The Government of Saskatchewan has approved the transfer of additional Crown mineral rights to the federal government to advance Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) agreements with three First Nations.
The decision supports the reserve creation process for Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, and Pasqua First Nation.
“These mineral rights transfers support the Treaty Land Entitlement process and the creation of reserve land,” Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs Eric Schmalz said in a release. “Saskatchewan will continue working with First Nations and Canada to advance these agreements and support the reserve creation process.”
Under the approved transfers, Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation will receive approximately 194.25 hectares (480 acres) of Crown mineral rights. This marks the first mineral rights transfer under the nation’s 2022 agreement and begins the process to move eligible lands into reserve status.
Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation will receive an additional 65.15 hectares (161 acres) of Crown mineral rights, bringing its total approved Crown mineral rights under its TLE agreement to roughly 13,440 hectares (33,210 acres). Pasqua First Nation will see an additional 64.75 hectares (160 acres) transferred, bringing its overall approved total under the agreement to approximately 1,841 hectares (4,549 acres).
Treaty Land Entitlement agreements address historical gaps where Entitlement First Nations did not receive all the reserve land guaranteed to them under Treaty.
As of September 2026, approximately 900,970 acres of land have successfully transferred to reserve status across Saskatchewan under TLE agreements.