- NEWS
- Posted By
Prime Minister Trudeau visits Siksika
Prime Minister Trudeau visits Siksika
This Historic event land claim settlement, which the federal government says is one of the largest agreements of its kind in Canada. This monumental event took place at the same site of the 1877 Blackfoot treaty signing.
This was followed up with a trip to Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park, for a private meeting and a Q & A with media relations.
“We’re gathered today to right a wrong from the past,” Trudeau said during the ceremony.
The federal government said the settlement dates back more than a century when Canada broke its Blackfoot Treaty promise and took almost half of Siksika Nation’s reserve land, including it prime agricultural lands, to sell to people who settled in the area.
“Today is not about politics, it’s about Canada and Siksika moving forward, while it won’t make up for past wrongs, it will make a difference in people’s lives and provide opportunities that they didn’t have before”. Chief Crowfoot explains. He says they want to work together to improve policing and to bring language programs back.
The compensation agreement provides $1.3 billion to Siksika Nation to resolve outstanding land claims, which includes about 46,500 hectares of Siksika’s Reserve and certain mineral rights taken by Canada.
To conclude this Historic event by no means fixes what has happened, but it’s a chance to move forward for the betterment of the Blackfoot people and to build new relationship nation to nation.
