Wiikwemkoong’s Duke Peltier named to the committee
OTTAWA—The Federal Court of Canada recently issued an order appointing individuals to serve on the Settlement Implementation Committee, the governing body that will oversee the implementation of the final settlement agreement (FSA) on compensation. The committee will include a representative from Manitoulin Island.
The appointment committee is the first step in creating the necessary apparatus to establish the compensation and planned course of action. The committee is now tasked with overseeing the creation of the trust fund, appeals process and other aspects of the FSA.
Stuart Wuttke, Derrek Nepinak, Duke Peltier (of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory), David Sterns and Robert Kugler have been appointed to the committee. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) executive committee and representative plaintiffs in the class action approved its three appointments.
“We are already undertaking this important work,” said Mr. Peltier. “We have been listening to First Nation leaders at the AFN special chief’s assembly. One decision we intend to pursue is to establish advisory services for the committee, which encompass diverse persons, including elders, youth and leadership, among others. I look forward to continuing this important advocacy for children and families.”
“I am honoured to do this important work for our children and families,” said Chief Derrek Nepinak, Minegoziibe Anishinabe. “I have been an advocate for children and families my whole career. I was instrumental in creating the First Nations Family Advocates office in Manitoba.”
The FSA, which has been in negotiations for more than two years, includes more than $23 billion to compensate over 300,000 children and families. The FSA was approved by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal earlier this year and approved by the Federal Court of Canada on October 24.
“This is an important step forward in a long and painful process,” said AFN interim national chief Joanna Bernard. “Now that the legal fight has concluded and the settlement agreement is final, we can begin the important and overdue work of determining how compensation will reach these children and families. As one party to the FSA, I also look forward to working with the settlement implementation committee.”
The AFNB also continues to negotiate long-term reform measures to ensure discriminatory practices are eliminated from the FNCFS system and application of Jordan’s Principle.
