Pays Plat First Nation Land and Larger Land Base Negotiation

This fact sheet is provided as part of the public consultation process for the proposed expansion of the Pays Plat Reserve. This fact sheet summarizes the progress made in negotiations and presents the results of the public consultation undertaken by the negotiating parties with area residents. It also outlines the next steps in the process to add land to the First Nation's reserve. For those who are not familiar with Land and Larger Land Base negotiations, a short summary is provided below.

What are the Land and Larger Land Base Negotiations?

In August 1991, six First Nations in the Robinson Superior Treaty area signed the Land and Larger Land Base Framework Agreement with the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

That agreement committed the parties to use their best efforts to negotiate and conclude agreements to provide either a reserve land base for landless signatory First Nations, or to expand the size of the existing reserves of signatory First Nations whose existing reserves were too small to accommodate their communities' housing, economic development and other needs.

Pays Plat First Nation is one of the signatory First Nations seeking to expand its existing reserve. The parties are negotiating to identify land suitable for addition to the Pays Plat Reserve.

Pays Plat First Nation, represented by the Chief and Council, the Government of Canada, represented by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND), and the Government of Ontario, represented by the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat (ONAS) and with the assistance of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Nipigon District, are involved in this negotiation.

Negotiation Goals

The overall goal of the negotiating parties is to identify and resolve issues and concerns to the best extent possible during the process of identifying additional reserve land for the Pays Plat First Nation. This goal will be met by framing an agreement that equitably resolves the need for an expanded land base for the Pays Plat First Nation, while considering the interests of the local public. The negotiating parties have agreed that no private lands will be expropriated and existing access to private lands will be maintained.

Candidate Lands

The negotiating parties have identified an area of Crown land suitable for addition to the reserve of the Pays Plat First Nation. This proposed candidate land, identified on the enclosed map as "Part A Land," totals approximately 16 sq. km. and is adjacent to the existing reserve. The bed of the Pays Plat River is not included in the Part A land. A further one square kilometre of land (approximate), identified on the map as "Part B Land," could also be added to the reserve should the First Nation successfully acquire both of the private properties within that area on a willing buyer / willing seller basis, prior to reaching a final agreement.

The parties' decision to select these lands is based on economic and social criteria. For example, some of the land will be suited to the construction of new housing and other community facilities. Other areas were selected because they present opportunities for future economic development initiatives that are linked to the provincial government's Great Lakes Heritage Coast initiative or the federal government's Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area initiative.

Map

Boundaries of candidate lands proposed for addition to the Pays Plat Reserve (139 K – PDF)

Public Consultation

Public consultation is an important part of the negotiation process leading to land-related agreements among Canada, Ontario and First Nations. Open communication is essential to create public awareness and to secure feedback to assist in the negotiation process. It also provides a two-way flow of information that ultimately helps the negotiating parties reach a final and lasting agreement that will support positive relations between the First Nation and its neighbours.

Public Consultation Activities

A variety of public consultation activities have been held, the most intensive taking place in 1999.

In January 1999, a fact sheet was sent to every household in the Rossport, Terrace Bay and Schreiber areas providing residents with information about the negotiations, and the public consultation process. A copy of that 1999 Fact Sheet is available on request.

In February 1999, an open house was held in Schreiber to provide the public with information about the candidate lands that were being considered at that time and to enable the negotiators to receive input from interested parties.

Also in 1999, the negotiators held meetings with a number of interested individuals, groups and representatives, such as private landowners in the immediate vicinity of the proposed land selection, Crown land licence holders, representatives of the Townships of Nipigon, Terrace Bay and Schreiber and the Rossport Local Services Board, as well as representatives of the Local Advisory Committee to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the snowmobile club and the forestry company that holds the sustainable forestry licence for the area. Follow-up meetings were subsequently held to further discuss some of the issues that were identified.

Comments received through the public consultation process have generally been supportive. As part of their commitment to an open process, the negotiators for Pays Plat First Nation, Canada and Ontario are providing some of the frequently asked questions from the public consultation process and responses to those questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen to the privately owned land located in the vicinity of the current western boundary of the reserve?

The privately owned land will remain in private ownership and the adjacent area, identified as "Part B lands" on the enclosed map, will remain Crown land. However, if the First Nation acquires the properties on a willing seller / willing buyer basis before a final agreement is concluded, the Crown land adjacent to those properties, an area of approximately one square kilometre, could then be added to the reserve.

What will happen to the snowmobile trail located on the Crown land selection?

Although the land upon which the snowmobile trail is located is included in the lands proposed for addition to reserve, the parties have agreed that the trail will continue to be available for use as a snowmobile trail by persons authorized to use the trail system by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and the Lake Superior Family Snowgoers.

What will happen to the landfill site?

The parties are continuing to give consideration to whether it would be appropriate to include the landfill site in the proposed addition to the reserve. If it is to be included, it would be operated by the First Nation and current users would need to enter into an arrangement with the First Nation to continue to use the site. Other available sites are located 14 kilometres to the east at Selim or 30 kilometres to the west at Gurney.

Will this have an impact on transportation and public utility corridors?

The rights-of-way for Highway 17, CP Rail, and Hydro One Networks Inc. are not included in the proposed addition to the reserve.

Will I still be able to hunt or fish in this area?

The area to be added to the Pays Plat Reserve will no longer be available to the public for hunting, fishing or other recreational activities without permission from the Pays Plat First Nation. As is noted above, the Pays Plat First Nation has agreed that members of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and the Lake Superior Family Snowgoers will be able to continue to make use of the snowmobile trail for snowmobiling.

Any existing arrangements for resource-related activities on the lands to be added to reserve, e.g. baitfish licenses, bear management areas, traplines and the area under a sustainable forestry license, will be dealt with by Ontario prior to the land being transferred.

What has happened since 1999?

Since 1999, the negotiating parties have been working to address the few issues that were identified during public consultations and to reach an agreement at the table on the boundaries of the candidate land proposed for addition to the reserve.

Next Steps

Representatives of the Pays Plat First Nation, Ontario and Canada are available to meet with key stakeholders, should there be any remaining issues that need to be considered in the context of the current proposal.

Once the public consultation regarding the proposal has been concluded, the negotiating parties will work to complete the drafting of an Agreement-in-Principle. That document, which sets out the general elements of the proposal, will be considered for approval by the membership of the Pays Plat First Nation, the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the provincial Minister Responsible for Native Affairs and the Minister of Natural Resources. Once the Agreement-in-Principle has been approved and signed by all three parties, the parties will begin to negotiate a final agreement.

Want to Know More?

If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact us:

Pays Plat First Nation
Chief Raymond Goodchild
Pays Plat First Nation
P.O. Box 849
Schreiber, ON  P0T 2S0
Phone: (807) 824-2541
Fax: (807) 824-2206

Ontario
Lise Hansen, Senior Negotiator
Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat
720 Bay Street, 4^th Floor
Toronto, ON  M5G 2K1
Phone: 416-326-4765
Fax: 416-326-4017

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