Metis Elders In Line For Extra Settlement Money

Metis Elders In Line For Extra Settlement Money

Tuesday, February 06, 2007 at 14:47

An official with the Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range settlement committee says as many as 130 elders could be eligible for a one-time payment under the deal.

However, Alex Maurice says he doesn’t want people to be confused about what the money is for.

He says the payment — which has a limit of $10,000 — is officially known as the “cultural-education component” of a long-awaited $19.5-million economic development and infrastructure investment package for four Metis communities in northwest Saskatchewan.

He insists the money is not compensation, nor is it an honourarium for PLAWR committee meetings the elders have attended in the past.

Maurice maintains it is only intended for those elders who can prove they were among the ones kicked off the land when the government created the weapons range.

He says they will qualify for the money if they agree to share their experiences and their knowledge of the dispute to schoolchildren.

Maurice adds payments will go out once the provincial government comes through with its portion of the settlement package.