The Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) First Nation announced on Monday that they reached a settlement with Canada’s federal government, securing $601.5 million to address long-standing unfulfilled promises under the cows-and-plows clause of Treaty 6. The LLRIB First Nation is a prominent First Nation with a membership of over 12,000 members and is the second largest First Nation in Saskatchewan and one of the tenth largest in Canada.

Central to the issue is the cows-and-plows clause of Treaty 6, which was signed in 1876 and had promised agricultural benefits to the First Nation signatories from the Crown such as livestock and farming equipment. Such promises remained largely unfulfilled for over a century. The clause had initially been intended to support First Nations in transitioning to an agricultural lifestyle as the traditional hunting and gathering practices had become difficult at the time due to a declining bison population.

The settlement agreement, valued at $601.5 million, was approved following extensive community consultations and a historic vote by LLRIB members. Voting occurred from August 19 to 22, with in-person voting concluding on August 23 with a 60 percent voter turnout. Of those who voted, an overwhelming 95 percent were in favor of the agreement, with only 181 members opposed and 52 spoiled ballots.

Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said in the press release:

This is a momentous day for [LLRIB]. The membership’s overwhelming support for the settlement demonstrates their commitment to securing a better future for our community. We are pleased that Canada has finally recognized and acknowledged its failure to fulfill the obligations under Treaty 6, and this settlement is a critical step towards rectifying that historical wrong[.]

The settlement is part of a broader movement towards reconciliation in Canada, which has been gaining momentum since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action in 2015 which had urged the Canadian government to support aboriginal peoples. Further, in January 2023, the Canadian government announced a settlement to the class-action lawsuit for the residential school system. This also comes in the wake of significant investments by the government to establish the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and implement policies that support Indigenous self-determination and economic development.