In 1996, the First Nations of Odanak and Wôlinak submitted a specific claim regarding the former Crespieul Reserve, entitled: "Surrender and sale of the Crespieul Reserve - specific claim of the Abenaki bands of Odanak and Wôlinak vs. The Crown in Right of Canada."

The Crespieul Reserve was created in 1894 and covered a surface of 33.8 km². It was located north-west of La Tuque. This reserve was surrendered by the First Nations in 1910 and sold to a third party in 1911 by the Government of Canada to the benefit of Abenakis.

This claim was accepted for negotiation by the Government of Canada on August 27, 2001 as part of the Specific Claims Policy on the basis of allegations that the Government of Canada has breached its lawful obligations, which led to the loss of the former Crespieul Reserve by the Abenakis as of 1910.

The parties signed a negotiation protocol in the spring of 2003 and are now initiating the negotiation as such in order to arrive at a fair and reasonable settlement of the grievance. If the parties come to an agreement, a financial compensation will be paid to the First Nations so as to cover the damages established during negotiations.

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