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The Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation and the Canadian government have reached a $150-million settlement agreement regarding the Saskatchewan First Nation’s 1909 Surrender Specific Claim.
The claim arose out of what a media release called “Canada’s breach of statutory and fiduciary duties relating to the surrender of 18,352.8 acres of the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation’s reserve lands in 1909.”
The agreement also includes an addition-to-reserve option of up to 18,352.8 acres.
“Looking at history, all the past Chief and Council leadership have worked hard to make it into what we will sign,” Coun. Byron Toto of the First Nation said in the release. “The chance to turn our little Nation into a thriving place with economic opportunities is now here.”
“Now we have an opportunity to bring prosperity to our people and homelands,” added Chief Melissa Tavita. “We invest in ourselves so the future generations will grow up proud to be from Muscowpetung.”
According to the release, residents of the First Nation located 60 kilometres north of Regina accepted the settlement agreement with 99.8 per cent approval. Voter turnout for the ratification vote was 64 per cent.
The release said the 1909 Surrender Specific Claim was originally submitted to Canada in 1990. The federal government agreed to negotiate in 2019.
“This settlement agreement marks the start of a new relationship with Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation,” Gary Anandasangaree, the federal minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, said in the release.
“We recognize our responsibility to acknowledge the past and address the wrongs we have committed. Reconciliation and a better future – these are our goals for everyone in Canada.”
