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Canada, Newfoundland and
Labrador and Miawpukek First Nation Tom Rideout, minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saqamaw Misel Joe of the Miawpukek First Nation, today announced the beginning of negotiations with the Government of Canada to expand the Mi�kmaq Reserve at Conne River. The current reserve is about 704.6 hectares or 2.72 square miles. To allow room for additional housing development and pursuit of economic development opportunities, a conceptual agreement has been reached between the province and the band to expand the reserve by approximately 2,846 hectares or 11 square miles, including the community watershed. A land transfer agreement will be negotiated by the three parties setting out the terms and conditions for the transfer. "Conne River is one of the fastest growing communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, and with this growth comes a need for more land. I am pleased that the process of expanding the Conne River Reserve is proceeding, so that the community has the space it needs to grow well into the future," Minister Rideout said. "The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador made a commitment to reserve expansion in the recent Speech from the Throne, and we intend to move swiftly to conclude the land transfer agreement. This initiative is consistent with government's objective to work in partnership with aboriginal communities and the Government of Canada, so that aboriginal people can realize their desire to become more self-reliant." "The official name of our reserve is Aosamiaji'jij Miawpukek Mi'kmawey Mawi'omi Reserve, which means �too small Conne River Reserve�. So, in 1989 we knew the land base was not sufficient for our needs," Saqamaw Misel Joe said. "As Saqamaw (Chief) of the Miawpukek First Nation, I am quite pleased with the current progress towards expanding the reserve. The reserve expansion will offer the Miawpukek First Nation much needed land to accommodate our present and future residential and commercial needs. We are very appreciative of the good working relationship and cooperative approach taken by both federal and provincial governments in making the reserve expansion process a reality." The Miawpukek First Nation was registered under the federal Indian Act in 1984, and in 1987 a reserve was created at Conne River in the Bay d'Espoir area on Newfoundland's south coast. The band has about 2,300 members, about 800 of whom live in Conne River. Media contact:
Ministerial Statement - Negotiations to expand the Conne River Reserve Proposed Reserve Expansion Map (PDF) 2004 05 20 1:50 p.m. |
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