The Moosomin First Nation and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park singed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday.
“It’s very gratifying. Today is a very critical day. A part of our ambitions has been accomplished today,” Steven Whitecap told CTV News.
Whitecap, along with Catherine Gladeau, were part of the original Moosomin First Nation council which started the process to get the 900 acres of land transferred to reserve land.
“What a big accomplishment, and as Saskatoon expands, it’s in an industrial area that would definitely be an asset,” Gladeau said.
It’s beneficial, according to Gladeau, in terms of helping form businesses and partnerships for Moosomin First Nation.
It was part of a federal and provincial review under the Canada-Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement in 1992.
“Right now, everything’s in motion. We’ve got everything going through reserve status right now. Working with the RM will help speed up a lot of this process,” Keith Wright, land manager with the First Nation, said.
Once the lands have reserve status, they will no longer be subject to municipal taxation or bylaws.
“On the commercial side of things, we have all kinds of aspirations, you know, like hotels. Some of that economic engine that is lacking in Saskatoon, we need to find that,” Whitecap said.
It’s believed to foster relationship building between the First Nation and RM – ultimately fulfilling reconciliation goals.
“It’s good development for the RM. It’s good for the Moosomin First Nation and, you know, it’s just good in general,” Joe Hargrave, Reeve of Corman Park, said.
It’s promising for the First Nation’s youth, according to Whitecap. “It’s going to mean a lot for them because, at the end of the day, they are the future of our community.”
Once reserve status is completed by the federal and provincial governments, it’s hoped development will start within two years.
