A Manitoba First Nation is alleging it is the owner of The Forks.
On Friday, Dakota Tipi First Nation filed a lawsuit, with the City of Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba, attorney general of Canada and North Portage Development Corporation listed as defendants.
According to the lawsuit, Dakota Tipi exclusively used the land where The Forks is now for trade, agriculture, hunting and fishing. Dakota Tipi says it never gave up its land rights to the Crown because Canada didn’t recognize the First Nation.
Now, it wants the legal title of the land given to the First Nation, as well as compensation for past use, costs for damages and consultation on future use.
None of these claims have been proven in court.
The Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg would not comment as the matter is before the courts.