The Canadian government introduced legislation on Tuesday to resolve more than 800 First Nations land claims.
The bill was co-authored by the Assembly of First Nations. It creates an independent tribunal of six judges to resolve land claims valued at less than $150 million [Press Release | Specific Claims].
"I'm confident this will work because it's our product as well," AFN Chief Phil Fontaine said, the Canadian Press reported.
The bill provides $250 million a year for 10 years for the process. But it could take longer than a decade to resolve the backlog.
For claims valued above $150 million, the government and AFN signed a political accord to speed up those claims.
Get the Story:'This will work,' Fontaine says of revamped land-claims bill (CBC 11/27)
Ottawa moves to ease frustration, speed native land-claim settlements (CP 11/27) Relevant Links:
Assembly of First Nations - http://www.afn.ca
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca Related Stories:
Indian Affairs minister in Canada replaced (8/16)
Opinion: Canada's forked tongue on land claims (06/28)
Canada touts commission to resolve land claims (06/14)
Canada to announce new land claims commission (6/12)
First Nations chief knows how to deal with white man (06/07)
Editorial: Hundreds of years of neglect on land claims (06/01)
