THE OFFICE OF OHKINNIINAA & NINAAKS
Community Update: Bearspaw Treaty Annuity Class Action
On November 26, 2024, Bearspaw First Nation launched a class action for Treaty Annuities that claims to be on behalf of all individual members of Treaty 7 Nations (including Siksika Nation members).
Siksika Nation started its own Treaty Annuities litigation in September 2023. The litigation alleges that Canada’s failure to adjust the $5 annuity payment for inflation is a breach of its obligations under the Treaty. Since 1877, Canada has always paid $5 per year to each member. With inflation, $5 has significantly less value today than it did in 1877. This undermines the promises Canada made as part of the Blackfoot Treaty.
Chief and Council believe the best way to protect Siksika Nation’s rights under the Blackfoot Treaty is to continue our lawsuit against Canada.
With our own litigation, we can control the process and maximize Siksika’s interests. Our Nation can make its own choices without being forced to compromise with other Treaty 7 Nations. We can avoid handing over a large amount of any compensation to the class action lawyers. Our litigation also respects the important Nation-to-Nation relationship that the Blackfoot Treaty established, reinforcing to Canada the need to deal directly with the Siksika Nation, on our terms.
For these reasons, we have decided to seek to withdraw the Siksika Nation and our members from the Bearspaw Class Action. We will continue to keep you informed of further developments as Siksika’s Treaty annuities lawsuit progresses. If you have any questions, please reach out to Chief and Council at councilassistant1@siksikanation.com.
Much Respect,
Chief Ouray Crowfoot, Nioksskaistamik
