The Government of Manitoba has launched a working group established to consult on Indigenous land acknowledgement.

Premier Kelvin Goertzen announced yesterday morning he selected three MLAs to head the task force to gain better insight on Indigenous land acknowledgements, which will be implemented in the Manitoba Legislature. He says it's an important step.

"I also think that consultation is important. I think consultation is the respectful way to do it. I also know things that happen in the Legislature tend to last for 100 years, so I think it's important to get it right."

The group is headed by Eileen Clarke, MLA for Agassiz, who served as Minister of Indigenous and Municipal Relations before stepping down due to controversial comments from former Premier Brian Pallister. The other members are Greg Nesbitt, MLA for Riding Mountain, and Andrew Smith, MLA for Lagimodiere. Goertzen says he looks forward to the completion of this study and having it presented to the rules committee of the Legislature.

"I think there's an opportunity with these consultations to use the text once the consultation is concluded in annual reports of government, so to have a land acknowledgment in the annual reports of government I think is also important and would coincide well with these consultations."

The group is developing recommendations for an Indigenous land acknowledgement protocol to be used in the House, including proposed language and frequency of use.