On behalf of the Chief and Council of George Gordon First Nation, we are pleased to provide you with an update about the Nation’s Treaty 4 Agricultural Benefits and Ammunition and Twine Benefits Claims, or the “Cows and Plows Claim”. The settlement represents a historic opportunity to better our Nation and to create a better future for our community. We strongly encourage you to ask questions so that you may be informed.
The settlement is based on Canada’s breaches of its Treaty, fiduciary, trust and honourable obligations to fulfil the promises for the provision of agricultural benefits and instruction and the nominal ammunition and twine benefit obligations contained in Treaty No. 4. As you will know, Leadership hosted a number of Information Meetings for the purposes of discussing the Settlement Agreement and the Trust Agreement. A Ratification Vote was held on April 4, 2025, and the voters of the Nation have approved both agreements. We would like to thank all voters for taking the time to have their say in these important claims.
After the Ratification Vote was successful, Parliament was still in its Caretaker Convention, where the government was required to act with restraint until the new government could form after the election. Accordingly, Canada was not able to assist with advancing the Claims after the Ratification Vote. A new Cabinet has since been sworn in on May 13, 2025, and we anticipate that Canada will continue working with the Nation to conclude the settlement in the coming weeks. The Settlement Agreement was signed by Leadership and has been sent to Canada’s office for the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations to sign.
However, in accordance with the terms set out under the Settlement Agreement, the Minister is unable to sign on behalf of Canada until the Federal Court issues an order approving the settlement and dismissing aspects of Federal Court proceedings which had been commenced by previous legal counsel on our behalf. Those pleadings are complex and we have encountered resistance from the Department of Justice in terms of the necessary amendments. The Nation’s legal team is working to have the court order issued and hopes to file an application for a sealing order to progress the file next week.
Once the order approving the settlement is issued, the Minister will be able to sign the Settlement Agreement and then Canada will be required to transfer the settlement monies within 45 days. We hope to receive our settlement proceeds over the course of the summer.
We will keep membership appraised of further progress on the Claims. Respectfully,
Chief Shawn Longman
