Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Territories, Saskatchewan - Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Today, the Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, alongside the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, joined representatives from The Key First Nation and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation to mark the resolution of their agricultural benefits specific claims.
Together, the settlements provide more than $209.5 million in compensation through individual settlement payments, including $121,077,713 for Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and $88,440,000 for The Key First Nation. These claims relate to Canada's failure to provide some of the farming support promised under Treaties 4 and 6, such as ploughs, seeds, cows, bulls, and other supplies that were intended to help First Nations move into farming and other economic activities, especially as buffalo populations declined. Without this support, communities did not have the tools and resources they needed to develop their lands for agriculture and support their members. The settlements mark another step toward renewing Canada's relationship with First Nations and addressing historic Treaty obligations that were not fulfilled.
Resolving historic claims such as agricultural benefits claims helps address past harms and honour treaty promises, advancing reconciliation and supporting renewed relationships with First Nations. Guided by the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, Canada is implementing treaty obligations and taking responsibility through fair compensation when those obligations have not been met.
