Kwanlin Dn reach agreement to retain Aboriginal title on leased lands

The Kwanlin Dn First Nation is the first in Yukon to reach an agreementwith the territorial government to retain Aboriginal title on developed lands.

Chief Doris Bill and Premier Darrell Pasloski announced the agreement Tuesday.

The territory says the KwanlinDn First Nation will be able to lease its land for residential and commercial purposes and when the lease expires, have the option of de-registering it at the land titles office, retaining Aboriginal title.

Bill says this means a lot to KwanlinDn citizens who want to get a mortgage for a home or open businesses on First Nation land.

"That's huge for the First Nation," she said. "We've waited a long time to get to this point."

Justice minister, Brad Cathers, said theapproach is the first of its kind in Canada, in part because it gives lenders more security.

Pasloskisaid any Yukon First Nation with a land claim settlement can consider doing the same.

"The process has now been established where other First Nations could make similar amendments," he said.

Bill saidher First Nation still has some paperwork to do before land parcels are made available to its citizens.