Peguis First Nation to vote on historic deal
Last Updated: Monday, August 28, 2006 | 9:19 AM CT
CBC News
In what's being called the biggest treaty land settlement deal in Manitoba history, members of the Peguis First Nation will vote Tuesday on a $64-million compensation offer from the provincial government.
The money, should it be approved, would go toward buying land and setting up a community trust fund. The province is also offering to turn over 55,000 acres of Crown land.
Peguis leaders say they're confident most members of the First Nation, located 190 kilometres north of Winnipeg, will agree the government's offer is generous.
But some, like Joyce Kelly, said even though she should feel proud to be compensated for what her grandparents lost years ago, she will reject the deal on Tuesday.
Like thousands of other members, Kelly was left off the voters list for the settlement offer. In fact, Kelly said she only learned of the vote by accident.
"It's left me with feeling just such contempt," she said.
Kelly managed to file her paperwork late last week, and now she has a ballot. But she said she doesn't trust the band council that will decide how the money should be spent, so she will vote No to the government offer.
"It's so frustrating and so I don't know how I can honestly vote Yes to it because I'm voting Yes to the people that are in charge of it," she said.
"It is a very good deal for Peguis. But the people that they have put in charge of it, they have lost memberships in the past. You know, like, I should trust them?"
Peguis councillor Lloyd Sinclair said he has heard concerns similar to Kelly's at information meetings leading up to the vote.
"It always seems to be the ones that are opposed are the most vocal, and I've heard them at every session," he said. "But I'd say that was the one per cent."
As for Kelly and other members not being on the voters list, Sinclair admitted there have been problems determining who's eligible to participate in the historic vote.
"I know some members for sure should be on there. But it's just a matter of technical paperwork that has to happen," he said.
Sinclair said the band is already working on plans for how to spend the settlement money. He said they have their eye on land in Winnipeg that they hope to purchase and develop once the deal is complete.
