Land settlement nets nearly $60 million for community in B.C.
The federal government and a First Nations community in British Columbia announced late last month that the federal government would pay compensation to the community for taking its reserve lands without adequate compensation more than a century ago.
The government will compensate the Matsqui First Nation near Abbotsford, B.C. to the tune of more than $59 million to compensate it for the taking of its reserve lands without adequate compensation and for severing access to reserve lands through the building of the Vancouver Power Company Right-of-Way on Sahhacum Indian Reserve 1 and Matsqui Main Indian Reserve 2.
Matsqui First Nation chief Alice McKay said she was glad that Canada acknowledged its historic wrong and was glad to see it corrected.
“Matsqui First Nation and our Matsqui Government are very pleased to have reached a settlement with Canada on this important claim, and for Canada to have acknowledged its historic wrongs,’ she said. “We recognize Canada’s commitment to renew relationships and to the process of resolving claims. We look forward to working together to continue the healing journey and to reaching settlements on Matsqui’s other outstanding claims.”
In 1908, Canada granted the Vancouver Power Company rights of way for the construction and operation of a tramway across two Matsqui First Nation reserves. Matsqui did not receive adequate compensation for the taking of its reserve lands. Additionally, Canada was supposed to ensure crossings were built and maintained across the rights of way, but did not uphold that agreement. As a result, Matsqui’s access to its reserve lands was cut off and never returned.
Federal Crown-Indigenous Relations minister Gary Anandasangaree said it was important that the government not run from its past.
“I often say, first truth, then reconciliation. The government of Canada today is acknowledging and trying to set right its past treatment of First Nations. Historically, the government was not a good partner in these nation-to-nation relationships,” he said.
The government said due to decades of colonial policies, including the denial and dispossession of land, have created socio-economic gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada.
Honouring Canada’s legal obligations and properly compensating Indigenous people for what was unlawfully taken or withheld from them is fundamental for rebuilding trust with Indigenous communities, the government said.
“Today’s celebration of this resolution is a symbol of our ongoing commitment to showing up as an equal partner with a desire to do better in our relationship with Matsqui First Nation and beyond,” Anandasangaree said.