GULL BAY FIRST NATION, Ont. -- Members of an area First Nation should begin to see compensation for historical flooding by the end of the year.
Members of Gull Bay First Nation, which is located 175 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay on the shores of Lake Nipigon, voted by a 495-38 margin in favour of accepting a settlement offer from the Ontario Power Generation.
The offer is said to include $12.5 million in compensation fees along with annual on-going rental fees to be paid on the flooded lands as well as a pledge to continue shoreline erosion mitigation work.
The settlement resolves grievances dating back to 1918 over the construction of dams on the Nipigon River and diversion of the Ogoki River.
That work resulted in extensive flooding, shoreline erosion and loss of traditional lands. It also affected resources and impacted the livelihood of members and flooding also resulted in desecration of traditional burial sites.
Gull Bay First Nation Chief Wilfred King on Monday said the vast majority of the funds will go directly to the members of the community, with a portion set aside for a commemoration project.
While the per-member amount is not yet known, King expects the money to start being received by Christmas.
Part of the settlement involves OPG president Tom Mitchell issuing a formal apology to the chief, council and members of the First Nation, along with acknowledging the damage caused.
Mitchell is expected to do that on Dec. 11 in Thunder Bay.
The settlement resolves eight years of negotiations between Gull Bay and the OPG, but the First Nation is still negotiating settlements with both the provincial and federal governments.
