P.E.I. First Nations accept $17.5M settlement offer for Hog Island land claim
If ratified, this will be the first specific claim settlement in the province’s history
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 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.
She said she's confident the two communities will accept the settlement, calling it "the best offer" that will open future opportunities to preserve land on P.E.I.
"The Mi'kmaq are very much interested in having lands that we are protecting for future generations, and for all Islanders," Bernard told CBC News on Monday.
"To me it's like a win-win both ways because we didn't sell the land away, we're just being compensated for the loss of [its] use and having some funding there that will ensure us to be able to buy more land if the community chooses to do that."
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 news release.
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.
No details have been shared yet about how the settlement will be used, but both councils have confirmed they will explore a range of options in the coming weeks.
The Hog Island land is part of the Pituamkek National Park Reserve, which the two Mi'kmaw communities and Parks Canada signed an agreement to co-govern last summer. The total park reserve is a chain of islands about 50 km long, starting at the mouth of Malpeque Bay and stretching west to the shore near Alberton.
With files from Tony Davis