Home/Governance

Specific Claims

Status updates on the specific claims One Arrow has filed, and where each one stands.

A specific claim is a formal claim against Canada where treaty promises or obligations to a First Nation were not kept. One Arrow currently has four claims in progress, at different stages of a process that typically takes years.

One claim, on Chief and Headmen salaries, has reached settlement. The others remain under review, in research, or heading to the Specific Claims Tribunal.

The four claims

Chief & Headmen Salaries

Settled. Based on the Treaty 6 promise of an annual salary of $25 for a Chief and $15 for a Headman.

  • Submitted 20 December 2017
  • Accepted for negotiation 23 December 2020
  • Settlement presented to a band meeting 25 February 2022
  • Signed by Chief and Council June 2022
  • Resolved at $2,209,281

Cows & Ploughs (Agricultural Benefits)

Under review by Canada. Based on Treaty 6 promises of cattle, tools and seed that were not delivered as agreed.

  • Submitted to Canada 13 March 2022
  • Acknowledged by Canada 2 September 2022
  • Canada typically takes up to three years to review
  • Similar claims are being negotiated with other Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Nations

Western Boundary

Heading to the Specific Claims Tribunal. Alleges the Crown took land from the western boundary in the early 1880s through an unlawful exchange, without One Arrow’s consent.

  • One Arrow’s historian report completed September 2022
  • Canada’s historian report completed December 2022
  • Canada declined to negotiate a settlement
  • Proceeding to the Specific Claims Tribunal

Soldier Settlement

Earliest stage of the four. Alleges improper use of reserve lands and assets in connection with veterans of the First World War, Second World War and Korea.

  • Funding request submitted January 2023
  • Awaiting a funding response
  • Historian research begins once funding is confirmed

How the process works

  1. Research. Historians for the Nation and for Canada each prepare reports on what happened.
  2. Submission. The claim is filed with Canada, which then decides whether to accept it for negotiation.
  3. Negotiation. If accepted, the Nation and Canada negotiate a settlement, which is brought to the membership.
  4. Tribunal. If Canada declines to negotiate, the claim can proceed to the Specific Claims Tribunal for a decision.

Related

LandsChief & CouncilCommunity MeetingsOur Nation

Information gathered from the current site: https://onearrow.ca/one-arrow/membership-update-on-specific-claims/