South-central Ontario First Nations now get to decide on land settlement

It will be the largest specific land claim settlement in Canada’s history and the first time multiple First Nations will be involved, so First Nations chiefs are hopeful that within the next five months members will ratify an agreement that has been in the making for 30 years.
“We’re hoping to move this along as expeditiously as possible without rushing,” said Rama First Nation Chief Sharon Stimson Henry. “We’re hoping by the end of the year.”

On March 24, the federal government offered a $307-million settlement agreement to the south-central Ontario First Nations of Chippewas of Rama, Chippewas of Georgina Island, Beausoleil, and Chippewas of Nawash for land taken in what was the Coldwater-Narrows reserve.

The 10,673 acres runs about 14 miles long by one and a half miles wide along an old portage route between present-day Orillia and Matchedash Bay on Lake Huron.
A second component of the settlement agreement gives the First Nations the option to purchase up to 10,673 acres of land and apply to the federal government to have those lands designated as reserve land. The First Nations have up to 30 years to buy land and start the reserve creation process.

The Coldwater-Narrows claim settlement offer came from the government nearly two-and-a-half years after negotiations were concluded.

“The (negotiations) came to an end fall of 2008 and we’ve waited for the government to give us a mandate, an offer to settle,” said Beausoleil Chief Roly Monague in an interview with Nation Talk.

The Rama, Georgina Island and Beausoleil First Nations began negotiating with the federal government in 2002. The Namash First Nation joined the negotiation process in 2007 when it was determined that they were successors to some of the reserve’s original residents. The Chippewas of Namash had moved to Colpoy’s Bay before eventually leaving there and amalgamating with Cape Croker.

Monague said a distribution formula has been established which will see the Rama, Georgina Island and Beausoleil First Nations each receive 30 per cent of the settlement dollars while Namash will receive 10 per cent.

Stimson Henry has been involved with the process the entire way. Monthly meetings occurred over the years and some months had more than a single meeting. Stimson Henry said she was told by government officials and negotiators that she didn’t have to be in attendance.
“It was my responsibility to be there, to ensure that I had the opportunity as leader of my community to ask or inquire about anything I saw going on that I could give input on for the benefit of my particular membership,” said Stimson Henry. Sitting at the negotiation table was her priority.

Monague was present when the negotiations began in 2002 and stayed through until 2006 when he left politics. He returned last summer.

The process has been long and arduous.

The claim was researched for more than 20 years before being submitted to the federal government in 1991, said Stimson Henry. It took until 2002 to be accepted.

Monague said the Beausoleil, Rama and Georgina Island First Nations settled in the Coldwater area as an experiment to see if the three First Nations could farm and survive. In 1836, they signed agreements which, they were led to believe, allowed them to stay. Instead, the agreements forced them to give up the land.

“It has taken quite a number of years to get the government to acknowledge that we were defrauded of the land,” said Monague.

Community meetings have already begun on the First Nations. The membership will determine how their portion of the settlement money will be dispersed. This money will be put into trust agreements for their communities.

“When we think about everything we’ve lost over the years, the economic opportunities, the social challenges we’ve endured so many years, the healing that needs to occur, I believe if we think in that direction, if we think that our future generations don’t have to suffer in the same way we did, this claim can go a long way,” said Monague.

Stimson Henry wouldn’t comment on whether each band member will receive an individual sum from the settlement.

For the settlement agreement to be accepted the majority of voting members for each First Nation must cast ballots in favour. That is the outcome both Monague and Stimson Henry are confident will occur.

“We’re not contemplating the deal not being ratified,” said Stimson Henry, who said that all First Nation will hold their ratification votes at the same time.

Monague doesn’t anticipate the first federal cheques being cut until spring of 2012.

“Today it’s something that’s been long standing; it’s an offer that’s on the table. It will never acknowledge our losses (but) it’ll certainly assist us in moving forward for the benefit of future generations,” said Monague.