The Following is a portion of the article written by: By: Larry Kusch and Bruce Owen
By: Larry Kusch and Bruce Owen
Posted: 5:28 PM CST Friday, Feb. 25, 2011
“The First Nations lived up to their end of the bargain. Canada didn’t.” – lawyer Kris Saxberg
A few days ago I sat through the appeal hearing of a case that feels like it’s going to drag through the courts forever. The issue?
Whether Manitoba First Nations have dibs on the former Kapyong barracks at Kenaston and Grant.
Here are three scenarios that can happen with the huge site:
1) The Indians can he handed it under their Treaty Land Entitlement.
2) The Indians can buy it at fair market value, develop it and reap the benefits.
3) Ottawa can sell it to the highest bidder. Simplistic, I know. Based on what little I heard in court, whatever happens won’t be determined until after this case is decided in the Supreme Court.
“The First Nations lived up to their end of the bargain. Canada didn’t.” – lawyer Kris Saxberg
“The white man smiled at us, called us brothers and promised that they will push for the urban reserve at the old Canada Packers Plant on Marion street. We offered a $100,000 an acre, over two million dollars for twenty acres. We did everything to get the property, jumped through all the hoops. Today, the land grows weeds, Indian Affairs would not approve the environmental licence because ash was found four feet down in 2 acres of the twenty acres we bid on. The city would not allow any extension of time and Attorney General Vic Toews wrote a letter to the Minister of Indian Affairs saying he would not approve any land conversion for Roseau River. So once again, we go through the same thing with Kapyong.
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