Bearspaw First Nation files class action lawsuit against federal government
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The Bearspaw First Nation is launching a class action lawsuit against the federal government.
Chief Darcy Dixon says the lawsuit comes as the federal government has failed to maintain the value of annuity payments under Treaty no. 7.
Since the signing of Treaty no. 7 in 1877, Canada has continued to pay the same five dollar annuity payments to members of Treaty no. 7 Nations each year. However, the First Nation says that since the value of five dollars has diminished substantially over the last 100 years, the government is depriving members of the intended benefits.
Dixon said, “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.”
