Few details in Kapyong deal between federal government, Treaty 1 First Nations

In an announcement that was long on ceremony but short on details, the federal government and seven Treaty 1 First Nations signed an agreement in principleWednesday for the former Kapyong Barracks land in Winnipeg.

National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjancalled the signing an important milestone, but would not go into specifics on how the land would be developed and who would get exactly what pieces of the pie.

"We still have a lot of work ahead of us but as minister of national defence, I will stay closely engaged" as the agreement is used to hammer out all the details in a final settlement agreement, Sajjansaid.

The announcement came from theFirst Nations and Winnipeg South Centre MP Jim Carrin front of a crowd of hundreds at AssiniboiaDowns on Wednesday.

"This is really happening," Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegardesaid. "It's not just words. The land's coming back.This is an example of reconciliation in action."

The seven First Nations involved plan to create an urban reserve and develop their portion of theland, saidBellegarde.

Chiefs of the sevenTreaty 1First Nationswere involved in the negotiations, including Dennis Meeches of Long Plain First Nation, Jim Bear ofBrokenhead OjibwayNation; Glenn Hudson ofPeguisFirst Nation; Craig Alexander from Roseau RiverAnishinabeFirst Nation; Derrick Henderson ofSagkeengFirst Nation; Lance Roulette ofSandy Bay First Nation; and FrancineMeeches fromSwan Lake First Nation.

Don't be afraid:Bellegarde

Bellegardetold the crowd that the City of Winnipeg should embrace the idea of a new urbanreserve for the city.

"We have over 100 urban reserves in Saskatchewan, and they create jobs and employment opportunities and economic development zones," he said.

An urban reserve will mean economic opportunities for the city and First Nations, said Sagkeeng's Chief Henderson.

"We want to show the citizens of Winnipeg that we can be progressive in a good way," he said. "There's many urban reserves in Canada that are very progressive and that's the lead that we want to take also."

Winnipeg currently has one urban reserve, run and developed by Long Plain First Nation on St. Matthews Avenue.

A priority for Winnipegis wideningKenastonBoulevard. The city made plans in 2012 to increaseKenastonto six lanes, but it needs to acquire 30 parcels of theKapyongsite to do it.

Long Plain's Dennis Meeches, speaking on behalf of the other six chiefs, said he hopesnegotiations with the city for that land will begin shortly.

In the meantime, demolition of buildings and infrastructure on site will continue by the department of national defence.The departmentstarted demolishing homes on Kenaston Boulevardearlier this year. Demolition is expected to take two years and will be completed in two phases.

Few details in Kapyong deal between federal government, Treaty 1 First Nations

6 years ago

Duration 2:02

Agreement in principle will help move process along to final agreement, says defence minister.

"We will ensure the lands are safe for future use," said Sajjan.

The defence minister wouldn't say what will happen with50 acres that will stay Crown land.

"It will go through an appropriate process for that, just like any other development," he said.

Base abandoned

Kapyongwas abandoned in 2004, when the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry moved from the military base near Kenaston and Grant to the Canadian Forces Base in Shilo, Man.

The Canadian Forces then declared the site surplus, and the federal Treasury Board tried to sell it to a Crown Corporation.

That decision was challenged in court by the group of Treaty 1 First Nations, saying outstanding Treaty Land Entitlement claims meant they had a right to the site.

The land was estimated to be worth between $65-$90 million in 2015, depending on zoning and land use.

The land transfer was ruled illegitimate, and the federal government fought the decision, before in 2015 thenprime minister Stephen Harper announced that the government would no longer continue to appeal the decision.

"We've come out of a very long, unnecessary journey," Meeches said prior to Wednesday's announcement.

"A lot of this could have been achieved a long time ago, but obviously land claims are very, very complicated. It's unfortunate it had to take this long. We're hoping to move pretty quick on what the future holds forKapyong."

A look inside Kapyong, back in 2012:

Kapyong Barracks

12 years ago

Duration 2:12

CBC's Sean Kavanagh goes on an exclusive tour of a former military site that now has some of the most valuable and unused land in Winnipeg.