Nova Scotia will try to include land that's significant to the Mi'kmaq among the 10,000 hectares it's buying from the owners of the Bowater Mersey Paper Co. mill.
The purchase, at a cost of up to $23.8 million, is part of the province's rescue package for the struggling mill.
The province had previously said getting land of high conservation value was a priority.
On Tuesday, it said "lands of Mi'kmaq interest" will also be a priority.
The New Democrats added the phrase to the legislation containing the rescue package that is now before the House of Assembly.
It moved through the legislature's law amendments committee on Tuesday.
The province plans to have the land selected and transferred by March 31.
