Metlakatla First Nation, British Columbia - Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Today, Robert Nelson, Chief Councillor of the Metlakatla First Nation, and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced the settlement of the Cloyah Bay Specific Claim in the traditional territory of the Metlakatla First Nation. This settlement marks progress toward addressing Canada's historical wrongs and renewing the relationship with the Metlakatla First Nation.
The Cloyah Bay Specific Claim involved Canada's failure to survey all the lands identified for reserve creation for the First Nation. As a result, 40 acres of land were improperly excluded from Metlakatla's Reserve Number 5. Canada provided $5 million in compensation to correct this historic wrong and recognize loss of use for its members in the area.
The socio-economic gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples in Canada are the result of decades of colonial policies, which often led to the denial and dispossession of land. Honouring Canada's legal obligations and properly compensating Indigenous Peoples for what was unlawfully taken or withheld from them is fundamental to advancing reconciliation in Canada and rebuilding trust with Indigenous communities.
