Welcome back to Inside the Village, a one-of-a-kind podcast where all news is local — and no topic is off-limits.
On this week's episode: Righting a historic wrong.
After years of court battles, the federal and provincial governments reached a $10-billion settlement with beneficiaries of the Robinson Huron Treaty. Simply put, members of those 21 First Nations in northern Ontario did not see an increase to annual treaty payments for nearly 150 years, even as wealth generated in their territory from mining, forestry and fishing sectors continued to grow.
The annual treaty payments to Anishinaabe beneficiaries, also known as annuities, had remained at $4 per person since 1875. Prior to that, the annuities were equivalent to $1.60 per person.
Earlier this month, the settlement money finally started flowing to individual beneficiaries — in many cases, more than $100,000 per person.
For Scott Flamand, the payouts represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — and he's been telling anyone who will listen to think hard about where to put all that newfound money. A member of Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Flamand is a management consultant who specializes in personal finance and on-reserve housing.
It's a fascinating conversation — not just for treaty beneficiaries, but for anyone looking to improve their money management skills.
Also on the podcast this week: The countdown is on until we officially launch TorontoToday!
Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.
Every episode can be found HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.
Have something to say? You can reach us at itv@villagemedia.ca.
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