Doig River First Nation applies to add five parcels of land to reserve

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A First Nation has applied to add five portions of land to its reserve, three of which are related to K’ih tsaa? dze Tribal Park.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) regional board meeting agenda on March 6th included a letter from Anne Seymour, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) lands and economic development project manager, about the application.

It was notifying PRRD that Doig River First Nation (DRFN) had submitted a request for five parcels of land be “set apart as a reserve.”

Three of the five parcels are related to K’ih tsaa? dze Tribal Park, located 40 kilometres northeast of Fort st. John.  The others are located in Mygosh and Broomfield Creek.

DRFN had public engagements regarding their land use plan and the park back in February.

Chief Trevor Makadahay said the process of reclaiming the lands has been going on for “several years.”

In the letter, Seymour also requested a letter of support for DRFN’s Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) selection from PRRD.

“Under the terms of the settlement, it is contemplated that Doig River may apply to add provincial Crown land as reserve in accordance with, and subject to, fulfillment of the requirements of Canada’s Additions to Reserves/Reserve Creation policy,” reads part of the letter from Seymour.

“These requirements include notification to [the] local government.”

The PRRD sent a letter of support for TLE claims during negotiations between DRFN and the federal government in August 2020.

More information about K’ih tsaa? dze Tribal Park is available on DRFN’s website.