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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - A ceremonial signing for the creation of a reserve for Salt River First Nation took place on March 29.

Chief Frieda Martselos and Chuck Strahl, the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, sign a celebratory version of the Order in Council creating a reserve for Salt River First Nation on March 29. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Salt River First Nation Indian Reserve #195 was actually created in September by an Order in Council of the federal government, based on an agreement made in 2002.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Chuck Strahl said the March 29 event in Fort Smith was a symbolic signing to allow the community to celebrate and had no legal significance.

"This allows for a signing ceremony in the community just to kick it off in a way that people can celebrate," Strahl said. "You can't celebrate something that happens in the dry and dusty halls of Ottawa, so it's just a way to do it in the community."

Chief Frieda Martselos called the signing a "historic event" in SRFN's journey to evolve into self-government.

The creation of the reserve was part of the Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) agreement signed by the band and the federal and territorial governments in 2002.

Martselos said the 2002 agreement gave all SRFN members the opportunity to move forward - economically, socially and spiritually.

"The economic growth and potential at Salt River First Nation is unlimited," the chief added.

The 2002 agreement fulfilled commitments made to the First Nation under Treaty 8, signed at Fort Fitzgerald in 1899.

The agreement sets aside approximately 430-square-kilometres of land at numerous sites in and around Fort Smith and an additional 13 square kilometres at four sites in Wood Buffalo National Park.

Strahl said the creation of the reserve will be good for Salt River First Nation, explaining stability will give businesses the confidence to invest.

"Business doesn't care whether you're First Nation or public government, territorial or federal. They want certainty," he said. "So when you get a reserve creation, you know where the land boundaries are, you know who runs it, you know who's in control, then businesses with confidence can make investments. That makes a big difference."

The Salt River First Nation Reserve is the first established in the NWT in nearly 35 years.

While the focus of the March 29 event was the new reserve for Salt River First Nation, visiting chiefs - including from the Dehcho and Akaitcho territories - took the opportunity to call for settlement of their outstanding claims.

Strahl said those other negotiations are progressing.

"They always take more time than you think they should, but on the other hand I think they're going well," the minister said. "It's not imminent. There's no ceremony to sign here on those other ones. But they continue to go well and I think we're making good progress."