Canada and Ontario want to pay back indigenous peoples’ debts dating back to 1850

In 1850, the British Crown signed a treaty with the Anishinabe people living around Lake Huron in northern Ontario to allow settlers to exploit the resources of these lands in return for territorial royalties paid to each community.

The first nations of the Robinson-Huron Treaty believed that annuities should have increased over time as revenues from regional resources increased. However, pensions only increased once in 1875, prompting the 21 states involved to take legal action against the province and federal government.

Since April 2022, Canada, Ontario and the 21 first countries to the Robinson-Huron Treaty have been working together […] To find common ground and settle these matters out of courtconfirms the federal government.

This compensation is intended to satisfy past claims, and to meet the obligations of the Province, Canada and Investing in a better future for their communities and developing local economies in the territories covered by the TreatyOttawa continues.

Crown and Aboriginal Relations Minister Mark Miller acknowledges this proposed settlement is long overdue and First Nations are asking Canada Fulfilling broken promises and working to create a climate of trust.

” This is an important opportunity to fulfill a promise broken in the treaty and to pay off First Nations debts dating back to 1850. »

Since April 2022, Canada, Ontario, and the 21 first countries to the Robinson-Huron Treaty have been working together to find common ground.

Photo: Radio-Canada/Jean-Loup Doudard

Ontario, for its part, considers this draft regulation to be An important step in historic pension settlement He stresses that he wants to continue making progress Reconciliation and prosperity of indigenous peoples.

For his part, the spokesman for the unauthorized territory of Wiikwemkoong, Duke Peltier, believes that Reconciliation is not possible in the courtroomand that Canada and Ontario have listened to the demands of indigenous communities To make this system project a reality.

Our societies have suffered economic, cultural and social hardship as a result of this treaty violation. The compensation provided for in this settlement will ensure a stronger and brighter future for our peoples and nations.Bachwana First Nation President Dean Cyrus added.

Timothy MacNeil, a professor of political science at Ontario Technological University, thinks this announcement is a move Towards a kind of decolonization in the country.

He adds that this draft regulation is Basic Because he realizes that the provincial and federal governments have not respected the treaties signed with the First Nations.

To put the proposed compensation from Ontario and the federal government into perspective, Mr. McNeil points out that A.J Huge amount of resources It was taken away by governments on First Nations lands without compensation to the inhabitants of these lands. In particular, he mentions the extraction of minerals, the resources of which were used during the First and Second World Wars.

Ottawa says the proposed settlement will not be final until it is approved by all parties and A prior claim for damages will not be waived by agreement of the parties and by order of the Ontario Supreme Court.

With information from Jean-Loup Doudard and Aya Dufour