ICC Finds Cumberland Band Owed Land

ICC Finds Cumberland Band Owed Land

Monday, March 26, 2007 at 15:18

The Indian Claims Commission says mistakes were made when two central Saskatchewan bands entered into an amalgamation in 1902.

I.C.C. Commissioner Renee Dupuis says research has shown the merger between the Cree Nations of James Smith and Cumberland House was invalid due to a variety of reasons.

In the end, Cumberland House lost at least 2048 acres that should have been theirs.

Dupuis says they are not suggesting that James Smith be required to compensate the band, rather it is Ottawa who should settle up.

Meanwhile, the newly-re-elected Chief of the Cumberland House band, Walter Sewap, says the band knows it is owed land.

However, they are not seeking to have it returned to them, rather they are looking for some form of compensation from Ottawa.