Canada is paying money to First Nations communities. This is being done to honour old promises that were not kept. The new settlement is between Canada and fourteen First Nations in Saskatchewan. First Nations are Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples also include Inuit and Métis.
The settlement recognized made about 150 years ago. It was announced at an event on February 21. The announcement was made by Gary Anandasangaree. He is Canada’s Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. Canada will pay $1.72 billion dollars to the various First Nations.
“We have an opportunity today as a country and as a people to reset the relationship for the next generation,” said Anandasangaree. He said that this was part of Canada’s with Indigenous Peoples.
Chiefs from the First Nations were also at the event. One of them was Pelican Lake First Nation Chief Peter Bill. He said that the settlement will help to “begin the healing.” He also said that the “healing process will take to achieve.”
The original treaties were signed in the 1870s. They were known as “cows-and-plows” agreements. They were supposed to provide First Nations with the things they needed to begin farming. These things included tools and heavy farming equipment such as plows. They also included livestock such as cattle, seeds for planting crops, and more. But most of these promises were never fulfilled.
As a result, these First Nations endured generations of suffering. They were also cut off from the rest of Canadian society.
“We weren’t allowed to leave the reserves unless we had a permit or a pass,” said Chief Robert Head of Peter Chapman Band. “We weren’t allowed to sell the produce that we grew.”
The different Nations each have their own plans on how to use the new money. Tanya Aguilar-Antiman is the Chief of Mosquito-Grizzly Bear's Head-Lean Man First Nation. This Nation will receive $114 million. She told CBC that the money will be put into a for the Nation’s children. They can use it when they become adults.
James Smith Cree Nation Chief Kirby Constant said this process was “a step toward justice.”
“Canada must address past wrongs,” said Anandasangaree. “It’s the right thing to do.”
By John Crossingham
Updated March 3, 2025, 5:00 P.M. (ET)
