN’s third parcel of land in Swan River, Manitoba.

This third parcel of land, 8.6 acres, was purchased by the SCN under its Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) Agreement, which will be set apart as Reserve by Canada under the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement (MFA) on TLE.

The planned hotel will have 76 rooms, along with a pool, restaurant, meeting space and other amenities.

SCN is striving to have this new enterprise open for business in August 2026.

Last year, SCN's Chief Genaille and Council signed a Municipal Development and Services Agreement (MDSA) with the Town of Swan River's Mayor Jacobson and Council.

This MDSA was for this third parcel of land.

SCN currently has two (2) urban Reserves in Swan River which hosts the Club Sapp Gaming Centre and the Petro Canada Gas and Convenience Store. These two parcels were also earlier purchased, or bought, by SCN under its 1998 TLE agreement and have MDSAs in place.

Under the MFA’s Reserve creation process, when a First Nation buys land in an urban centre, like a town or city, and if they require continued services provided by that town or city, the First Nation negotiates the terms and conditions with the municipal government.

This is done because after the parcel becomes Reserve, the municipal government no longer has jurisdiction over that parcel of land.

Once negotiations are complete, they then sign an MDSA, which the Government of Canada requires if the First Nation requests that urban parcel of land be set apart as Reserve under its TLE agreement.

Chief Genaille is also the President of the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee of Manitoba.

03/08/2025

CANADA ANNOUNCES ADVANCE PAYMENT FOR TLE FIRST NATIONS

Today, March 8, 2025, in Winnipeg, MB, the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, announced an advance payment of $210 Million as partial compensation for the losses caused by the Federal Government’s past failure to implement the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) in accordance with the honour of the Crown.

The advance payment commitment follows years of intensive and collaborative negotiations between the TLEC Entitlement First Nations (EFNs) and Canada where consensus was reached on the core elements of a potential final settlement of the EFNs’ multi billion-dollar loss-of-use claim.

These negotiations commenced following a series of legal rulings made in favour of the EFNs in binding arbitration in 2018 and by the Federal Court of Canada in 2021.

When received by each of the TLEC’s 14 Member EFNs, the advance payments will be applied against the potential final loss-of-use settlement claim against Canada.

At today’s announcement, Chief Nelson Genaille of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, and TLEC’s President, stated: “The willingness to make an advance payment makes clear to any observer that the federal government fundamentally agrees with the First Nations’ position and demonstrates that Canada is now prepared to move forward with the final settlement agreement on the terms that were jointly developed in 2023, and we hope a final agreement will be reached later this year.”

He further stated: “The advance payment commitment should be seen as a good-faith gesture by Canada, and as evidence of Canada’s seriousness to now move quickly to finalize the comprehensive settlement. Doing so, will avoid protracted, costly litigation that is not in anyone’s interest.”

The 14 EFNs that will receive a share of the $210 million advance include:

Barren Lands First Nation
Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
Buffalo Point First Nation
Bunibonibee Cree Nation
God’s Lake First Nation
Manto Sipi Cree Nation
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
Northlands Dene First Nation
Norway House Cree Nation
Opaskwayak Cree Nation
Rolling River First Nation
Sapotaweyak Cree Nation
War Lake First Nation
Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation

The exact allocation, or share, will be determined internally by these 14 EFNs.

06/21/2024

On this National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, 2024, the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba is pleased to introduce its recently elected Board of Directors.

On June 20, 2024, the TLEC held its Annual General Meeting and elected the following individuals to its Board of Directors:

- Chief Nelson Genaille, Sapotaweyak Cree Nation;

- Chief Gordon BlueSky, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation;

- Chief Elwood Zastre, Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation;

- Councillor Modeste Tssessaze, Northlands Dene First Nation; and,

- Councillor Jeremiah Spence, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.

This Board will now serve for a two year term.

After this Board was elected, they selected Chief Genaille to continue serving in his role as TLEC’s President. He has held this position since 2008.

27 years after the signing of the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement on Treaty Land Entitlement, Canada has set aside 565,521 acres as Reserve for the TLEC’s 15 Member First Nations.

