Cows and plows: Manitoba First Nation will get $205M windfall if community supports settlement

Next month, members of Pine Creek First Nation will have the opportunity to make their band roughly $205 million richer.

That's thanks to a recently negotiated settlement between the Saulteaux community, a reserve approximately 800 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, and the federal government to resolve unfulfilled promises regarding the so called "cows-and-plows" clause of Treaty 4. 

"Each member — every man, woman, child, elder on or off reserve — will benefit from having this resolution finally come to conclusion, possibly," Pine Creek First Nation Chief Derek Nepinak told CBC Indigenous.

There are currently about 4,800 band members who fit that description.

Nepinak says the work began with research commissioned in 2017 by the band's previous chief, Karen Batson.

That work revealed that Canada had promised agricultural tools for Pine Creek when they signed Treaty 4, but the goods were never delivered. The community filed its claim in 2019.

"One important note in that provision of the treaty is that 'once-and-for-all provision': They'd supply the tools for us to get into agriculture once and for all," Nepinak said. "What they failed to do was follow through on that." 

The promises included hand tools such as hoses, spades, scythes and axes to farming families, as well as bigger equipment — plows, harrows and pit saws — that were to be shared among the families. Other unfulfilled promises included seeds to fill the gardens, and livestock such as cows, oxen and bulls. 

Pine Creek is the third community in Treaty 4 territory to file a claim for agricultural benefits: 

• Kinistin Saulteaux First Nation in Saskatchewan filed in 2008 and signed their settlement last July.
• Peepeekisis Cree Nation, also in Saskatchewan, filed in early 2019 and signed a settlement agreement last month. 

Kristen Mckay of Pine Creek First Nation says she is in favour of voting for the proposed settlement and per-capita payment to band members. 

"It will help our people, like, flourish for some time," McKay said.

McKay, a recording artist and lead singer in the Winnipeg-based rock band Prison Richard, hopes the payment she would receive from the settlement would cover the theft of musical gear worth about $17,000 stolen last summer.

If the deal is signed, she hopes to finally buy her dream guitar, build a website and get "export-ready" as a musician. 

"It's the way to honour my my gifts that Creator gave me now so I could share them," McKay said.

If approved, chief and council can sign the agreement on the community's behalf and become the first Indigenous community in Manitoba to get the cows-and-plows settlement.

Ballots will be cast in person at the Minegoziibe Anishinabe gymnasium in Pine Creek First Nation on Dec. 1, between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. 

Righting past wrongs

The unfulfilled promises were made about 149 years ago when Treaty 4 was signed — and in numerous other numbered treaties with First Nations.

"Canada is working to resolve the agricultural benefits claims of Treaty 4, 5, 6 and 10 First Nations through an accelerated process," a spokesperson for Indigenous and Crown relations said in an email. 

The Government of Canada website says specific claims such as these are how Canada is moving forward to acknowledge the unfulfilled promises and right the wrongs of the past. 

Since 1973, 669 claims have been filed and resolved at a total cost of  $12.8 billion, an Indigenous-Crown Relations spokesperson said.

Information meetings and advanced voting dates are as follows: 

• Nov. 18: Information meeting, Pine Creek First Nation Minegoziibe Anishinabe gymnasium, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Advance polls open for in-person voting at this location between 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Nov. 19: Information meeting, Dauphin Strilkiwski Lounge, in Dauphin, Man.; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Advance polls open for in-person voting at this location between 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Nov. 20: Information meeting, Brandon Victoria Inn in Brandon, Man., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  Advance polls open for in-person voting at this location between 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Nov. 21: Information meeting at Winnipeg Victoria Inn in Winnipeg, Man., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Advance polls open for in-person voting at this location between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Nov. 23: Virtual information meeting, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Members can cast their vote virtually between 3 p.m. on Nov. 18 and 8 p.m. on Dec. 1