Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation has signed a $630 million settlement with Ottawa that fulfills a Treaty 6 obligation to provide agricultural benefits to First Nations.
“This settlement is about more than just compensation — it’s about Canada honouring its treaty commitments,” said Chief Peter Beatty in a news release.
The settlement was finalized March 5 with Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree signing on behalf of Ottawa and is part of the so-called cows-and-plows settlement.
In a previous interview, Anandasangaree announced 14 Saskatchewan First Nations would get a combined $1.72 billion.
Treaties created between First Nations and the Crown made promises including hand tools such as spades, scythes and axes, as well as bigger equipment like plows, harrows and pit saws, to be shared among families. Many of these promises were never fulfilled.
According to the news release, members of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) were allowed to review and vote on the agreement prior to the First Nation signing.
PBCN said 93 per cent of people who voted were in favour of the settlement.
“This agreement gives us a chance to build up our communities, create new opportunities, and set up future generations for success,” Beatty stated in the news release.
“This isn’t just about the past — it’s about what we do next.”
According to PBCN, the agreement includes financial compensation, a settlement trust and a finance code to ensure transparency.
The PBCN comprises nine communities with more than 13,000 members stretching from Prince Albert to Pelican Narrows.
