Settlements between Ottawa and 9 Sask. First Nations, for missed 1880s $5 treaty payments, total $38.5M

Settlements between the Government of Canada and nine First Nations in Saskatchewanannounced this week, made for past damages, are valued at a combined total of more than $38.5 million.

The agreements with theTreaty 6 and Treaty 4 communities are to make amends for $5-per-person annual payments, promised in the treaties, that were withheld from 1885 and 1888 due to theNorthwest Rebellion.

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett was in North Battleford to mark the settlements this week. She said the money will help the First Nations with economic growthand that settling claims is a key step toward healing and reconciliation.

"There are other things that we still have to resolve the wrongs that Canada did at the time of the Rebellion and since," Bennett told CBC Radio's The Morning Edition. "But this, I think, was a very welcome first step by those nations in Treaty 4 and Treaty 6."

The Government of Canada reached settlements with each of the nine First Nations communities between May 2018 and January 2019.

The communities werePoundmaker Cree Nation, Sweetgrass First Nation, Thunderchild First Nation, One Arrow First Nation, Little Pine First Nation, the Chakastapasyn Sector of James Smith CreeNation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Red Pheasant Cree Nation and the Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nations.

The settlements associated with the Northwest Rebellion comeafter Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exonerated Chief Poundmaker in May.

Poundmaker was convicted of treason-felony in 1885 after being accused of instigating violence in the Northwest Rebellion that year. Advocates had long called for his acquittal.

Beardy's and Okemasis Cree Nation settled a claim for treaty annuity with the federal government in 2017.

Bennett stayed in Saskatchewan Friday for the opening ceremonies of the Back to Batoche Festival.