Federal judge condemns Canada for stalling First Nations land settlement

A Federal Court of Canada judge, Julie Blackhawk, issued a decision rebuking the federal government for its sluggish progress on the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement, which aims to remedy historic treaty land shortfalls for 21 First Nations. The agreement envisions roughly 445,000 hectares of land, yet only a little more than half has been converted to reserve land to date. Blackhawk dismissed Ottawa’s reliance on a vague duty to consult other Indigenous groups as a justification for postponement, stating that the Crown cannot hide behind it to avoid its settlement duties.

She also ruled that the agreement operates prospectively, rejecting claims that the land amount should be retroactive to the original treaties. The judgment follows earlier findings that Canada materially breached the deal and failed to remedy those breaches, prompting the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee to consider an appeal. Negotiators had previously proposed a $3.5-billion compensation package in 2023, which later collapsed, leaving the First Nations seeking the land needed for economic development.