The Peguis Surrender Claim Trust and members of Peguis First Nations are involved in mutual learning. The members are responsible for financial decisions to preserve the trust funds for future generations. To do that the Trust informs them about the history of the claim, financial management, and Anishinaabe culture. At the same time the Trustees learn about the needs, ambitions, and values of the members. Together they plan for the future. High school students are encouraged to learn about accounting, banking, and management so that they will in their time be sound fiscal managers of the funds.
The community has at this time $185 million ($135 million in the Trust and $50 million in TLE). The members of Peguis First Nation are millionaires; it’s their money. Sharon Stevenson, trust manager, says, “It’s your responsibility. It’s your money. You have know how to handle it. You have to know how manage it. And you have know what you’re going to do with it.”
