Today, April 9, 2025, Chief Nelson Genaille, of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation (SCN), and Mayor Lance Jacobson, of the Town of Swan River, announced the SCN’s plans to build a Microtel and entertainment centre on the SCN’s third parcel of land in Swan River, Manitoba.

This third parcel of land, 8.6 acres, was purchased by the SCN under its Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) Agreement, which will be set apart as Reserve by Canada under the 1997 Manitoba Framework Agreement (MFA) on TLE.

The planned hotel will have 76 rooms, along with a pool, restaurant, meeting space and other amenities. SCN is striving to have this new enterprise open for business in August 2026.

Last year, SCN’s Chief Genaille and Council signed a Municipal Development and Services Agreement (MDSA) with the Town of Swan River’s Mayor Jacobson and Council.

This MDSA was for this third parcel of land.

SCN currently has two (2) urban Reserves in Swan River which hosts the Club Sapp Gaming Centre and the Petro Canada Gas and Convenience Store. These two parcels were also earlier purchased, or bought, by SCN under its 1998 TLE agreement and have MDSAs in place.

Under the MFA’s Reserve creation process, when a First Nation buys land in an urban centre, like a town or city, and if they require continued services provided by that town or city, the First Nation negotiates the terms and conditions with the municipal government.

This is done because after the parcel becomes Reserve, the municipal government no longer has jurisdiction over that parcel of land.

Once negotiations are complete, they then sign an MDSA, which the Government of Canada requires if the First Nation requests that urban parcel of land be set apart as Reserve under its TLE agreement.

Chief Genaille is also the President of the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee of Manitoba.