City of Saskatoon and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation sign new urban reserve agreement

The City of Saskatoon and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation signed a new urban reserve agreement Wednesday.

The First Nation's land at 125 Aspen Place will be designated as an urban reserve. 

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Chief Kelly Wolfe, along with the Muskeg Lake band council and Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners chair Shirley Greyeyes, took part in the signing ceremony in the council chamber ar city hall.

The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners also approved a service agreement last month to address municipal and police services for the reserve.

It will be Muskeg Lake's third urban reserve and Saskatoon's 11th.

Clark got emotional as he expressed hope that the partnership and friendship between the city and the Cree Nation can continue for generations.

"That's powerful," Clark said with tears in his eyes. "Us showing that we can get along is what [younger generations] need to see and be stronger together."

The site is adjacent to Muskeg Lake's Asimakaniseekan Askiy urban reserve, located in Sutherland. The nation's other urban reserve is Cree Way West Petro Canada, located on 22nd Street West.

Muskeg Lake Cree Nation established Asimakaniseekan Askiy in 1988. It was the first commercial urban reserve in Canada. On Wednesday, Chief Kelly Wolfe shared an anecdote about visiting the site in 1988, when he was nine years old.

"It was a special day for the community that day. And I'll always remember the importance of our leadership ensuring that our youth were also a part of this," Wolfe said.

"Fast forward today, here we are sitting at the development in Packham Ave. Nearly $100 million in assets. As we hold the baton now, this chief and council, we need to ensure that we expand on the foundation that was laid before us."

Wolfe said the first urban reserve is currently home to 50 businesses and more than 750 employees.

Members from the First Nation's council gifted Clark and Saskatoon councillors Cynthia Block, Hilary Gough and David Kirton with star blankets that bore the City of Saskatoon logo.

Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, a member of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, has its home reserve in central Saskatchewan, 93 kilometres north of Saskatoon.