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Canada Finalizes $431 Million Agricultural Benefits Settlements With Three First Nations

These settlements address decades-old broken treaty promises by channeling funds toward community development under Canada’s reconciliation framework.

From left, Thomas Pratt, Byron Toto, Rhonda Rosebluff, Federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty, Chief Melissa Tavita, Terrance Cappo and Myke Agecoutay pose at a ceremony celebrating the cows and plows settlement between Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation and the federal government.

Overview

  • Canada will compensate Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation with nearly $99 million, Big River First Nation with $208 million and One Arrow First Nation with $124 million to resolve long-standing agricultural benefits claims under Treaties 4 and 6.
  • Muscowpetung’s agreement allocates its $99 million toward housing construction, road and water infrastructure upgrades, youth programming and per-capita distributions via lump-sum and trust payments.
  • Big River’s $208 million settlement covers unfulfilled Treaty 6 commitments of farming tools, crop seed, ammunition and livestock to support the community’s agricultural pursuits.
  • One Arrow’s $124 million deal compensates the First Nation for missing plows, livestock, crop seeds and other farming supplies promised under Treaty 6.
  • These three agreements lift total agricultural benefits redress to over $6.9 billion across 53 claims and form part of nearly $15.1 billion in specific claims settlements resolved by Ottawa since April 2020.