COLUMN: Carillon Flashback: February 10, 2011 – Roseau River approves $80 million land deal

There were no large lineups to vote on Tuesday afternoon at Roseau River First Nation. A slow, but steady movement of voters took time to cast their votes at the Ginew gaming centre-to approve or reject an $80 million land deal with the federal government.

The agreement has its origins in a 1903 land claim dispute, when the Reserve lost 12 sections of farmland to settlers in and around the RM of Franklin and Emerson.

On Tuesday night it was announced the majority of the band’s 1,429 registered members voted to accept the deal.

Chief Terry Nelson had to fend off criticism for offering $50 to eligible voters to cast ballots at advance polls last month on the multi-million dollar settlement. Exceeding the 50 percent voter turnout required for the process was more important than optics, he said, and the vote tallies succeeded that margin.

The turnout was far better than the last federal election, Nelson noted, when one in five eligible voters selected the Conservative government that controls the country’s purse strings. (It must be noted there were no reports of anyone offered $50 to vote in that election.)

Each reserve member will receive $5,000 in the deal. The remaining funds are to be set aside in a trust fund to go towards addressing needs in the community. Chief Terry Nelson has pointed to housing as one of the critical needs that stands to benefit from the income generated through interest on the trust account.

“It feels good,” said Grace Hage. “They’ve been talking about this for a long time.”

Hage, nearing her 88th year, isn’t expecting a huge change in her lifetime, but predicts younger generations will see a big impact from the agreement.

“I think it will be very beneficial to them,” she said.

The vote going on at the centre seemed almost secondary to another event led by Nelson, which was a ceremony to honour heroes past and present from the First Nation community.

Oliver Sennie was the first to be recognized for his heroism. The late resident died after rescuing a family member from a house fire in the late 1970’s. Family and friends paid tribute to the man, known as Sugar, at the ceremony.

“What we’re recognizing today is that people put their lives on the line,” Nelson said.

Michael Henry and Kurt Larocque were singled out for their effort just over two weeks ago. Henry was the first to enter a house fire after 3 a.m. on Jan. 22, helping one woman to safety before he and Larocque went back to remove two more people from the home.

Daphne Benjoe, 49, did not survive the fire. Her teenage daughter, Alandise, remains at Health Sciences Centre.

Eagle feathers were presented as part of the ceremony recognizing all three of the heroes attaining Okiijida status, literally meaning “a person of big heart.”

with files from Grant Burr