Details of Samson Band suit

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Here are the main elements of the $575 million suit filed by the Samson Band at Hobbema against the federal government.

The band wants $100 million for losses and damages caused by improper negotiation and terms of oil and gas leases covering drilling on band-owned land,

The band wants another $175 million for losses and damages for improper administration and management of the oil and leases and lands and natural resources of the

Samson reserves,

The band wants $150 million to cover losses and damages for being deprived of a proper rate of return on money held in trust by the government. More than $800 million of

the band's money flowed to the government between 1972 and March 1989.

The band is also asking for $150 million in losses and damages as compensation for being refused funding for services like housing, education, health, roads, economic and

social development and band administration and operation.

The band is asking that the federal government be fired as trustee and that the money Ottawa now holds in trust be turned over to the band or its holding company, Peace

Hills Trust.

As well the band is asking the Federal Court of Canada to declare sections of the Indian Act, which allows Ottawa to control Indian money as "unconstitutional and

discriminatory on the basis of race alone."

And fearful that Ottawa might try to create a new band to divert Samson money to, the band is asking that Section 17 of the Indian Act be declared unconstitutional.

That section was used by Indian Affairs Minister Pierre Cadieux earlier this year to create the Woodland Cree Band from a group of disgruntled Lubicon Lake band members.