FAQ’s from CFN Chief and Council
Tanisi and Anin, Cowessess First Nation Citizens,
Due to recent media coverage and Cowessess member questions, Chief and Council are
taking this opportunity to answer some frequently asked questions.
1. Can Chief & Council share the negotiated settlement amount?
As all other nations that have entered into a specific claims process, we are currently under a
non-disclosure agreement (NDA). This means Canada must make an offer of settlement
before we can disclose the amount.
2. How much longer do we have to wait?
We will know more when the new federal government determines its priorities for the fall
budget. However, we are not waiting and sitting idle. Chief Erica has been strongly
lobbying federal minsters and other senior government officials to ensure CFN’s 1907
Land Claim remains a priority for the next specific claims budget cycle.
3. Will there be a Per Capita Distribution (PCD)? If so, will all members receive the same
amount?
The CFN membership will decide by vote:
• whether there will be a PCD, and
• options on the amount of individual benefit.
All Cowessess members will receive equal payments, regardless of where they live. For
members under 18, payments will be held in trust until they reach the age of majority.
4. Who decides how the settlement funds are used?
The CFN 1907 Trust Agreement will outline how the settlement funds will be utilized, as
well as individual and collective benefits.
5. What about CFN’s Agricultural Benefits Claim (“Cows and Ploughs”)?
CFN has received an invitation to negotiate. However, we will not proceed until a formal
offer is received for the 1907 Land Claim. Updates will continue as the process moves
forward.
6. How are we protecting our 1907 Land Claim?
CFN elected leadership is committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibility to its membership by ensuring all fees related to finalizing the claim are fair and reasonable. This includes establishing a modern trust agreement with safeguards for protecting our funds and opportunities to create prosperity for generations to come.
Finally, progress on the 1907 Land Claim is more than a step forward; it’s a powerful symbol of our unity. Together, we honour the strength and resilience of our ancestors and walk with purpose toward a future shaped by our own vision, for the benefit of all generations.
On behalf your elected Council, we thank all of our membership for your interest, guidance and patience as we move towards the conclusion of our most heartfelt specific land claim.
Chief Erica Beaudin Cowessess First Nation
