WHEREAS the Slavey, Hare and Mountain Dene of the Sahtu region have traditionally used and occupied lands in the Northwest Territories from time immemorial;
WHEREAS the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada;
WHEREAS Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and the Sahtu Dene and Metis, as represented by the Sahtu Tribal Council, undertook negotiations in order to achieve certainty and clarity of rights with respect to ownership and use of those lands and their resources;
WHEREAS the Sahtu Dene and Metis, by a vote held from July 5 to 8, 1993, approved a comprehensive land claim agreement that, in exchange for the release of certain rights and claims as set out in the agreement, defines the rights that the Sahtu Dene and Metis shall have, and confirms the treaty rights that are unaffected by that release;
WHEREAS Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and the Sahtu Dene and Metis, as represented by the Sahtu Tribal Council, signed the agreement on September 6, 1993;
WHEREAS the Sahtu Tribal Council by resolution approved certain amendments to the agreement on January 13 and February 11, 1994;
AND WHEREAS the agreement provides that the agreement will be a land claims agreement within the meaning of section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and that approval by Parliament is a condition precedent to the validity of the agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short Title
This Act may be cited as the Sahtu Dene and Metis Land Claim Settlement Act.
Interpretation
In this Act, Agreement means the Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement between Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and the Sahtu Dene and Metis, as represented by the Sahtu Tribal Council, signed on September 6, 1993 and tabled in the House of Commons by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development on March 8, 1994, including any amendments made to it from time to time.
Her Majesty
This Act is binding on Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province.
Agreement
The Agreement is hereby approved, given effect and declared valid.
For greater certainty, any person or body may exercise the powers, rights, privileges and benefits conferred on the person or body by the Agreement and shall perform the duties and is subject to the liabilities imposed on the person or body by the Agreement.
For greater certainty, title to lands vests in one or more designated Sahtu organizations as provided in the Agreement.
For the purposes of carrying out its objectives, the Renewable Resources Board established by the Agreement has the capacity, rights, powers and privileges of a natural person.
The Governor in Council may make such orders and regulations as are necessary for the purpose of carrying out the Agreement.
The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development shall cause a certified copy of the Agreement and of any amendments made to it to be deposited in
the library of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development that is situated in the National Capital Region;
the regional office of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development situated in the Northwest Territories;
the legislative library of the Government of the Northwest Territories; and
such other places as the Minister considers necessary.
Other Laws
Where there is an inconsistency or conflict between this Act or the Agreement and the provisions of any law, this Act or the Agreement, as the case may be, prevails to the extent of the inconsistency or conflict.
[Repealed]
Appropriation
There shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund such sums as are required to meet the monetary obligations of Canada under chapters 8 and 10 of the Agreement.
Related Amendments
[Amendments]
Coming into Force
Subject to subsection (2), this Act comes into force on the later of April 1, 1994 and the day on which it is assented to.
Sections 11 and 12 are deemed to have come into force on December 22, 1992.