Fishing Lake First Nation, Treaty 4 Territory, Saskatchewan - Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the Fishing Lake First Nation
Today, Chief Darcy Desjarlais of Fishing Lake First Nation and the Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced a settlement agreement resolving the Nation's Agricultural Benefits claim, also known as a Cows and Plows settlement.
Canada will pay more than $101 million in compensation to the First Nation for failing to fulfill the federal government's Treaty 4 obligations to provide farming tools, crop seeds, and livestock.
Fishing Lake First Nation will invest 100% of the settlement funds into the newly created Waywaynih Kunawapunteeing Trust to ensure the capital grows for generations to come. By keeping the entire settlement intact, the Nation can leverage loans with interest rates well below the annual returns anticipated on the trust's investments. This strategy will allow us to provide immediate benefits such as per capita distributions without reducing the value of the settlement. This approach creates a long-term source of wealth for Fishing Lake people, enabling investment in community priorities such as language, culture, housing, and economic development, while ensuring that future generations also benefit from this historic agreement. It represents a step toward reclaiming economic independence and advancing the vision of mino-pimâtisiwin (a good life) that Fishing Lake First Nation's ancestors sought when entering Treaty 4.
Settling specific claims is an important part of Canada's ongoing efforts to advance reconciliation by rebuilding trust and strengthening its relationships with First Nations. By providing fair compensation in recognition of unkept promises, Canada is taking responsibility and working toward a better future. This work is guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
