Dave Heron expected to get his yearly $900 treaty land entitlement payment through the Salt River First Nation last MondaySA国际影视传媒� until he got a form letter from the chief on Oct. 30 telling him he and 144 other members wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be getting one again.

He says heSA国际影视传媒檚 filed a human rights complaint against the First Nation, through the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and that this decision might even split up the band itself.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 lots of talk of seeing what can happen, possible legal action or just another route altogether in forming a separate band,SA国际影视传媒� said Heron, who lives in Yellowknife. SA国际影视传媒淓verythingSA国际影视传媒檚 open and possibly happening.SA国际影视传媒�

The reasoning stated in the letter is that the band is not getting additional funding from Canada for Heron and other members who became members of the band after the First NationSA国际影视传媒檚 treaty was settled in 2002, so the chief and council voted to halt payments to preserve the amount the original signatories are getting.

SA国际影视传媒淭his decision affects you and the other 144 who were added to our membership list after 2002 but who are not descendants of the original 757 beneficiaries,SA国际影视传媒� reads the letter, signed by Chief Frieda Martselos and the six members of council.

Martselos did not respond to News/NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 request for comment.

SA国际影视传媒淲hile council must protect and preserve the TLE [treaty land entitlements] for the beneficiaries against the dilution of additional members imposed on [Salt River First Nation] by Canada, we assure you that we will continue to fight to receive rightful and appropriate compensation from Canada so that you can be added to the TLE as a beneficiary,SA国际影视传媒� the letter also states.

It goes on to advise members to take their complaints directly to Canada, pinning the blame on the federal government for refusing to pay more compensation into the First NationSA国际影视传媒檚 trustSA国际影视传媒攖he funding behind which was agreed upon in the First NationSA国际影视传媒檚 2002 settlement.

The text of the treaty settlement states that Canada agreed to pay the band $83,180,000 SA国际影视传媒渋n full satisfaction of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 obligations related to the provision of reserve land and ancillary treaty benefits under the terms of Treaty No. 8 and related matters.SA国际影视传媒�

Heron says heSA国际影视传媒檚 not the only one who views this decision as wrong, but heSA国际影视传媒檚 received support from members both new and among the original 757.

SA国际影视传媒淚 know they have their reasons but they've got to realize that weSA国际影视传媒檙e people theySA国际影视传媒檙e dealing with and not numbers,SA国际影视传媒� said Heron.

According to the Salt River First NationSA国际影视传媒檚 yearly audits, posted on its website, the settlement trust accounted for $4,235,424 of the total $4,958,317 in revenue in its 2016 budget. This pays for every aspect of the bandSA国际影视传媒檚, and their reserveSA国际影视传媒檚, operations. Of this money, per capita distribution was pegged at $636,769SA国际影视传媒攖he third largest consolidated expense item. The largest expense posted was salaries and benefits for the first nation, pegged at $853,983.