Band using land claim money to settle debts, some members upset

Some Fort William First Nation members say they are upset about the band council's plans to hold back money owed to them from a pair of massive land claim settlements.  

Band members are expected to receive $35,000 this week from their share of the $176-million settlements with the Federal and provincial governments.  But some community members are crying foul over the band’s plan to withhold portions of their allocations due to outstanding debts owed to the First Nation. 

About a dozen people stood outside the Fort William First Nation Band Office as the Chief and Council arrived Wednesday afternoon. The demonstrators say they are deeply concerned about a plan that would see land claim money withheld from people who have outstanding debt with the Band. 

Jeremiah Charlie alleges hundreds of thousands of dollars will be withheld.

Charlie admitted to a Thunder Bay Television reporter that he owes money to the community. He borrowed for a mortgage, but says the home will soon be for sale and the band should take that money instead of his land claim settlement. 

Chief Peter Collins says this is the first he's heard about the issue, but says the band’s actions are justified because the community deserves the money it's owed.

Darlene McLauren also acknowledges that she owes $5,000 in unpaid rent and says administration is trying to take double that from her settlement payment. She wants to pay that money back, but thinks only a percentage should come from her payout.
 
Band members voted 98 per cent in favour of the settlements in a pair of votes held in December and January. 

The group says the Trust Agreement that was provided to voters beforehand made no mention of debts owed to the First Nation being withheld as part of the process.  

Charlie says they found out about the plan to garnish settlement money this week, just days before the funds are to be distributed.