Supreme Court of Canada says treaty entitled Alberta First Nation to larger reserve

The Blood Tribe, located near Lethbridge, Alberta, has long contended that Canada failed to fulfill its commitment made in 1877 to allocate a reserve area of one square mile for each family of five individuals.

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that an Alberta First Nation received less land than it was entitled to under a treaty signed with the Crown over a century ago.

In a unanimous decision today, the court stated that the Blood Tribe should have been granted an additional 162 square miles of territory, asserting that the Crown violated the treaty provisions in a dishonorable manner.

The Blood Tribe, located near Lethbridge, Alberta, has long contended that Canada failed to fulfill its commitment made in 1877 to allocate a reserve area of one square mile for each family of five individuals.

While acknowledging its breach of the land entitlement commitment, the Crown's admission was characterized by the court as a last-minute concession in a lengthy legal dispute. The court emphasized that the declaration of the Blood Tribe's entitlement to additional land will play a crucial role in recognizing the Crown's dishonorable behavior and facilitating future reconciliation efforts.