Onion Lake Pursuing Compensation for Lost Land

Onion Lake Pursuing Compensation for Lost Land

Friday, February 11, 2011 at 14:26

 

 

A test case, which could result in millions – perhaps billions – of dollars in compensation for lost First Nations land, is being organized.

 

The Onion Lake First Nation is doing all the work.

 

Onion Lake Chief Wallace Fox told Elders all about it during an Elders Forum in North Battleford on Thursday.

 

He said in 1763, King George the Third said before the British could get access to land in the Prairies and North West Territories, they had to do two things.

 

They had to negotiate treaties with First Nations, and they had to compensate them for the land they gave up.

 

Fox said First Nations were never compensated for that land.

 

In 1876, that land, which covers 76 million acres, was believed to be worth $76 million.

 

Fox said the value of that land in today’s dollars is not yet known.

 

He said through this case, the band hopes to set a precedent for other First Nations.

 

If it’s approved there, the next step is to present it to the federal government.