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Blood Tribe $150M Settlement Overview:
- Who: Members of the Blood Tribe in Alberta and the federal government.
- What: Members of the tribe have voted in favour of ratifying a $150 million settlement with the government to settle claims cattle weren’t provided to the tribe as promised in 1877.
- Where: The settlement will benefit members of the Blood Tribe located in southern Alberta.
Members of the Blood Tribe have agreed to ratify a $150 million settlement with Ottawa to settle claims the government didn’t make good on a promise made to the tribe more than a century ago.
A majority of Blood Tribe members who voted on the settlement wanted it ratified, according to a recent announcement, CBC reports.
The settlement goes back to the controversial Blackfoot Treaty of 1877, signed between First Nations in what is now southern Alberta, and the federal government.
The historic treaty included a promise from federal officials to provide cattle to the Blood Tribe, however, that promise was not upheld. The tribe says that led to significant economic harm for tribespeople, who were expecting to receive the promised cattle.
What was agreed in the treaty is a matter of controversy. The federal government says it agreed to provide education and treaty payments to First Nations people in exchange for their land.
However, today, it’s understood that First Nations did not interpret the treaty as a document handing over land.
In 2019, the Blood Tribe voted to ratify a separate $150-million settlement with Ottawa, which focused on cattle mismanagement, CBC reports.
Blood Tribe Members To Receive Thousands Under the Settlement
As a result of Thursday’s vote, each registered Blood Tribe member will receive $3,000. Any leftover funds will be put towards capital projects, including housing, a funeral parlour, and homeless shelters, as well as a $25 million long-term investment fund to benefit future generations.
The settlement will release the government from any future claims regarding the treaty entitlement to cattle.
An Indigenous Services Canada spokesperson told CBC the settlement helped to “right past wrongs, renew relationships and advance reconciliation for the benefit of all Canadians.”
“Settling claims is one of many steps on the journey of reconciliation with First Nations and helps create a better future for everyone.”
This is one of a number of lawsuits the Canadian government is facing in regards to its treatment of First Nations residents.
Earlier this year, First Nations residents filed a $2.1 billion class action lawsuit against the federal government claiming Indigenous peoples have lacked access to clean drinking water for decades.
What do you think of this settlement? Let us know in the comments!
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