Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:
The City of Williams Lake would like to make it clear to residents that no land will change hands as a result of a Feb. 28 Specific Claims Tribunal decision finding that the Williams Lake Indian Band was wrongfully dispossessed of its village lands in the late 19th century. The village lands include what is today part of the City of Williams Lake.
The Specific Claims Tribunal is an independent body established by the federal government to provide resolution for First Nations’ historic grievances. The Tribunal issues final and binding decisions that allow the government and First Nations to achieve closure on claims and reduce the time and expenses associated with litigation. The Tribunal has the power to award monetary compensation only. It cannot order that lands be returned.
“This is an injustice that has gone uncorrected for 150 years, and the Williams Lake Indian Band has been pursuing its claim for 20 years,” says Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook. “As we learned during the St. Joseph’s Mission Commemoration Project, acknowledging past wrongs is the first step in moving forward together, and this decision provides certainty and opportunity.”
“I want to make it clear that the Williams Lake Indian Band’s claim and forthcoming compensation are part of the Specific Claims Tribunal process, which does not involve the City or its taxpayers. Compensation will be awarded by the federal government, and no lands will be removed from the City.”
The federal government has until March 31 to decide whether to appeal the decision. If the decision is accepted, the amount of money owing to the Williams Lake Indian Band will be dealt with in the next phase of the Tribunal’s proceedings.
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