P.E.I. First Nations accept $17.5M settlement offer for Hog Island land claim
Social Sharing
After nearly 30 years, the Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nations have reached a historic milestone in resolving a specific land claim for Hog Island, an island off the North Shore of Prince Edward Island.
Specific claims are based on historical grievances over issues like unfulfilled treaty obligations, the loss of reserve lands and mishandled First Nations funds or other assets, according to a news release issued Monday by L'nuey, the organization that represents the two groups on what is now P.E.I.
The two Mi'kmaw communities have accepted a $17.5-million settlement offer from the federal government, the release said.
The agreement is still subject to ratification by a community vote, with a date yet to be set. If ratified, it will mark the first specific claim settlement in the province's history, the release said.
Chief Darlene Bernard of the Lennox Island First Nation called the settlement an important moment in the history of P.E.I., or Epekwitk, the Mi'kmaw name for the Island.
Lennox Island Chief Darlene Bernard reacts to $72M fund for new national park
10 months ago
Duration 6:17
The federal budget, tabled Tuesday, emarks $71.9 million to establish Canada's 11th national park reserve at Pituamkek — a chain of islands off northwestern P.E.I. that has great cultural significance to the Mi'kmaq. Lennox Island First Nation Chief Darlene Bernard worked to secure the money, and she spoke to CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin about what the national park designation means for her community.
"Whether it is co-management agreements over protected lands, acknowledgements of the importance of Mi'kmaw history and culture in Epekwitk or the settlement of specific claims like this, they are all steps in our reconciliation journey, and we need to celebrate them all," she was quoted as saying in the release.
A decades-long fight
The claim dates back to 1942 when the federal government originally purchased the islands that make up Hog Island to be part of Lennox Island First Nation.
Hog Island is narrow and roughly 15 kilometres long, comprised of George Island, Fish Island and Bill Hook Island. It is not connected to the mainland but is accessible by boat.
It was, however, never given reserve status and is still owned by the federal government, so the specific claim was filed in 1996, citing a breach of Canada's fiduciary duty in failing to add the lands to the Lennox Island Band reserve.
In 1972, the Lennox Island Band divided to create the Abegweit Band, making this a joint claim for both communities.
Chief Junior Gould of Abegweit First Nation said the work isn't over yet.
"We see this as just the beginning — we are actively working on more specific claims through L'nuey, and our councils will continue to push for resolution of these past wrongs as well," he was quoted as saying in the release.
Meet the people working to protect and preserve Pituamkek on P.E.I.
5 months ago
Duration 2:50
People with the Pituamkek Conservation Project are wrapping up their latest work. One of the big goals is to gather data on all plants and animals in P.E.I.'s newest national park reserve, and to learn more about the history of the area. We spoke to just a few of the people working on it.
The release said the $17.5-million offer represents compensation for the loss of use of the lands and compensation for replacement reserve lands, should the councils choose to purchase them.
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