Marc Miller, Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations, stands with Chief and council at Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation. (Twitter/ Marc Miller)

By paNOW Staff

TREATY SALARIES

Government announces settlement on unpaid treaty salaries at Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation

Aug 8, 2022 | 3:00 PM

A First Nation in north-central Saskatchewan was the site of a visit from Canada’s Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations.

On Monday, Minister Marc Miller joined Chief Edwin Ananas of Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation to announce a settlement agreement regarding the Beardy’s and Okemasis Treaty Salaries Claim.

The claim addresses a longstanding grievance where Canada failed to provide the salaries and annuities promised to Chiefs and headmen under Treaty 6 between 1885 and 1951. In June 2022, the Cree Nation received $4,101,046 to settle this claim.

“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,” said Ananas. “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.”

(Twitter/ Marc Miller)

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The federal government said it will continue to work alongside Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation to build trust and renew the relationship for the benefit of the community and all Canadians.

“The resolution of long-standing historical grievances is essential to advance Canada’s relationship with Indigenous communities. Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation had specific rights under Treaty 6, which had not been respected by Canada for far too long,” said Miller. “With this settlement, I look forward to making further progress with the community to advance their priorities.”

Last Wednesday, Miller was in Peepeekisis Cree Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan offering an apology on behalf of the federal government for what he called an “experiment in radical social engineering” that forced a farming colony on the community’s land.

The following day he visited Muskeg Lake Cree Nation to announce a settlement had been reached in the 1919 Soldier Settlement Surrender claim.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow