🚨UPDATE ON COWESSESS’ SPECIFIC LAND CLAIMS🚨
Tanisi and Anin Sikwa!
Now that the federal election has concluded, we know that our membership is interested in the next steps for our specific claims.
Even though the federal government is still in caretaker mode, we have been in continued communication with federal representatives regarding our 1907 Land Claim. Although the new Liberal government is still forming, we have received assurances from the Regional Director of Specific Claims as well as our direct federal negotiator that is assigned to our claim that the process will commence shortly.
This is welcome news, and we remain committed to ensuring Cowessess remains at the forefront of the Treasury Board’s priorities through lobbying all departments, officials and Ministers required.
As shared before, the 1907 Land Claim is currently in the final review stage at Treasury Board. Cowessess has fulfilled all of its obligations to date, and we are ready for this claim to be included in the next identified federal budget that addresses specific claims. Once the federal approval process is complete and a formal offer is received, we will move into the ratification phase. This is where through a vote, we will all decide whether to accept the offer and we will determine both individual and Nation benefits.
We anticipate, in its entirety, this process will still take time—up to one year—including ratification. This is a legal procedure, and we must abide by all necessary steps. We ask for continued patience as we walk this important path together.
Once the 1907 Claim is finalized and we receive a formal offer, we are prepared to begin formal negotiations on our Agricultural Benefits Claim (Cows and Ploughs) claim. We can confirm that Canada has accepted our Ag Bens Specific Claim and confirmed its commitment to continuing the next steps of bargaining.
Chief and Council will continue to provide updates as we progress through this process. We thank you for your patience, support, and trust throughout this journey. The work is ongoing, and while good news is on the horizon, we want to reiterate that it is all of us, the citizens of Cowessess, regardless of who we are and what positions we hold, who will make these decisions together.
On behalf of your elected leadership team,
Chief Erica Beaudin
