The Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill will soon be back in Canadian hands.

A consortium of Manitoba First Nations, in partnership with iChurchill Inc., has entered into an agreement to acquire the port and railway from Denver-based OmniTrax.

Chief Glenn Hudson, who is the head of the consortium, said that this marks the start of a new day in Manitoba that shows Canada the strength of First Nations, how true partnerships are formed, and that First Nations are key to building a stronger north, stronger Manitoba and stronger Canada.

War Lake First Nation Chief Betsy Kennedy said that the rail line and port are crucial to the existence of all Northern First Nations and this is a historic move that will allow the community to have a say in their future.

It is expected that a request for proposals to repair the washed out line will be posted in the next few days, and that the corporate process will be concluded next month. Repairs are anticipated to be well underway before the fall.

The rail line has been out of service since last May.