The Lac La Ronge Indian Band announced it approved a whopping $601.5 million settlement with the federal government to address the "cows and plows" clause of Treaty 6.
LA RONGE, Sask.—A wrong that was committed over 100 years ago looks like it will probably be made right. The Lac La Ronge Indian Band announced it approved a whopping $601.5 million settlement with the federal government to address the "cows and plows" clause of Treaty 6.
Under treaties 4, 5, 6 and 10, the Crown promised agricultural benefits-livestock, hand tools, seeds and farming equipment-to the First Nations that signed. This was meant to push First Nations people from a nomadic lifestyle centered on hunting to a more European-Canadian agricultural lifestyle of farming and raising livestock. However, That promise went unfulfilled for Lac La Ronge Indian Band and many other First Nations that are negotiating settlements for compensation.
The band says this settlement is one of the largest of its kind in Canadian history.
"It's overwhelming because of the support that we received from the band membership because at the end of the day, it was up to the band membership, whether they accepted the settlement agreement or not," said Chief Tommy Cook-Searson.
The Lac La Ronge Indian Band, located in Northern Saskatchewan, is one of the largest First Nation bands in Canada, with a population of 12,395.
The band turned out in record numbers with 5,068 of 8,462 eligible voters casting their ballots. During the vote, 4,835 voted in favor to accept the settlement.
While the claim has been in the works for eight years, the problem stems from 1889 when the treaty was originally signed-but not fulfilled.
"When our Chief James Roberts and the council negotiated treaty, they had a provision in there that we would get help at that time to become farmers with instruction to be able to have a livelihood from the agricultural industry, so that part of the treaty was not fulfilled," explained Cook-Searson. "So this is fulfilling part of the promise of the treaty at that time."
Cook-Searson said there were extensive community consultations, including months of meetings, information sessions and discussions for band members to learn about the settlement.
Each band member will get an initial per capita distribution, with those 18 and over getting a larger amount. Then each year every man, woman and child will get a certain amount, plus money will go into a trust for those 18 and under. Another amount will be set aside for "community benefit."
The band still has to finalize the settlement, which is expected to take up to seven months.
