Completed Mediations – Reports Released

01/03/2004

Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation [Flooding Negotiations]- March 2004

Originally part of the Qu’Appelle Valley Indian Development Authority (QVIDA) inquiry into flooding claims, which was concluded by the Commission in February 1998, Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation stepped outside the larger organization to negotiate its flooding claim with Canada. At issue was approximately 58 acres of land around water-control structures erected in the 1940s. Also at issue was an area of land known as IR 80B, in which both Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation and Muscowpetung First Nation (also originally a member of QVIDA) claimed an interest. The First Nation and Canada came to an agreement on compensation in late 2002, but a ratification vote that December was unsuccessful. A second vote held in March 2003 was successful. The settlement agreement provided $3.6 million in compensation to the band and the ability to acquire up to 640 acres of agricultural land which would be set apart as reserve land pursuant to Canada’s Additions to Reserves Policy. The Commission released its report on the negotiation of this claim in March 2004.