Beardy’s Tries To Recover Annuities
Friday, July 29, 2011 at 14:16
A director with the Beardy’s Okemasis First Nation says the band is trying to correct a historic injustice.
Garnet Eyahpaise explains the band is trying to recover treaty annuities that weren’t paid to members back in the 1880’s.
Eyahpaise says the Federal government accused the band of participating in the rebellion on the side of the Metis.
They were labeled disloyal and lost a lot of benefits.
He says the band is embroiled in a legal battle with Ottawa over the dispute but he’s hoping the government will see reason.
Eyahpaise says his people gave up a lot of land during the signing of treaty and they were supposed to be compensated for it.
The First Nation is seeking around four million dollars.
Eyahpaise says that includes inflation and the current value of the dollar.