Peguis to move forward with $119 million settlement

A new $126 Million agreement between the Federal Government and a Manitoba First Nation for land that was illegally expropriated by Canada will be the largest ever settlement for a single First Nation in Canadian history.
The band with 8,400 members living on and off reserve will receive nearly $119 million once legal and negotiation fees are deducted.
Descendants from what now forms the Peguis First Nation, located in Manitoba's Interlake region were forced to move from their original settlement, the St. Peter's reserve, located north of the city of Winnipeg in 1907.
Peguis Chief Glenn Hudson said the history of the re-location from a thriving farming community to the present day location in the middle of the bush created an undue hardship on the people. The land they were moved to is subject to yearly spring flooding and has been evacuated on numerous occasions since that time.
Hudson said the agreement in principle, reached March 5, was long overdue and didn't come without the feeling of righting a previous injustice. "It was very emotional and obviously the over all history of it makes this settlement very significant," said Hudson.
Calling the relocation 'the largest land swindle in Canadian history.' The land in question, was 'one of the best developed communities in Western Canada' at that time according to Hudson.
"The deal that had us moved was a one-day affair," said Hudson. "It was move to the left if you want $90 and move to the right if you don't."
"If you look at the entire process from start to finish, you will realize that we were swindled but also that our original band members never lived to see this day," said Hudson.
"I think it was very fair," said Hudson of the settlement. "We're looking forward to developing our community and moving ahead and this settlement will allow us to do that."
Band negotiator Lloyd Stevenson said reaching the historic deal was time consuming and difficult.
"In order to get to the negotiation stage we needed a validation stamp from INAC, they acted as defendant, a jury, judge and prosecutor,"said Stevenson.
Stevenson said claim after claim had been rejected by the Federal government until 1998 and the agreement in principle took ten years to negotiate.
The money is to be held in trust, with up to 25 per cent used for band capital projects. There is hope that a new hockey arena will be built after the first one burned to the ground a year ago.
INAC spokesperson Patricia Valladao said any agreement must be voted on by Peguis band membership and Treasury Board approval before it becomes official.
The First Nation will also be required to draft a proposed trust agreement with the department and the complete legal text of the settlement.