Meeting cancelled when Peguis opposes in-common reserve approach for Kapyong

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This article was published 10/02/2016 (3507 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An internal strife between Treaty 1 chiefs could put negotiations between the federal government and First Nations surrounding Kapyong Barracks in jeopardy.

At the centre of the issue is Peguis First Nation, which according to Long Plain Chief Dennis Meeches is foregoing an agreed plan to run the reserve collectively and instead is trying to carve out their own piece of land on the old military base along Kenaston Boulevard.

“We’ve always taken the position, almost right from the beginning, that we would fight for a Treaty 1 in-common,” said Meeches, acting as the spokesman for the six other Treaty 1 First Nations. “Have a collective approach to dealing Kapyong.”

Treaty One acts as an umbrella organization to the First Nations of Sandy Bay, Brokenhead, Long Plain, Roseau River, Swan Lake, Sagkeeng and Peguis. The approach, which would see the seven First Nations operate the area together, is opposed by Pegis First Nation, according to an update posted on the band’s website Wednesday.

“This approach would mean that Peguis would get no land in Peguis’ name at all. Peguis would hold shares and be in business with all six other bands, in a minority position with little or no say as to what is agreed to with Canada, the City of Winnipeg, or any developer,” states part of the update. “Peguis would have no control over costs, expenses and the distribution of profit, if any, to its membership.”

The update goes on to say the First Nation is open to dialogue for a portion of the land being held as a “common reserve.”

A request for comment from Peguis Chief Cindy Spence was not returned.

Long Plain and the six other southern Manitoba bands went to court eight years ago, arguing Ottawa failed to consult the bands when Kapyong was declared a surplus strategic asset that was beyond the reach of any aboriginal land claim. Last September, then-prime minister Stephen Harper said his government wouldn’t appeal the latest decision to the Supreme Court of Canada, opening up the Treaty 1 bands to a settlement offer from the feds.

The land has been unoccupied since 2004.

A scheduled meeting today between the seven Treaty 1 signatories and the federal government was cancelled, after the Treaty 1 chiefs sent in a proposal for the 160-acre land, without Peguis at the table.

“They expressed a bit of concern regarding Treaty One, they would rather have that issue resolved and it is in the best interest of everyone to get that resolved as quickly as possible,” said Meeches.

Meeches couldn’t divulge what was in the proposal, but most of the talks surrounding the development of the area have pointed to an urban reserve on the land.

He described Spence’s position as a “surprise” adding he had only recently learned that Peguis might be touting a different approach to the settlement.

“For this to come, so late in the day, when we are just about to have some real movement with the Kapyong file and for them to take a detour, to do something different that is totally contrary to what we’ve been fight for all along is disappointing,” Meeches said. “But I think we’ll get through it and we will find our way back to the table.”

In a statement from the Department of National Defence, the federal government said several internal consultations have occurred.

“Discussions between the Treaty One First Nations and Canada are ongoing. Those discussions are confidential,” read the statement.