Map showing the territory ceded under Treaty No. 8, and the Indian tribes therein. Department of Indian Affairs, 1900.
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada confirms the feds are working to draft Treaty 8 settlement agreements with two different northern Saskatchewan Dene Nations.
In response to a request for information on northern Saskatchewan Treaty 8 settlements, INAC’s public affairs team said there are “two separate negotiating tables” for Black Lake and Fond du Lac.
The work is being done by the Government of Canada in “a spirit of co-operation and renewal to resolve their outstanding specific claims” because “settling claims is the right thing to do” to advance reconciliation and economic growth, INAC said in its e-mailed statement.
The claims relate to agricultural benefits laid out in Treaty 8.
“Negotiators are working toward a fair and final settlement that will include financial compensation for past damages related to the claim. We look forward to continuing our joint work with the First Nations toward this goal,” INAC said.
“As our ongoing negotiations are confidential, the details of any settlement proposals are currently confidential.”
INAC said there are two steps to completion: first, drafting a joint settlement agreement unique to each First Nation, and then putting the negotiated agreement to a vote by First Nations members.
An advisor from Fond du Lac, Don Deranger, told MBC that community’s vote is on June 30.
Meanwhile, INAC says Clearwater River has yet to submit a claim related to the same Treaty 8 agricultural benefits for review under Canada’s Specific Claims Policy.