SPECIFIC CLAIMS TRIBUNAL DECISION COULD SEE MULTI-MILLION PAYMENT

Specific Claims Tribunal decision could see multi-million payment.

A decision by the Specific Claims Tribunal could be worth $4.2 million 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. The government withheld annuity money from bands they labelled disloyal. ”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. The federal government has 30 days to appeal the decision. Chakastaypasin, Little Pine, Lucky Man, Moosomin, Mosquito/Grizzly Bear’s Head/Lean Man, Muskeg Lake, One Arrow, Onion Lake, Poundmaker, Red Pheasant, Sweetgrass, Thunderchild, and Young Chipewayan First Nations were listed on the lawsuit as interveners and could be affected by the decision.  Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation was the claimant on the lawsuit.