Canada pays $1.3 billion in compensation for indigenous lands

Canada will pay C$1.3 billion (€960 million) to an indigenous community in the west of the country for the theft of part of their land at the beginning of the 20th century, one of the most important territorial reparations that has ever been reached. The announcement came on Thursday, June 2nd.

In 1910, the Canadian government seized nearly half of their land to sell to settlers despite a treaty being signed thirty years earlier. According to Justin Trudeau, Canada has acted “Unworthy method” With this confiscation, the community is deprived of “Land productive in agriculture and rich in minerals”.

“While this settlement does not make up for the past, we hope it leads to a brighter and brighter future for this generation and others.”Added Mark Miller, Minister of Aboriginal Relations.

” move ahead “

“Our way of life has changed. It will not be the same as before, nothing can replace what was there.Wearing a traditional headdress of feathers, Orai Kravot, head of the Sexica Nation, said, adding that society now wants” move ahead “. But for him, his people are witnessing the revival of their culture and traditions and also their Blackfoot language which is now used on local road signs, for example.

“We are a resilient people. We are not just living, we are heading towards an era of prosperity”, he added. This agreement expires at a request from Siksika Nation dating back to the 1960s. In November 2021, negotiators from both parties reached an agreement, which was ratified by a community vote last December.

Although Ottawa’s relationship with the First Nations is defined by “Indian law”1876 text, not all aboriginal land claims in Canada were settled.