Canada and Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation reach settlement on Treaty Land Entitlement specific claim
SHOAL LAKE NO. 40 FIRST NATION, TREATY 3 TERRITORY, MB, Oct. 15, 2026 /CNW/ — Today, Chief Herb Greene of Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation and the Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced a $17.45-million settlement agreement resolving Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation’s specific claim.
Specific claims address situations where Canada failed to fulfil obligations owed to First Nations under a treaty. In this case, the claim relates to seven islands in Indian Bay, Shoal Lake, known as the Garden Islands, which were promised to Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation under Treaty 3 but were never set aside as reserve land. This settlement provides compensation in resolution of the claim.
Settlements provide First Nations with funds that can be invested in community priorities, such as land purchases, infrastructure, and economic development. They can also create new opportunities that benefit First Nations and local and regional economies.
Settling specific claims is one way to address past harms, rebuild trust, and support reconciliation. This settlement agreement reflects continued efforts to build relationships with Indigenous Peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership.
Quotes
“This claim has been outstanding for many years, and we are very pleased to have reached settlement on this important matter. We thank our current negotiating team and the previous leadership of Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation for their patience and determination in moving our dialogue and negotiations forward. We continue to uphold our shared connections to these islands, and the settlement of this Claim is an important part of Shoal Lake #40 history and legacy.”
Chief Herb Green
Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation
“Resolving specific claims is vital to renewing Canada’s relationship with First Nations and advancing together in the spirit of reconciliation. This settlement with Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation addresses Canada’s historical failure to uphold a Treaty 3 obligation and reflects our government’s commitment to addressing past wrongs. By bringing closure to this claim, we are supporting the community’s vision for the future and creating space for healing, growth, and new opportunities.”
The Honourable Rebecca Alty
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Quick facts
- Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation is an Ojibway or Ontario Saulteaux First Nation reserve located in the Eastman Region of Manitoba and the Kenora District of Ontario. The Nation straddles the border of Manitoba and Ontario, surrounded by the waters of Shoal Lake, Indian Bay, and Snowshoe Bay.
- The seven Garden Islands are located in Indian Bay, Shoal Lake, and cover approximately 280 acres.
- Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation submitted a claim to Canada in 1991 regarding, among other things, several islands in Indian Bay, Shoal Lake, that should have been set aside for them under the terms of Treaty Three.
- The 1991 claim was partially accepted by Canada in 2005 to negotiate on the basis there was an outstanding federal obligation for non-fulfillment of treaty obligations to set aside seven geographically defined islands, called the Garden Islands.
- The islands were referenced as the Garden Islands, referencing their importance for gardening, harvesting food, trapping, meat preparation, ceremony, and spiritual practices.
- Specific claims address past wrongs involving Canada’s obligations to First Nations. These claims–made by First Nations against the Government of Canada–relate to the administration of land and other First Nation assets and to the fulfillment of historic treaties and other agreements. Claims are addressed through an alternative dispute resolution process under the Specific Claims Policy and, since 2009, the Specific Claims Tribunal Act.
- Since the Specific Claims Program began in 1973, 821 claims, totalling more than $25 billion in compensation, have been settled through negotiations, including 389 claims settled in the past 10 years.
Associated links
Stay connected
Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:
X: @GCIndigenous / GovCan – North
Facebook: @GCIndigenous / GovCan – North
Instagram: @gcindigenous / GovCan North
You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.cirnac.gc.ca/RSS
SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada
