Northern Ont. First Nation approves $110K minimum payouts from $200M settlement

The Garden River First Nation council will provide a minimum payout of $110,000 per registered citizen from the Robinson Huron Treaty settlement funds.

"Our priority is to ensure that each registered citizen receives benefits from this settlement,” Chief Karen Bell said in a news release this week.

“The $110,000 minimum payout per citizen and the $200 million allocated to a legacy trust demonstrate our commitment to addressing both immediate and long-term needs."

The council also decided to include all registered citizens with Indigenous Services Canada as of Sept. 9, 2023, in the payout.

The decision “aims to ensure equal treatment for all citizens,” the release said.

“The council will seek legal advice on handling debts to the band and applicants who applied for status before the cut-off date but received their registration number afterward.”

Sessions are planned to begin next week to determine how the trust funds will be used along with additional money to be distributed. The sessions will gather input from the citizens on how the funds and how the trusts will operate.

"We are committed to keeping our members informed throughout this process,” trustee Chester Langille said in the release.

“Significant engagement with smaller, targeted meetings was a request of the community last year and is essential to building trust and ensuring everyone understands the implications of these decisions."

The total settlement amount is approximately $610 million, with an additional $40-50 million expected from the war chest fund that was reduced from 10 per cent to five per cent recently.

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"This settlement is a significant milestone for our community,” Bell said.

“We are dedicated to managing these funds responsibly and ensuring they benefit both current and future generations of Garden River First Nation."