March 20, 2002

To download a copy of the transcript to this announcement: Click here

FIRST NATIONS LAND MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE - AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS SELF-GOVERNANCE FOR FIRST NATIONS

GATINEAU, QUEBEC (March 20, 2002) - More First Nations will be offered the benefits of the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management, which was ratified by the First Nations Land Management Act (FNLMA), announces Robert Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Robert Louie, Chair of the Lands Advisory Board, today.

The Framework Agreement and the First Nations Land Management Act, which were originally open to only 14 signatory First Nations, are an important building block to self-governance. This government to government Initiative provides participating First Nations with the opportunity to come out from under the land administration sections of the Indian Act and establish their own regimes to manage their lands and resources, providing for more decision making at the local level.

“Opening up the First Nations Land Management Initiative builds on the Government of Canada’s priorities outlined in the Speech from the Throne by furthering self-governance in First Nations communities,” said Robert Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. “Through this Initiative, we are working with First Nations to improve access to economic development opportunities leading to improved quality of life in these communities.”

“The main benefit of this Initiative is that First Nations have direct authority over their reserve lands and resources,” said Robert Louie, Chair of the Lands Advisory Board. “The Initiative also removes the land administration barriers to economic development that First Nations have faced under the Indian Act.”

The First Nations Land Management Initiative allows participating First Nations the opportunity to develop their own modern and/or traditional tools to manage and protect their reserve lands and resources. First Nations determine the pace of community land code development and ratification. The Initiative enables First Nations to make timely business and administrative decisions and to accelerate progress in areas like economic development. This Initiative also enables First Nations to enact and enforce sound environmental management and protection laws.

As part of the Framework Agreement and the legislation there was a provision to offer other First Nations the opportunity to opt into the Initiative by way of Order in Council. In response to the great amount of interest that has been expressed among First Nations, we are inviting interested First Nations to begin the process of coming under the Framework Agreement and the FNLMA.

For further information, contact:

Alastair Mullin
Office of the Minister
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
(819) 997-0002

Meko Nicholas
Lands Advisory Board
(613) 591-6649