Rainy River First Nation reps met with local municipalities at the Red Dog Inn here last week to discuss the progress of their land claims negotiations.
“There’s nothing etched in stone. Things are still up for negotiation,” said Rainy River F.N. Chief Gary Medicine. “There’s no land set aside, no money given.
“We’ve been at this for umpteen number of years now,” he noted. “We may get a figure within the year if things keep going the way they are, even within the spring, but that’s not to say that things can’t fall apart before then.”
Chief Medicine said his band anticipated things happening quickly and is looking at land throughout the district.
“We’ll still have consultations with community members, other municipalities, other chiefs and councils that we are neighbours with across the district,” he noted.
“We’ve got a ways to go yet, but it’s closer than it has been. It’s not a speedy process by any means,” he admitted.
Alberton Reeve John Milling said it was important for other municipalities to attend meetings pertaining to land claims.
“Even though it doesn’t even affect Alberton, it’s still good to attend,” he reasoned.
In 1997-98, government negotiators concluded a framework agreement for the Rainy River land claims negotiations and a negotiation mandate was confirmed.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