05/29/2024

On the 27th Anniversary of the signing of the Manitoba Framework Agreement (MFA) on Treaty Land Entitlement (May 29, 1997), the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba congratulates the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation (SCN) and the Town of Swan River on signing their third government-to-government services agreement.

On Monday May 27, 2024, the SCN's Chief Nelson Genaille and Council signed a Municipal Development and Services Agreement (MDSA) with the Town of Swan River's Mayor Lance Jacobson and Council in the SCN's Governance Building.

This MDSA is for the SCN's third parcel of land (8.6 acres) that was purchased by SCN under its TLE Agreement.

SCN currently has two (2) urban Reserves in Swan River which hosts the Club Sapp Gaming Centre and the Petro Canada Gas and Convenience Store. These two parcels were also earlier purchased, or bought, by SCN under its 1998 TLE agreement and have MDSAs in place.

Under the MFA's TLE Reserve creation process, when a First Nation buys land in an urban centre, like a town or city, and if they require continued services provided by that town or city, the First Nation negotiates the terms and conditions with the municipal government. This is done because after the parcel becomes Reserve, the municipal government no longer has jurisdiction over that parcel of land.

Once negotiations are complete, they then sign an MDSA, which the Government of Canada requires if the First Nation requests that urban parcel of land be set apart as Reserve under its TLE agreement.

Another economic development initiative is planned by SCN for this parcel of land.

Once again, congratulations to the SCN and the Town of Swan River!

03/15/2024

TLEC MEETS WITH MANITOBA PREMIER WAB KINEW

On Thursday March 14, 2024, representatives from the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba met with Manitoba’s Premier Wab Kinew at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg.

TLEC’s President, Chief Nelson Genaille of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, was joined by Chief Elwood Zastre (Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation), Councillor Modeste Tssessaze (Northlands Dene First Nation) and Elder Henry Wilson (Opaskwayak Cree Nation).

Premier Kinew was joined by Minister Ian Bushie, whose Department of Indigenous Economic Development is Manitoba’s lead ministry for Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) implementation.

Manitoba is a signatory to the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement (MFA) on TLE, along with Canada and the TLEC.

The talks focused on Manitoba’s role under the MFA and what they could change within their bureaucracy to expedite the TLE process.

The Premier stated that expediting TLE is a priority for his government and they will take meaningful steps to work with TLEC to fulfill this outstanding Treaty obligation.

At the end of the meeting, Chief Genaille presented a handmade gift to the Premier in recognition of his electoral victory last October.

27 years after the signing of the MFA, 565,521 acres have been set aside as Reserve by Canada for TLEC’s 15 Member Entitlement First Nations.

01/13/2024

Today, January 13, 2024, the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba learned of the passing of the late Elder Jimmy Hunter-Spence.

In the 1990s, he served the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) as an elected Councillor; and as a Council Member would sign the NCN’s Treaty Land Entitlement Agreement on July 30, 1998.

Most recently, he also served as TLEC’s Elder Advisor up until he voluntarily stepped down in 2020.

The TLEC offers its sincerest condolences and heartfelt prayers to the Family and the NCN on the passing of this valiant warrior, Treaty advocate and true gentleman.

Rest in Power, Elder Hunter-Spence.

10/12/2023

TLEC MEETS WITH CANADA'S CROWN-INDIGENOUS RELATIONS MINISTER

Today, October 12, 2023, members of the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee (TLEC) of Manitoba's Board of Directors met face-to-face with Canada's Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, at the TLEC's Implementation Office in Headingley, MB.

The talks focused on the implementation of the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement (MFA) on Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE), resolving Canada's on-going breach of the MFA, and ensuring the federal Crown honours its Treaty promises to Treaty First Nations.

The Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister is responsible for Canada's legal obligations under the MFA.

Minister Anandasangaree was appointed to this position by the Prime Minister of Canada on July 26, 2023. He took over from Marc Miller.

Pictured here (from left to right) are: TLEC's Elder Advisor Joe Hyslop (Northlands Dene First Nation), Councillor Modeste Tssessaze (Northlands Dene First Nation), TLEC's President Chief Nelson Genaille (Sapotaweyak Cree Nation), Minister Gary Anandasangaree, and TLEC's Vice-President Chief Elwood Zastre (Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation).