Long-standing land claim dispute may soon be over

The wait for the conclusion of the long standing land claim dispute over the operation of water control structures along the Qu'appelle Valley river basin may soon be over as the federal and provincial government have recently made settlement offers.
"The federal government made offers to Muscowpetung, Pasqua, Sakimay, and Cowessess First Nations on May 29 2008 and are waiting their response," stated Indian and Northern Affairs Canada spokeswoman Patricia Valladoo.
"We believe we made a fair and reasonable offer and while there has been some success in the negotiation process, there is still more work to be done."
The settlement offer will include financial compensation for past, present and future flooding damage.
The province is also looking at e co-management arrangement of the water resources in the Qu'appelle valley.
This claim began in the 1940's when the Prairie Farm Rehabilitaton Administration (PFRA) built dams on Echo, Crooked and Round lakes to store water for agricultural purposes without the consent and proper negotiations of the four mentioned First Nations and Ochapowace.
The water control structures flooded hay and low-laying marsh lands in the Qu'appelle Valley River basin.
It was recommended that Canada begin negotiations to determine compensation by the Indian Claims Commission dating back to 1998.