Bearspaw First Nation of Treaty No. 7 Commence Annuity Payment Class Actions Against Federal Government

Press Release

Chief Darcy Dixon of the Bearspaw First Nation, announced today the launch of a class action lawsuit against the federal government for failing to maintain the value of annuity payments under Treaty no. 7.

This class action claim against Canada seeks remedies for Canada’s past and ongoing violation of the solemn promises made to Treaty no. 7 Nations and their members through Canada’s failure to adjust treaty annuity payments on an ongoing basis.

Since the signing of Treaty no. 7 in 1877 at Blackfoot Crossing, Canada has continued to pay the same $5 annuity payments to members of Treaty no. 7 Nations each year, despite the value of that $5 having diminished substantially over the last century. In doing so, the Crown has taken advantage of Treaty 7 Nations and their members, depriving them of the intended benefit of the treaty annuity payments while Canada has profited substantially from the lands and resources found within Treaty no. 7 Territory.

The claim seeks to hold the Crown accountable for this exploitation and breach of the honour of the Crown, but also seeks to ensure that future generations benefit in the manner intended at the time Treaty no. 7 was negotiated and signed by calling on Canada to not only remedy the past harm resulting from the failure to adjust treaty annuity payments, but also to ensure that this exploitation does not continue in the future. Treaty no. 7, along with the other Numbered Treaties, were intended to benefit both the Crown and First Nations peoples, and this claim seeks to achieve that intended mutual benefit.

Chief Darcy Dixon stated “Generations of First Nations citizens within Treaty no. 7 have waited far too long for the Crown, as our Treaty partner, to properly honour its promises and commitments. Our living Treaty is an agreement between First Nations and the Crown that is intended to create harmonious relations and mutual benefit. Canada has forgotten and ignored its obligations and this claim, on behalf of all Treaty no. 7 citizens, is taken to correct this matter.”

The claim has been filed on behalf of all Treaty no. 7 Nations and their members, with individual members automatically included and Nations having the opportunity to opt-in to the claim. Bearspaw encourages all Treaty no. 7 Nations to come together and support advancing this important claim against Canada to remedy the ongoing exploitation of Treaty no. 7 Nations and their members.

For Further Information:

Rob Shotclose, CEO

Bearspaw First Nation

Stoney Nakoda Nations

777-8556 Robs@bearspawfirstnation.com

Class Action Counsel

Harold (Sonny) Cochrane, K.C. (Ph: 204-925-5387)

hcochrane@cochranesinclair.ca

Shawn Scarcello (Ph: 204-925-5370)

sscarcello@cochranesinclair.ca

ILR4