Settling Treaty 8 claim means ‘money in the bank’ for future of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation – CBC

Most of $50-million ‘cows and plows’ settlement to be placed in trust fund, says chief

Nov 06, 2017

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation plans to place the majority of a $50-million settlement with the federal government into a trust fund for projects that would make the First Nation more financially independent from Ottawa.

In June, the First Nation ratified a settlement for outstanding agricultural benefits promised in Treaty 8, originally signed in 1899. The outstanding issue has been known as the promise of “cows and plows” from the federal government.

For years, the federal government had failed to live up to its obligations under Treaty 8. It is now in the process of resolving outstanding claims from 21 different First Nations that signed it, including the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Mikisew Cree First Nation in northern Alberta and the N.W.T.