Fort William Settles Claim After 160 Years

Page 1 Volume 22 Issue 10 Published monthly by the Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation Single Copy: $2.00 DECEMBER 2010 Fort William settles claim after 160 years FORT WILLIAM – A land claim way to creating a positve future for in Northwestern Ontario that has our members," said Fort William been disputed for more than 160 First Nation Chief Peter Collins on years has been settled. Nov. 19. The money will be used Fort William First Nation for economic development, hous- reached the settlement with the ing, education and a future genera- governments of Canada and On- tion fund. tario over the Fort William First The Fort William First Nation Nation Boundary Claim. Boundary Claim dates back to the Approximately $149 million Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850. in financial compensation will be The community asserts that the awarded to the First Nation from land surveyed in 1853 does not re- the federal government and an ad- flect the First Nation’s understand- ditional $5 million from Ontario. ing of location or size of the Fort Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg north of Ottawa – the largest Algonquin First Nation in Canada with 2500 citizens – The settlement also includes William reserve as defined in the has erected billboards for passing motorists to see their concerns about the education policies of the Harper the transfer to the reserve of ap- Robinson Superior Treaty. Conservative government. – Photo courtesy Anita Tenasco, Kitigan Zibi Education Director proximately 4,655 hectares of The Boundary Claim was Crown land in total from all of submitted to the Government of Flatland Island and a portion of Canada in 1986 and to Ontario in Who is INAC helping in England? Pie Island in Lake Superior. 1987. In 1994 the federal govern- UOI OFFICES – Anishinabek Nation Deputy Grand dollars spent in Europe.” "Hopefully this will go a long ment accepted the claim, followed Council Chief Glen Hare wonders why the federal The Deputy Grand Council Chief called the ex- by Ontario in 2000. bureaucracy responsible for improving the lives of penses “jaw-dropping” at a time when First Nations The 4,655 hectares of land will First Nations people in Canada is spending exorbi- education funding has been capped at two per cent be transferred to the government tant amounts on overseas travel. for the past 13 years. Lillian of Canada, which will then set it Published reports include thousands of dollars “Just keeping up with inflation and our growing aside as reserve area for Fort Wil- in overseas trips by Indian Affairs bureaucrats to population would require annual funding increases honoured liam First Nation. places like Russia, Belgium and Great Britain in a of 6.5 per cent,” said Hare. “This is discrimination The land will provide the op- list of $125 million worth of extravagant expenses against our young people,” he said, noting that the for life portunity for growth, Collins add- by federal civil servants. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indig- TORONTO – Dr. ed. "There are many economic op- “They’re supposed to be representing our inter- enous Peoples – which Canada recently endorsed – Lillian McGregor, portunities available." ests – we’re not aware of any First Nations in Eng- says Indigenous peoples have the right to all levels Ojibwe, Crane Clan, Reprinted with permission of the land,” said Hare. “We have plenty of funding prob- and forms of education without discrimination. Whitefish River First Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal lems in our own back yard – we don’t need INAC Nation, will be the Newspaper Lifetime Achieve- Dr. Lillian ment Award recipient McGregor at the 2011 national Aboriginal UN Declaration too little, almost too late Achievement Awards ceremony UOI OFFICES – Canada’s en- been one of the first countries Nations,” said the Grand Council “Section 35 of Canada’s con- in Edmonton. Dr. McGregor, dorsement of the United Nations in the world to sign on and call Chief, “but when it added condi- stitution does more than protect who previously served as an El- Declaration on Indigenous Rights the declaration ‘aspirational’ and tions to the main components of our hunting and fishing rights,” der with the Anishinabek Edu- is too little and almost too late, ‘non-binding’, instead of waiting the declaration, Canada took two said Madahbee. “Like the UN cational Institute, joins 13 other says Anishinabek Nation Grand until they are the second-last na- steps backwards.” Declaration, it says we have the honourees, including Miss Indian Council Chief Patrick Madahbee. tion in the world to do so and say “This is a country that has de- right to govern our own affairs, World, Dakota Brant, Six na- “We can’t understand why it the same thing. veloped a global reputation as a but provincial and federal govern- tions, and Fred Sasakamoose, the took Canada three years to offer “In supporting the UN dec- champion of human rights, but its ments have dragged their feet on first Aboriginal person to play in such a lukewarm endorsement,” laration, Canada took a step for- reluctance on this issue gives us fully accepting this principle." the National Hockey League said Madahbee. “They could have ward in its relationship with First an international black eye.’ Season’s Greetings from the Anishinabek Nation and staff at the Union of Ontario Indians Aamjiwnaang ~ Alderville ~ Algonquins of Pikwakanagan ~ Atikameksheng Anishnawbek (Whiteﬁsh Lake) ~ Aundeck Omni Kaning ~ Beausoleil ~ Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (Rocky Bay) ~ Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek ~ Chippewas of Georgina Island ~ Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point ~ Chippewas of the Thames ~ Curve Lake ~ Dokis ~ Fort William ~ Henvey Inlet ~ Long Lake #58 ~ Magnetawan ~ M’Chigeeng ~ Michipicoten ~ Mississauga #8 ~ Mississaugas of Scugog ~ Moose Deer Point ~ Munsee-Delaware ~ Namaygoosisagagun ~ Nipissing ~ Ojibways of Garden River ~ Ojibways of Pic River ~ Pays Plat ~ Pic Mobert ~ Red Rock (Lake Helen) ~ Sagamok AnishinawbekAnishin ~ Serpent River ~ Sheguiandah ~ Sheshegwaning ~ Thessalon ~ Wahnapitae ~ Wasauksing ~ Whiteﬁsh River ~ Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve ~ Zhiibaahaasing Page 2 Anishinabek News December 2010 We win by working together By Patrick Madahbee Grand Council Chief Over the past year we have had plenty of issues and multiple priorities to keep us busy. We can take pride in the fact that the An- ishinabek Nation unified with other Nations and Political Organiza- tions to preserve our exemption under the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). Anishinabek Chiefs, staff and citizens (young and old) stood together over the summer and we showed the province what poten- tial we have when we are unified. The Harper government has sent a clear message that it has an agenda when it comes to First Na- tions. The HST was the first sign of their intent to undermine the rights of our citizens at every pos- sible angle. We have sent a clear message back to the federal and provincial governments that we Anishinabek Nation chiefs led by Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee, march from the Garden River Recreation Centre to set up a blockade at will not stand by passively when the Highway 17-17B junction on Nov. 8. Delegates attending the Fall Assembly staged the demonstration to protest against Canada's chronic under- our rights are being attacked. funding of post-secondary education for First Nations. – Photo by Maurice Switzer The federal government has pushed for legislation on Safe Drinking Water (but with no real Forcible foster care ‘genocide’ remedies except to give authority UOI OFFICES – Anishinabek have the right to keep eties for 20 years, beginning in the mid-1960s. to the province on-reserve). Like- their children in their own communities, including The lawsuit marks the first time in Western le- wise, Matrimonial Real Property, those who require foster care. gal history that loss of culture will be litigated as a McIvor (citizenship) and the repeal “Other governments must put a stop to the harm wrongful act. of section 67 of the Human Rights that has been caused to thousands of our kids – first in “Now that Canada has finally endorsed the Unit- Act are all intended to make the residential schools, then in foster homes,” said Dep- ed Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous government look good to the gen- uty Grand Chief Glen Hare. “They have to give us Peoples,” the Deputy Grand Chief added, “it needs to eral public while handcuffing our the resources our communities need to look after our understand that forcibly removing children from one communities with jurisdiction is- own children; their welfare is more important than group of peoples to another is considered genocide by sues and fewer resources. providing jobs for outside agencies.” the standards of international law.” Your organization – the Union Hare issued the statement after it was announced Hare noted that a Human Rights complaint has of Ontario Indians – has devoted that as group representing survivors of the so-called been filed against Canada for its funding of First Na- considerable energy and resources Sixties Scoop had filed a lawsuit against the Attorney tions child welfare agencies across the country at an advocating for all Anishinabek cit- General of Canada on behalf of an estimated 12,000 average of 22 per cent less than the budgets of provin- izens and communities and we will Deputy Grand Council Chief Glen aboriginal children in Ontario who were placed in cial agencies like Children’s Aid Societies. continue to do so in 2011. We have Hare non-aboriginal foster homes by Children’s Aid Soci-

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