Garden River says no to 100 per cent treaty settlement payouts
Garden River First Nation members will not be receiving a full payout of past treaty payments under the $10 billion Robinson Huron Treaty settlement.
The chief of the community east of Sault Ste. Marie said the leadership’s “fiduciary duty” to the community and future generations was partly behind the decision.
Chief Karen Bell said while members of Garden River First Nation will not be receiving a full payout, they will still receive a “good portion” of the settlement.
“Individual members of Garden River First Nation definitely will get money,” said Bell.
“We haven’t determined what percentage we’re going to be doing yet. But that will be a discussion that we have at the leadership table in the near future, and we are going to be doing a lot consultation with our members on and off the First Nation.”
In all, 21 First Nations communities who are part of the treaty will share in the settlement. The award compensates First Nations who signed the 1850 Robinson Huron Treaty in which First Nations agreed to allow resource extraction on their territory in exchange for a share of the revenue generated.
But the federal and provincial governments failed to follow the treaty and did not increase the revenue shared with First Nations, as had been agreed to in the treaty. The last increase came in 1875.
The $10 billion settlement was the result of a years-long court battle.
Can't please everyone
While the decision by chief and council prompted a strong reaction on social media, Bell said that was not unexpected.
“We have to make decisions and some of these decisions are not going to be liked or applauded by everybody,” she said.
“But, we got to think about the 3,500 people we’re making decisions for, not the 30 or 40 people that are on social media that are making comments.”
Bell said the settlement agreement covers the First Nation collectively, not individual members, and she said a 100 per cent individual payout would violate that aspect of the agreement.
“Which means we would be in litigation now with the law firm that did all the 17 years of work on this, along with the litigation committee, along with the federal and provincial governments that signed on the dotted line to hand over this money,” said Bell.
She said leadership must also take into account a trust fund for members under the age of 18, legal costs, a “war chest” for future litigation and money for language and culture preservation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.