Question Period Note: Akwesasne Dundee Specific Claim

Our Government is committed to honouring its lawful obligations and resolving claims through negotiations.
The Mohawks of Akwesasne and Canada negotiated a settlement agreement to resolve a historical grievance regarding the 1888 surrender of lands and leases issued in Dundee, Quebec.
The Mohawks of Akwesasne are in the midst of the ratification process of the proposed settlement agreement.
The proposed settlement is an important milestone in advancing reconciliation with the Mohawks of Akwesasne.

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and the Government of Canada have been working together to try to resolve a longstanding dispute between the parties with regard to the 1888 surrender of lands in the Tsikaristisere/Dundee area in the Province of Quebec.
The territory known as the Tsikaristisere or "Dundee lands" is on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River roughly opposite Cornwall. It consists of approximately 20,000 acres in the most westerly portion of the Province of Quebec, in the area now known as the Township of Dundee.

The Government of Canada accepted the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s claim for negotiations following a thorough historical, legal and policy review. The start of negotiations between Canada and the First Nation was announced in 2002.

Canada and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne have negotiated a settlement agreement. The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne presented this settlement offer to its members for a vote on December 8, 2018. The Mohawks of Akwesasne’s membership has approved at 79.6% the settlement agreement with a participation rate of 28.1%. A five-day appeal period applied and ended on December 14, 2018. Appeals have been filed against ratification vote results and are currently being reviewed by the Akwesasne Mohawk Court Law.

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne may use some of the settlement funds to buy lands on the open market and make an application to Canada under the additions to reserves process.

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