By Nigel Maxwell

Land claims

Land claim settlement moving forward for local first nation

Feb 13, 2019 | 5:07 PM

Members of a central Saskatchewan First Nation could be in store for a large pay out, pending the outcome of a land claims settlement.

Chakastaypaysin is one of three First Nations in the area to have its claim recognized by the federal government. Before the formal talks can begin between the two sides, the band’s leadership requires direction and a clear mandate from members. A series of meetings will take place over the next few months. Meetings Organizer Terry Sanderson said he did not have a settlement figure in mind yet.

“It’s going to be huge because we are talking about 127 years of loss of land. Plus we lost our Treaties, you know the right to benefit from our Treaties since we lost our land,” he said.

The area in question is roughly 15,000 acres near St Louis in the Fenton Ferry area, which was taken from the First Nation after the Northwest Rebellion. The timeline for the meetings extends into mid-June. Sanderson admitted gathering input from all the members will be a challenge.

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“We have to have [the meetings] here on James Smith and we have to have meetings in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina and Edmonton. We have a lot of people all over the place,” he said.

The meeting in Prince Albert is scheduled for Thursday night at the Bernie Sayese Centre. This will be followed by a meeting Friday in Saskatoon at the White Buffalo Friendship Centre. The dates for the meetings in Regina and Edmonton have not yet been set.

Peter Chapman and James Smith also had claims formally recognized by the federal government back in May. Peter Chapman Chief Rob Head told paNOW their meetings are still being organized and will be held at a later date.

Editor’s note: the venue for the Prince Albert meeting was changed to the Bernie Sayese Centre. It was previously scheduled for the P.A.Inn.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell