A First Nation in Saskatchewan has reached a multimillion-dollar settlement agreement with the Government of Canada.
In June, Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation and the federal government reached a $4.1-million agreement to settle a claim that Canada failed to provide salaries and annuities to the Nation’s Chiefs and Headmen under Treaty 6 from 1885 to 1951.
Canada withheld the salaries and annuities because of the Nation’s wrongly perceived role in Northwest Resistance – a decision Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller described as a “black-and-white violation of treaty.”
“This settlement is a positive step toward repairing the Treaty relationship between Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation and Canada, and we appreciate Canada’s co-operation in resolving this claim,” Chief Edwin Ananas said in a statement.
Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation is one of Saskatchewan’s largest First Nations, with more than 3,000 members.
“We now look forward to Canada’s continued co-operation as we work toward resolving our Nation’s other outstanding claims and toward reconciliation more generally,” Ananas added.
MLT Aikins lawyers Sonia Eggerman, Josh Morrison and Jeremy Barber were pleased to act as counsel to Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation on this historic settlement with the Government of Canada. Learn more about our Indigenous practice group.