Utoo Radio and other news sources - March 12 2024 - In a significant development, a First Nations community in northern Manitoba has successfully resolved a major legal dispute, resulting in a substantial financial settlement of over $200 million being allocated to the community. As part of the settlement, each member will receive a $30,000 payment, addressing unfulfilled commitments dating back over a hundred years.
On Facebook last Thursday, Chief Derek Nepinak of Pine Creek First Nation shared that the Chief and council anticipate receiving the full $205,519,700 settlement from a 'cows and plows' agreement this spring.
"Our lawyer confirmed this morning that Canada has approved our final settlement agreement as of Feb. 27," Nepinak said in a video statement.
“And that initiates a 45-day period from the time of signing to the distribution of the proceeds to our trust, so by mid-April it should be fully completed.”
Legal papers discovered on the Indigenous Services Canada website on Monday verify that the federal government indeed signed the agreement on Feb 27.
Upon receiving the funds, Nepinak plans to initiate the distribution of per capita payments included in the settlement, ensuring that every band member residing on or off-reserve will receive $30,000.
Nepinak mentioned that numerous band members have already received $5,000 early payouts as part of the process, and can anticipate the remaining money owed to them to be distributed once chief and council can begin the process.
“Council will convene to determine the most efficient way to speed up this process, ensuring that once we receive the funds in mid-April, everyone can promptly receive their deposit via EFT or by check, if preferred,” Nepinak stated.
We are currently exploring a method to handle the payments with an independent administrator overseeing the proceeds on our behalf. Please be patient as we work on this.
PCFN, a community situated around 110 kilometres north of Dauphin on the shores of Lake Winnipegosis, has about 648 on-reserve and 2,912 off-reserve members.
In November, the community reached an agreement with the federal government regarding a well-known claim involving land use.
PCFN is located within Treaty 4 territory. As per the federal government, when the Treaty was first signed in 1874, they committed to providing agricultural equipment and livestock to help families and individuals transition to an agricultural economy and society.
The federal government has acknowledged that it failed to provide the promised agricultural equipment and livestock in Treaties like Treaty 4. It is now taking steps to compensate communities with financial settlements adjusted to today’s currency in various First Nations in Canada.
"The Crown is not providing us with oxen, cattle, or farming tools," Nepinak stated when the agreement was finalized in November. "The Crown is providing financial instruments for us to choose what works best in today's economic climate."
In 2020, PCFN made history as the first Manitoba First Nation to file a ‘cows and plows’ claim. The federal government subsequently agreed to collaborate with the community to pursue a negotiated settlement.
Nepinak mentions that the community has achieved a significant milestone since initiating the lawsuit, as they move closer to receiving the full settlement.
“We now have a clear idea of the end point, so this development is significant in the timeline, and that’s positive,” he stated.
As part of the agreement, all PCFN youth will also receive $30,000, but that money will be put into a trust they cannot access until they turn 18 years old.
The remaining funds not allocated to band members will be placed in a trust fund. PCFN mentioned in a media release last November that the community aims to reserve a portion of the funds for future educational and business endeavours.
