Lac Seul members accept $27 million settlement

Lac Seul First Nation members have voted in favour of accepting a $27 million settlement offer from Canada over a 100-year-old timber trespass claim.
With more than 2100 eligible voters in the community, 735 cast their vote. In the end, 96 per cent voted in favour of the settlement.
"The band council of Lac Seul First Nation is pleased to have the referendum completed and the support of its members to accept the offer presented by Canada," said Chief Clifford Bull.
Lac Seul received the $27 million offer from the Canadian government Aug. 20 to settle the claim, which involves the harvesting of burnt and dead timber on reserve lands in 1907 and the surrender of the reserve's timber in 1919 to Canada. The community had previously received a $25 million offer in early July after a year of negotiations; Lac Seul had been seeking $29 million.
Bull said they must now wait for direction from Canada on next steps to begin transferring the funds to the community. With a looming election Sept. 24, he said the current council is leaving it up to the new council on how the funds will be used.
(with files from Rick Garrick)
Related story: Lac Seul gets new offer on forestry claim