Land Management

Our Land Code was developed by the Land Code Committee of Long Lake #58 First Nation and was successfully ratified by the membership on November 24, 2017 with a 86% majority (368 yes votes and only 14 no votes). We were the 67th First Nation to ratify our Land Code and become a signatory to the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management. Our community gave a clear message that authority over land management be returned to Long Lake #58 First Nation. Read the press release here.

 

Land Code Committee

Our previous Long Lake #58 First Nation Land Code Committee Members of 2016

  • Audrey Fisher

  • Bernard Abraham

  • Danielle Favretto

  • Darren Bananish

  • Irvin Legarde

  • Paul Finlayson

  • Brandon Britt

  • Garrett DePerry

  • Mel Legarde

  • Misty Dore

 

Our Land Code has given the Chief and Council and the members of Long Lake #58 more decision-making power over the reserve land. Chief and Council can now make land laws for zoning, by-laws, land management, revenue responsibility, amendments, who can make laws, how new laws can be enacted and published, conflict of interest rules, community approvals, and dispute resolution processes.

Also included in our Land Code are procedures on how Chief and Council will maintain communication with the community members before, during and after a land law is enacted.

 

Our Individual Agreement

The Individual Agreement outlines our land base and how money will be transferred from Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development Canada (INAC) to Long Lake #58 First Nation.

The Land Code applies to Land only within the reserve boundary. Any land added to the reserve in the future can be protected under our Land Code. Traditional land will continue to be used and managed by Long Lake #58 members the same way that it is now. Here is a map of our current 1 square mile land base:

 

History of the Land Code

In 1996, fourteen Chiefs from across Canada banded together to create the Framework Agreement. After the Framework Agreement was voted on and passed by the federal government, the federal government created the First Nations Land Management Act to outline the roles and responsibilities of the federal government to the First Nation communities who decide to be part of the Land Management Regime. Now, more and more First Nation communities across Canada are joining the Land Management Regime to develop and ratify their own Land Codes in order to manage their own reserve land.

 

Becoming a part of the Land Management Regime is 100% voluntary. A community that has its own Land Code removes itself from 25% of the Indian Act and can begin to manage its own Land.

Not only was this an opportunity to protect the Land that we have now, but also for the Land that will be added to our reserve through the Additions to Reserve (ATR) and Land Claim process.

Background documents and more information: