Acadia First Nation

Project Description
The Acadia First Nation Band acquired a large property in Carleton, Nova Scotia. In order to more effectively manage the band resources, a boundary survey of the property was requested. Administration of First Nation lands is through the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

Canada Lands Surveyors and Nova Scotia Land Surveyors at Terrain Group are qualified to conduct legal surveys of Indian lands on behalf of NRCan. Our firm was contracted to complete a boundary survey and prepare a plan of survey suitable for recording at the provincial Registry of Deeds and at the Canada Lands Surveys Records office in Ottawa.

Services Provided
The Carleton property is approximately 3,000 acres in size, some 6 km x 3 km. Terrain’s surveyors conducted legal research of provincial records and interviewed local residents with specific knowledge of the property. The property limits were comprised of natural boundaries such as lakes and rivers, and artificial boundaries such as blazed lines, roads, and previously surveyed lots.

The land surveyor’s task is to review all documentary and physical evidence, determine the boundaries, open up the lines, and monument the corners. Terrain field technicians utilized a full range of methodologies to complete the project in a cost-effective manner. Global Positioning System technology was used wherever appropriate in order to reduce the need for time-consuming “line-of-site” methods. The project proved to be very challenging with respect to re-establishing the location of the original properties, some of which dated back to 1759.

The survey took two months to complete. Approximately 10 km of boundary lines were cut and blazed, 5 km of natural boundary were surveyed, and 130 survey monuments were placed. The survey and recorded plan will protect the interests of the Acadian Band and adjacent landowners as these lands are developed in the coming years.