Lake of the Woods flooding claims

About the flooding claims

Ontario is negotiating with Lake of the Woods, Shoal Lake and Winnipeg River First Nations and Canada to settle the First Nations’ claims that a series of dams built on Lake of the Woods, beginning in 1887 caused the flooding of their reserve lands.

The goal of these negotiations is to conclude fair and final settlements that will bring closure to these longstanding issues and foster reconciliation. The timely resolution of these claims through negotiation, balancing the rights and interests of all concerned, is in everyone’s best interest.

Negotiated settlements will address the First Nations’ claims by providing financial compensation for past losses and damages due to flooding, and an arrangement to address continued flooding. They will also bring economic benefits and certainty to the First Nations and neighbouring communities, creating economic opportunities and potential new business partnerships in the region.

The First Nations involved in these claims are:

• Animakee Wa Zhing #37
• Anishinaabeg of Naongashiing
• Big Grassy River
• Buffalo Point
• Iskatewizaagegan #39
• Ojibways of Onigaming
• Naotkamegwanning
• Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation
• Northwest Angle #33
• Shoal Lake #40
• Washagamis Bay
• Wauzhushk Onigum Nation

Together, these First Nations have 41 reserves fronting on Lake of the Woods, Shoal Lake and the Winnipeg River.

Current status

Proposed settlements with Wasagamis Bay and Wauzhushk Onigum First Nations may be ready for approval by the individual First Nations, Canada and Ontario in 2025-2026.

Proposed settlements would include:

• financial compensation for past losses and damages due to flooding of reserve lands
• an arrangement to address their continued flooding

Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation reached a tripartite settlement with Ontario and Canada for it’s flooding claim in 2022.

Naotkamegwanning, Big Grassy River, Ojibways of Onigaming, Animakee Wa Zhing #37 and Northwest Angle #33 First Nations reached tripartite settlement agreements with Ontario and Canada for their flooding claims in 2023.

Negotiations overview

Negotiations with most of the First Nations, Canada and Ontario began in 2009.

Negotiation protocol agreements were signed by the negotiating partners between 2011 and 2013. Settlement studies between 2013 and 2017 informed the negotiations.

Surveys were undertaken between 2018 and 2020 to locate the natural, pre-flood water’s edge of the First Nation Reserves. The final surveys were completed in 2022. The completed surveys confirm that:

• approximately 5,094 hectares (12,590 acres) of reserve land were impacted by the flooding
• reserve islands were created where none existed before the flooding

The permanently flooded reserve lands and islands created by the flooding were not recognized as part of the reserves in subsequent years and were, at times, administered by Ontario. Past actions taken by Ontario include:

• regulating islands as part of the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve
• including islands within the boundaries of allocations for resource harvesting
• the sale of islands

Ontario is taking steps to address circumstances where First Nation reserve lands have been administered by Ontario.

Public information sharing

In August 2019, Ontario hosted open houses to provide the public with an opportunity to review the information available at the time.

Ontario’s negotiator provided background information on the claims and indicated surveys would be done to provide further clarity around the First Nations flooded reserve lands.

To date, 26 surveys for the eight communities have been completed. The lands indicated on the recent surveys are under the administration and control of the federal government. 

To ensure that information about the proposed settlement of these claims would continue to be available during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario created this page in 2022, and continues to update it. This includes an interactive map showing the areas affected by flooding. 

Information for each First Nation’s flooded reserve lands will be available for review for a 45-day period from the date the information is posted.

Interactive maps

Provide feedback or learn more

Read our frequently asked questions (PDF) to learn more.

To provide feedback, request additional information or to arrange for a video or teleconference, contact:

Dianne Woods
Negotiator

• Tel: 416-575-9838
•  LOTWFloodClaim@ontario.ca