K'atl'odeeche First Nation voting on how to manage $28M 'cows and plows' agreement

Members of the K'atl'odeeche First Nation near Hay River, N.W.T., are voting this week on how to manage a $28.3 million agricultural benefits agreement.

The First Nation is one of 21 bands in B.C., Alberta and the N.W.T. that have either settled or are in the process of settling a federal claim which falls under Treaty 8. 

Treaty 8, ratified in 1900, promised "cows and plows" to First Nations that wanted to take up farming.

• Federal government begins to make good on 100-year-old promise to Treaty 8 First Nations
• Settling Treaty 8 claim means 'money in the bank' for future of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

K'atl'odeeche First Nation Chief Roy Fabian is backing a plan where 645 K'atl'odeeche members living both on and off reserve would each receive $15,000 — although 160 members will have to wait until they turn 19.

I'm hoping people will accept it.- Roy Fabian, chief of K'atl'odeeche First Nation

Fabian is hopeful band members will agree.

"For me, this is my lifelong work ... I'm hoping people will accept it," Fabian said.

He said after payments to the members, the plan would be to put the remaining $18 million in a trust for social programs, scholarships, economic development and housing projects.

Chief has regrets, calls payment 'mistake'

K'atl'odeeche First Nation voted to accept the one-time, $28.3-million payment from the federal government in November 2017, something Fabian expresses some regret about. 

He calls it a "mistake," because it restricts the number of people who will benefit. But it's a mistake he's willing to live with, to move the negotiations and payments forward, he said.

"As Dene people, we have always protected the land for future generations, so they have something to live off of," Fabian said.

"That's what this trust is. To me, it's protection for future generations."

Members vote on Wednesday. Results are expected to be made public on Thursday.

If members approve the plan, Fabian said people could receive individual payouts within a week.