Naawi-Oodena is an urban reserve in Manitoba jointly controlled by Treaty One First Nations. The land was occupied by the Canadian military for many decades. The Treaty One Senior Management Team presented to the NIEDB in September 2023 and shared lessons from Treaty One’s 20-year journey to secure the land for the seven Treaty One First Nations.
Background
Treaty No.1 was signed in 1871 at Lower Fort Garry, promising each family of five 160 acres of land in exchange for lands in what is now southern Manitoba. Seven First Nations signed the first of the numbered treaties: Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Long Plain First Nation, Peguis First Nation, Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation, Sagkeeng First Nation, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, and Swan Lake First Nation.
The Canadian military used land on Treaty One Territory on the former Kapyong Barracks site from as early as 1919. In 2004, the military abandoned Kapyong Barracks, and in 2007 the Department of National Defense received approval to sell the property to the Canada Lands Company. Treaty One First Nations challenged the federal government’s attempt to sell the site, stating they had a right to the land under outstanding Treaty Land Entitlement claims.
In 2015, the Treaty No. 1 First Nations won a major victory when the court of appeals ruled that the federal government had failed to properly consult the First Nations before approving the sale of Kapyong Barracks in Winnipeg. The court ruled that this land was to be transferred to the seven Treaty No. 1 First Nations in the coming years. Prime Minister Stephen Harper then announced that the government would no longer continue to appeal the decision and the Addition to Reserve process began.
In preparation, the Treaty One Development Corporation (T1DC) was incorporated in July 2018 to pursue its goals of acquiring and developing the former Kapyong Barracks lands, and in 2019 a Comprehensive Settlement Agreement was signed by the Government of Canada and Chiefs of the Treaty No. 1 First Nations. This agreement allocated 68% of the site (108 acres / 43.8 ha) to Treaty One and identified 32% of the site (51 acres / 20.8 ha) to Canada Lands Company.
In 2015, the 160-acre site now known as Naawi-Oodena was officially repatriated to the Jointly Held Land Base of the Treaty One First Nations on December 16, 2022. Naawi-Oodena roughly translates to “centre of the heart and community” in the Anishinaabemowin language.
On April 1, 2023, the T1DC formally split into two entities, and formed Treaty One Nations Inc. (T1N). Whereas T1DC will continue with its goals to generate economic growth and prosperity for the seven Treaty No. 1 First Nations through development of the Jointly Held Treaty One Lands, T1N will pursue its commitments towards creation of a collective self-governance model for the Treaty One Jointly Held Lands
The Naawi-Oodena development project is a joint venture between the Treaty One Nations and Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation that's a partner in the development.
This landmark development is the largest multi-use infill project in modern Winnipeg history and the single largest, strategically located First Nation-led Urban Economic Development Zone in Canada.