Horse Lake settles specific claim after 10 years

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Three quarters of a century of wrangling with the federal government about reserve land entitlement may be over and done with for the Horse Lake First Nation.

On March 19, Chief Robert Horseman and federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development signed an agreement that settles a specific claim arising out of an illegal 1928 land surrender by the band's predecessors, the Beaver Indians of Dunvegan.

The agreement that was ratified in Horse Lake on Jan. 27 includes a one-time cash settlement to the First Nation of $125,315,000. Eighty-two per cent of 145 band members who cast ballots at the reserve near Hythe supported the deal.

"It will mean a lot," said the chief. "It will mean a lot of jobs-there will be spin-offs, and even right now with the management board we set up . . . there will be two full-time positions. Add a couple more people to run the office and right away there are three or four full-time positions created, he added.

Seventy per cent of the cash portion of the settlement is based on the Kiskatinaw natural gas deposits under the nation's former land near Fairview, which makes this settlement unique among prairie specific claim settlements.

The compensation is based on the current, unimproved value of the land surrendered and the estimated revenue the band would have gained from development of the natural gas under it.

The money will be managed by the elected investment management board that operates at arms-length from the band administration, Chief Horseman said.

In addition to cash, Horse Lake First Nation can replace the land it lost through surrender of reserves 152 (all but 320 acres) and 152A. The band has 20 years to choose 11,800.

Horse Lake, with a population of about 360 (60 per cent of them living on reserve), has about 8,000 acres in reserve land now, the chief said. About 35 to 40 members work in the band office and the health centre. They've also got a band-owned farm company that employs two people full-time and some part time. They also employ members seasonally on logging contracts and right-of-way clearing. Some members work in the oil and gas industry.

Horseman said "about 55 to 60 percent (of their current land base) is used for agriculture."

According to the terms of the settlement, they will acquire title to their new lands on a willing buyer/willing seller basis and third-party interests will be protected.

"We'd like to get closer to a major centre; i.e., Grande Prairie, for more economic benefits" said Chief Horseman. They are about a 45-minute drive away from Grande Prairie now.

The chief said they submitted their initial claim in 1991 and it was turned down. They resubmitted it and it was accepted in 1994.

"Basically it took six years to negotiate that agreement itself; it took four just to get them to recognize it."

"This settlement honors Canada's lawful obligation to Horse Lake First Nation in a manner that will strengthen the social and economic well-being of this community," said Minister Nault.