Left to right, (seated) Saskatchewan Treaty Commissioner Mary Culbertson, Saskatchewan RCMP F Division Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, MP Gary Vidal, Meadow Lake Mayor Merlin Seymour, Flying Dust Chief Tyson Bear, and, (speaking) emcee Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) Cree Vice Chief Richard Derocher at today's ceremony. (Matt Ryan/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Historic occasion

Lands returned to Flying Dust First Nation

Jun 21, 2023 | 3:02 PM

It was a momentous National Indigenous Peoples Day in Meadow Lake today when the RCMP took part in a historic Land Transfer Agreement ceremony, as lands were returned to Flying Dust First Nation.

The event took place outside Meadow Lake RCMP detachment.

Carolyn Lachance, communications and membership services coordinator with Flying Dust First Nation, said it was an important day for the First Nation.

The Flying Dust First Nation through a partnership with the Meadow Lake Detachment of the RCMP announced in honour of 150 years of service, and in the spirit of reconciliation, the reserve lands would be returned to Flying Dust.

Flying Dust said this marks the “beginning of a new era of partnership and common goals.”

Winter Driving

Snowstorm blankets most of Saskatchewan, travel not recommended near local communities

5h ago

Health

First Canadian case of more severe mpox strain confirmed in Manitoba

Nov 23, 2024

Mail

Canada Post reports $315M Q3 loss, compared with $290M loss a year earlier

Nov 22, 2024

Flying Dust Chief Tyson Bear told meadowlakeNOW it was the Government of Canada’s fiduciary duty to return the reserve lands, in accordance with the signed agreements.

Over 200 acres of lands in total are being returned to the First Nation.

Bear said this is a great day for the First Nation.

“That’s where we are today,” he said. “We’re getting our land back.”

The lands of the Flying Dust First Nation were expropriated by the Government of Canada for the use of the railway in 1932. Under the laws of expropriation, once the railway work was completed, the land was supposed to be returned to the First Nation in the same condition it was received. But this was not done.

“As in so many cases, the land was not returned to Flying Dust. Instead it was parceled off and sold to different businesses and organizations. The RCMP is one of the organizations that benefited from this practice,” Flying Dust said in their release.

Flying Dust began a specific claim against the Government of Canada in 1992, to not only take back their reserve lands, but to have their ownership and jurisdiction recognized. After 30 years of negotiations and legal battles, the lands that were taken are now being returned to Flying Dust.

“In the last few years we’ve been slowly getting these lands back,” Lachance told meadowlakeNOW. “The RCMP land was never up for discussion until recently. But Flying Dust wouldn’t give up. We said this land belongs to us.'”

Participants gather during today’s ceremony in Meadow Lake. (Matt Ryan/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

Lachance said in the spirit of reconciliation, the Government of Canada agreed to return the land to Flying Dust.

Meadow Lake RCMP hosted the ceremony to recognize the return of the lands formerly held by the RCMP to the Flying Dust First Nation.

As part of the tradition, the event included a pipe ceremony, smudging of the building and lands, and a flag-raising ceremony.

The teepee sits outside the RCMP detachment on this historic occasion. (Matt Ryan/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

“It is the hope of the RCMP and Flying Dust that this ceremony will be a starting point for positive communication and collaboration working towards a healthier, safer community,” Lachance said.

She added the return of lands is an important step forward.

“The RCMP and First Nations relationship has always been very tenuous,” she said. “It’s been adversarial often, and there is not a lot of trust there. So, this step is a big step towards building a meaningful partnership, and working together towards the safety of our community.”

As part of the process going forward, since the RCMP detachment sits on the land that is owned by Flying Dust, the RCMP will begin paying the First Nation land leases for use of the land.

Flags from Flying Dust First Nation and the Treaty 6 Territory will now fly permanently outside the Meadow Lake RCMP detachment.

Flying Dust is also giving the building a new Cree name.

“It’s a big first step in building a positive relationship with the RCMP,” Lachance added.

—

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @meadowlakenow