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March 2002
Government of Canada
Parks Canada
National Parks
Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada
In April 1997, the Minister of Canadian Heritage agreed to consider land selection in Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada because Salt River First Nation and Smith's Landing First Nation had originally requested land for Indian reserves under Treaty 8 before the national park was created in 1922. Subsequently, in December 1998, Parks Canada started negotiations on the park land selections with both First Nation's as part of Canada's overall settlement of both land claims.
The Smith's Landing First Nation Agreement was signed by the Minister of Canadian Heritage on March 20, 2000 with lands being selected for Indian reserves within the park at Pine Lake, Hay Camp and Fort Fitzgerald. The total area of the reserves amounts to 9.73 km2.
The Salt River First Nation negotiations took longer to complete, but a handshake agreement was eventually concluded on December 18, 2000, and a joint public information meeting/session was held with Parks Canada in Fort Smith, the First Nation's host community, on March 20, 2001. The complete agreement was initialled by Canada and Salt River in the fall of 2001 and was ratified by the Band's membership in December 2001. The formal signing of the agreement is expected to be concluded by March 2002.
Salt River has selected four sites in Wood Buffalo National Park at Pine Lake beside Smith's Landing reserve, at Salt River opposite the day use area, at Parson's Lake Road near the fire tower, and Little Buffalo River on either side of highway 5. The total area of the land selection amounts to13.65 km2.
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