Posted: February 24, 2025

We are pleased to announce that in December 2024, Piikani Nation commenced litigation against Canada with respect to Treaty Annuities. Our claim alleges that Canada’s failure to adjust the $5 annuity payment for inflation is a breach of its obligations under the Treaty.

Since 1877, Canada has always paid $5 per year to each member. With inflation, $5 has significantly less value today than it did in 1877. This undermines the promises Canada made as part of the Treaty.

Chief and Council believe the best way to protect Piikani Nation’s rights under the Treaty is to continue our lawsuit against Canada.

A copy of the claim can be found here: https://cdn.piikanination.com/documents/2024%2012%2012%20Statement%20of%20Claim%20%5Bfiled%202024%2012%2012%5D(65943513.1).pdf

We anticipate that this matter will soon proceed to a negotiation table with Canada. Negotiation tables typically achieve resolution more quickly than litigation and at a lower cost.

Bearspaw First Nation Class Action on Annuities

On November 26, 2024, Bearspaw First Nation launched a class action for Treaty Annuities that claims to be on behalf of all individual members of Treaty 7 Nations (including Piikani Nation members) and on behalf of all First Nation signatories to Treaty 7. Bearspaw brought this class action without advising, contacting, or consulting with Piikani Nation in advance.

With our own litigation, we can control the process and maximize Piikani’s interests. Our Nation can make its own choices without being forced to compromise with other Treaty 7 Nations. In addition, we can avoid handing over a large amount of any compensation to the class action lawyers.

Our litigation also respects the important Nation-to-Nation relationship that the Blackfoot Treaty established, reinforcing to Canada the need to deal directly with Piikani Nation on our terms.

For these reasons, we have decided to seek to withdraw Piikani Nation and our members from the Bearspaw Class Action.

Council will keep members posted about the Treaty Annuities Claim as events warrant. Questions regarding this matter may be directed to Corbin Provost, Chief Operations Officer, at corbin.provost@piikanination.com or (403) 965-3940.