The Mitaanjigamiing First Nation, located in Northwestern Ontario, settled a claim with both the federal government and provincial governments over ongoing flooding caused by the construction of a dam in the early twentieth century.

After nearly 30 years of filing a claim under Treaty 3, a settlement agreement was granted to the Indigenous peoples for $84.45 million.

The federal government will pay $45.05 million and Ontario will pay $39.4 million.

The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs said in a press release on Tuesday, "The lawsuit was filed in response to unauthorized and uncompensated flooding of reserve lands due to the construction of a dam across the Rainy River in Fort Frances-International Falls."

"This claim was accepted for negotiation by Ontario in 2003 and Canada in April 2009."

The Mitaanjigamiing First Nation is located northwest of Rainy Lake, about 70 kilometers north of Fort Frances city.

Its population is 140 people, with 100 individuals living on the reserve. The dam was built in 1909 for the pulp mill in Fort Frances and affected wild rice basins, according to the First Nation.

Greg Rickford, Ontario's Minister of Indigenous Affairs, spoke on the matter and affirmed its importance: "The settlement demonstrates Ontario’s commitment to correcting historical wrongs and moving forward together on the path of reconciliation."