Peguis First Nation in Manitoba is asking its members to take part in an election for trustees who will help decide how more than $155 million is spent on community projects. The band posted a Notice of Trustee Election on June 23, 2026 for the Surrender Claim Trust.
The trust manages money that came from a $126 million settlement with Canada over an illegal land surrender in 1907. After paying legal costs, $118.75 million was put into the trust in 2010, and it has now grown to about $155 million.
The election is for Community Fund Trustees. These trustees review funding requests for things like community programs, services, or infrastructure. They can approve grants up to $82,315 on their own. Bigger asks, up to $274,385, need backing from Chief and Council, and anything above that requires a vote by all members.
The trust was set up after decades of legal fighting. In 1998, Canada agreed the 1907 surrender of the St. Peter’s Reserve near Selkirk was void. The vote that led to the surrender gave only one day’s notice, was held in a cramped schoolhouse, and was not translated into Cree or Saulteaux. Commissioners later found members were not in favour of giving up the land. In 2009, Peguis members voted to accept the settlement, and the trust has since paid for over $34 million in community projects.
Peguis is Manitoba’s largest First Nation, with about 12,000 members. Roughly 3,700 live on reserve and 8,200 live elsewhere. The trust also has Financial Trustees who handle investments and a separate per-capita distribution. The current notice tells eligible members to watch for nomination and voting details from the Band Office.
