Sharing Land, Honoring Treaties: Inside the Treaty Land Sharing Network
Photo by EALT
The Treaties signed between Indigenous nations and the Crown were never meant to be one-sided. They were agreements built on mutual respect, coexistence, and shared stewardship of the land. But for generations, those promises have been broken—especially in rural areas where Indigenous people are often denied access to the lands their ancestors once roamed freely.
That’s where The Treaty Land Sharing Network (TLSN) comes in. This grassroots initiative, based in Saskatchewan, connects farmers and private landholders with First Nations and Métis people, creating safe and respectful access to privately held lands in order to engage in traditional practices such as hunting, medicine gathering, ceremony and more.
The TLSN was formed in 2020 out of a painful moment in Canada’s history—the 2016 killing of Colten Boushie, a young Cree man, and the trial that followed. In response, a group of private landholders and Indigenous leaders came together to offer a different path: one rooted in healing, relationship-building, and action. In 2024 the TLSN extended to include treaty territory within Alberta, and has been expanding quickly.
How It Works
The TLSN isn’t about giving land away—it’s about sharing it. Landholders voluntarily open up their property to Indigenous peoples so they can exercise their treaty rights. These properties might be forests, wetlands, pastures, or even small patches of prairie. In return, they receive guidance on how to do so in a way that’s culturally respectful and safe for everyone involved.
Indigenous users can then access these lands to:
Practice Treaty and Metis harvesting (hunting)
Gather Medicine
Hold Ceremony and Feasts
Teach youth about land-based knowledge
It’s a model built on trust, dialogue, and Treaty responsibility.
Photo by EALT
Want to Learn More?
If you’re curious about joining the network or just want to learn more, check out the Treaty Land Sharing Network website. You’ll find maps of participating properties, stories from landholders and Indigenous users, and resources to help you get involved.