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Mississaug First Nation

Land & Resources

FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON FIRST NATION LAND MANAGEMENT

Executive Summary
Introduction

The Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management was signed by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and 13 First Nations on February 12, 1996. One other First Nation was added as of December 1997. The Agreement is an initiative by these 14 First Nations to take over the management and control of their lands and resources. It applies only to these 14 First Nations.


The Framework Agreement sets out the principal components of this new land management process, but it is not a treaty and does not affect treaty or other constitutional rights of the First Nations. The Agreement has been ratified and implemented by Canada in the First Nations Land Management Act, assented to June 17, 1999. Three First Nations have also taken the necessary steps to ratify the Agreement and proceed to reassume control over their lands and resources.


The Framework Agreement provides these 14 First Nations with the option to manage their reserve lands outside the Indian Act. The option to regain control of their land can only be taken with the consent of the community. Only when each of these First Nations takes control of its lands and resources under the Agreement, shall federal administration of its reserve lands cease under the Indian Act.