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24/10/2003

Thunderchild Settlement Highlights Benefits of ICC's Mediation Services

Ottawa (October 24, 2003) - The Indian Claims Commission (ICC) today congratulated both the Thunderchild First Nation and the government of Canada for their settlement of a land claim dating back to 1908. The settlement agreement was signed by the parties on October 2, 2003.

"We are pleased that the First Nation and Canada were able to reach a settlement using the mediation and facilitation services of the Commission," said ICC Chief Commissioner, Renée Dupuis. "We are particularly happy that the parties avoided having to resort to the courts, something that would have been very costly for both the First Nation and the federal government. Our involvement was well received by the parties who availed themselves of our services."

The Thunderchild First Nation, located in Saskatchewan, will receive $53 million and costs to compensate its members for the loss of its original reserve and the cost of acquiring new land.

The Thunderchild claim was accepted by Canada in 1993. Negotiations began shortly after but reached an impasse on the approach to quantifying damages for loss of use. In the fall of 1996, the parties asked the ICC to conduct an inquiry into the issues; however, when the parties approached the ICC, Commission Counsel suggested they try the mediation approach rather than going to an inquiry. Mediation began in December 1996 and, despite some delays, an agreement was reached on compensation and terms of settlement. It was ratified in early September 2003.

The ICC was established in 1991. Its mandate is: to inquire, at the request of a First Nation, into specific claims that have been rejected by the federal government or where the First Nation disputes the compensation criteria being considered in negotiations; and to provide mediation services on consent of the parties at any stage of the claims process.

To download the report PDF