October 25, 2023 – Treaty No. 1 Territory – Treaty One Nations is proud to announce official results of the Treaty One Joint Reserve Land Code for Sagkeeng First Nation ratification vote held on October 24, 2023. marking a momentous occasion as the last of four essential votes needed to finalize the Treaty One Joint Reserve Land Code for Naawi-Oodena.
With an impressive 97.2% majority of ballots cast in favour of the Treaty One Joint Reserve Land Code, the results of this historic vote affirm Sagkeeng First Nation’s shared commitment to shaping a more prosperous and sustainable future for our Nations.
“With great joy, I commend our community for being the final pillar in support of the Treaty One Joint Reserve Land Code,” said Sagkeeng First Nation Chief EJ Fontaine. “Knowing the sheer amount of opportunity that lies ahead with the Naawi-Oodena Urban Economic Development Zone, I can rest assured that our youth have a bright future to look forward to and will not have the same struggles that have plagued our First Nation communities throughout the past two centuries. Sagkeeng First Nation now stands united and ready to embrace the world of opportunity that can be found at Naawi-Oodena.”
“I’ve been working with land codes and First Nation economic development for well over 20 years now—when we first brainstormed this unique joint reserve land management regime two years ago, there were some doubts that we could actually make it happen,” said Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Chief Gordon BlueSky and Chairperson for the Treaty One Nations. “With this vote, we now have the final piece of the puzzle to move forward with development of Naawi-Oodena and any future Treaty One joint reserve lands. I know that, today, our ancestors would be smiling down on us for this monumental achievement in the assertion of our inherent Treaty rights. As we celebrate on this day, we can all look forward to a future where First Nations across Canada continue to reshape their own destinies for the generations to come.”
This pivotal decision has profound implications for self-determination of the seven Treaty One Nations to oversee development of Naawi-Oodena, a forecasted $1.5-$2 billion project to take place over the next 15 years on the former lands of the Kapyong Barracks lands in Winnipeg, MB. With all seven Nations now in agreement to operate under a unified Joint Reserve Land Code, the Treaty One Nations aim to break ground and begin development of Naawi-Oodena on the former Kapyong Barracks lands in Winnipeg, MB, in November 2023.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Vic Savino
Director of Communications, Treaty One Nations
vsavino@treaty1.ca | 204-770-0392
