Tribunal rules in favour of First Nation $40M lawsuit
A decision by the Specific Claims Tribunal could be worth $4.2 million dollars for Beardy’s Okemasis First Nation.
The tribunal has ruled the government owes the band compensation for money lost during the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. Bands labelled as disloyal by the government had their annuity money withheld.
The federal government has 30 days to respond, and could appeal.
“I guess I am not about to do cartwheels until we get the response from the government because this is the government that spends $149 million fighting treaty rights and losing at every turn,” said Chief Rick Gamble from Beardy’s Okemasis First Nation.