Councillors at Dakota Tipi First Nation are hoping to set up a meeting with various levels of government, to discuss compensation for the relocation of their people in the 1950s. Karl Stone briefly raised the issue at the recent Labour Market Transfer Agreement roundtable in Portage la Prairie, but says they want to sit down with the municipal, provincial, and federal governments to move forward in rectifying the situation. Stone says the relocation took them from an area where they could farm, and left them with a small plot of land south of the Portage Diversion. He feels compensation is in order, blaming their current struggles on the move. 

Karl Stone (file photo)

"We want to rectify the problem with the city of Portage la Prairie, the federal government, and provincial government. We want to address the situation that's here now. I think we could have been prosperous, more prosperous when it comes to economics."

The Dakota were nomadic people, but had camps around Crescent Lake for many years. However, they were relocated to their current site to address flood concerns, something Stone doesn't feel was legitimate given the number of buildings in that area now. He also says the area they're current set up is much smaller than their previous location making for some challenges when it comes to developing residential areas.

"We can't even get a house on the land here because the land base is so small. You know how close together the housing is, and there's no more room to build housing in the community. There's just no room to develop here in the community."

He notes the Dakota people's history near Crescent Lake is well-known, noting he helped identify remains at a former Dakota Burial site that was discovered during road work a few years ago. He feels compensation would help create a more viable future for the community, which economic struggles have left the First Nation under third-party management.

While it's been a long time coming, Stone feels optimistic. He says his brief conversation with MLA Ian Wishart at the roundtable showed the new government is will to sit down and discuss these issues. He says their hope is to expand their current boundaries, to help create more space for both residential and economic development.