COWESSESS FIRST NATION SIGNS TREATY LAND ENTITLEMENT AGREEMENT

Released on March 14, 1996

Ronald A. Irwin, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development,
Saskatchewan Indian and Metis Affairs Minister Joanne Crofford, and
Chief Lionel Sparvier of the Cowessess First Nation, today participated
in a signing ceremony for the First Nation's $46,662,314 Treaty Land
Entitlement (TLE) Agreement. Many members of the First Nation attended
the signing ceremony which took place at the Cowessess Reserve.

The Agreement will fulfil an obligation going back more than 120 years
and compensate for reserve lands which have been due to the First
Nation since the signing of Treaty 4 on September 15, 1874. This TLE
Agreement allows the Cowessess First Nation to buy land to add to its
reserve.

"This agreement confirms my government's commitment to resolving
Aboriginal land claims and fulfils its treaty obligations to the people
of the Cowessess First Nation," Irwin said. "With the purchase of new
land, the Cowessess First Nation will forge a link with the past and
create an opportunity for the future. This settlement will provide an
economic base which will benefit current community members as well as
future generations."

"This agreement fulfils provincial obligations and provides the
Cowessess First Nation with the resources necessary for future economic
development that will benefit all of Saskatchewan," Crofford said.

"Treaty 4 contained an obligation to provide land to our people. This
agreement settles our people's right to receive that land as a
reserve," Chief Sparvier said. "It is my hope that the resources
acquired by the settlement of this outstanding promise will promote the
wellbeing of our people."

The Cowessess First Nation, under this agreement, is required to
purchase a minimum of 21,575.9 hectares (53,312 acres) of land and may
purchase up to 76,638.7 hectares (189,367 acres). Once the minimum
acreage is achieved, the remaining funds may be used for economic
development purposes.

The TLE Agreement allows the Cowessess First Nation to buy land on a
willing seller/willing buyer basis to add to their reserve as well as
purchase minerals and improvements.

Members of the Cowessess First Nation successfully ratified its
Settlement Agreement and Trust Agreement on December 7, 1995. The
monetary settlement will be paid to the First Nation over the next 12
years, with the federal government contributing 70 per cent and the
provincial government contributing 30 per cent.

The Cowessess First Nation is located 21 km northwest of Broadview.

This news release is also available on the internet at the address
http://www.inac.gc.ca

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For further information, contact:

Wayne Hanna Rob Cunningham
Manager, Communications Communications
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Saskatchewan Indian and
Saskatchewan Region, Regina Metis Affairs
Phone: (306) 780-6429 Regina
Phone: (306) 787-6683
Terrance Pelletier
Cowessess First Nation
Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 696-2520