--- On Sun, 3/4/12, RDIABO <rdi...@rogers.com> wrote:
From: RDIABO <rdi...@rogers.com> Subject: THE GRENFELL SUN: First Nation members to vote on Flood Claim Settlement Agreement To: undisclosed-recipi...@yahoo.com Received: Sunday, March 4, 2012, 12:22 PM Published on March 3, 2012 Published on March 3, 2012 First Nation members to vote on Flood Claim Settlement Agreement A ratification vote for the Cowessess First Nation band membership will soon be called to consider the approval of the Flood Claim Settlement Agreement and related documents. The Flood Claim Settlement pertains to the illegal flooding and damages sustained to some First Nations in the Qu’Appelle Valley area in the early 1940s. In 1941, a branch of the federal government built a “water-control structure” (dam) on Crooked Lake which caused flooding of some reserve lands. While the Sakimay Hay Lands suffered substantial flooding, Cowessess First Nation also lost about 19 acres of land. After decades of negotiations between the First Nations, Province of Saskatchewan and Canada, a settlement package has been produced. The package for ratification includes six agreements and a payment of compensation for past damages arising from the 1940s flooding. According to documents available on the band’s website, the total compensation to be received by Cowessess First Nation will be just over $12 million, with a per capita distribution of $500 per band member. Chief Grady Lerat said he did not want to discuss the dollars and cents, but rather the environmental impact and importance the settlement package could possibly provide to the First Nation. “We don’t want to talk too much about money. It’s the relationship that we have with the province that’s going to be of importance,” said the Chief, adding the water agreement is the most crucial settlement component. A specific portion of the package upholds specific obligations for the Province of Saskatchewan to ensure that water levels will remain consistent and will not lower or rise above an agreed upon level. If ratified, the Water Management Agreement will be entered into between Cowessess and Sakimay and the Province of Saskatchewan. The agreement will see the establishment of a water management board (with First Nation and provincial representatives) to develop water quality and quantity guidelines. “The SaskWater Agreement…is going to give us the ability to work with the government in order to try to clean up these lakes,” said the Chief. Lerat said the lake’s condition and contaminants produced by farmers’ fertilizers has been an ongoing issue of concern for the band. He says the water agreement will provide the First Nations the ability to engage in improving the environmental sustainability and address other related issues involving Crooked Lake and the surrounding area. “I think it’s great to finally get this resolved. Once this is ratified by our members there’s going to be an environmental benchmark put in place, and we’re going to be working on a strategy to work to clean up the lake as years go on.” Information sessions are scheduled for the upcoming weeks, throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. For the ratification vote to pass 50 per cent plus one must vote in favour of the agreement. If the settlement agreement and related documents are approved, compensations will be paid into a Capital Trust Account and a portion will be used to invest in community development, programming and quality of life for band members. “We have certain parameters on the trust that Chief and Council need to be prepared to have a business plan available so they’re more accountable for the monies that are going to be expended.” Cowessess First Nation band members will participate in the Flood Claim Ratification Vote on March 10. For more information visit cowessessfn.com or call Denise Pelletier at (306) 696-3121. sunn...@sasktel.net
