Low voter turnout kills settlement

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The First Nations chiefs of Walpole Island, Aamjiwnaang, (formerly Chippewas of Sarnia) and Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point must decide what to do about the Enniskillen settlement agreement with the federal government. The agreement pertains to a 23-year-old land claim in Enniskillen Township in southwestern Ontario.

The agreement was subject to approval by all three First Nations memberships and by the Canadian government but low turnout at the May 11 vote has rendered the agreement mute, and the land claim unresolved.

In return for the $6-million settlement to be split evenly among the First Nations, all claims against the Canadian government would be surrendered, according to procedures set out in the Indian Act.

Nicole Dakin, Indian Affairs spokesperson, reported that a non-majority of eligible voters voted in favor of the agreement in both Aamjiwnaang and Kettle and Stony Point. A non-majority voted against the agreement in Walpole Island. The agreement, therefore, was not passed.

"All three First Nations must have had a majority of the majority of eligible voters to have voted in favor [of the agreement] or it would be unresolved," Dakin explained. "None of the First Nations had a majority of eligible voters cast ballots. There will be no second vote. . . so the Enniskillen land claim remains unresolved," she said.

"The First Nations want to meet amongst themselves to consider their options and then go back to their communities. . . .Once they contact us, we will be more than willing to sit down and talk with them," she explained.

Between 1866 and 1918, about 400 acres belonging to Aboriginal people were sold by Indian Affairs to people wanting to profit from oil discoveries in that area, with no valid surrender of title to the land obtained.

"The claim, submitted by the three First Nations in 1978, has been under negotiation since 1983," and was finally initialed Dec. 21, 2000, said federal negotiator Wayne Wallace. Each First Nation has a negotiator who will contact and work with Wallace to discuss further options to resolve the claim.

In April, the three communities held information sessions to explain the settlement offer. Voting took place at each site on May ll, and was open to all members over 18. Kettle and Stony Point First Nation has 1,200 eligible voters, according to councillor Bob Bressette. Councillor Errnol Gray said there are 900 voters in the Aamjiwnaang First Nation. Doug Patterson, ratification officer for Indian Affairs, reported there are about 2,450 voters on the Walpole Island list.