Treaty territory leadership, province, Canada will meet

BATCHEWANA FIRST NATION—As hoped for and anticipated by representatives of the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund (RHLTF), stage three of the Robinson Huron Treaty Annuities Case has been officially adjourned for two weeks to allow Robinson Huron Treaty leadership, the province and Canada an opportunity to mediate a negotiated resolution.

Dean Sayers, chief of the Batchewana First Nation, who is a spokesperson for the RHLTF confirmed this past Saturday, “stage three has been adjourned for two weeks to allow for negotiations to take place. That has always been our hope and expectation. We have always wanted to come to a resolution outside of the court process.”

Chief Sayers explained the annuities case, which had been slated to commence January 16, has been officially adjourned to allow RHLTF leadership, Ontario and Canada the opportunity to mediate a negotiated resolution. Former Senator and Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Honourable Murray Sinclair, has agreed to facilitate the mediation process.

Patricia C. Hennessy, associate chief justice of the Supreme Court of Justice, “has also agreed to put stage three of the court proceedings on hold for two weeks for the mediation talks to take place,” said Chief Sayers.

The 21 Robinson Huron Treaty First Nations communities and the governments of Canada and Ontario are currently in litigation for breach of treaty. Under the treaty, annuities to the First Nations and beneficiaries were supposed to increase as resource revenues within the Treaty territory increased. However, the annuity increased only once, rising from $1.60 to $4 in 1875, and hasn’t gone up since.

RHLTF reps met with the governments December 5. The historic meeting took place with Canada’s Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller and Ontario’s Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford who met in ceremony with the Robinson-Huron chiefs for the first time since 1850.

After that meeting Chief Sayers told The Expositor, “I’m optimistic we will have fruitful negotiations at the table (toward treaty renewal). It was the intent of the meeting to relay to the Crown the seriousness of the settlement process and the seriousness of coming to a settlement before the (scheduled) third and final stage of the ongoing court case January 16.”

Chief Sayers said after the December meeting, “we would rather not have to go to court again, and I think the government is on the same page. I think we are getting there.” He said if the treaty agreement can be reached, “it will provide an incredible injection into our communities and neighbouring communities as well. We have entrepreneurs who want to start businesses and collectively to bring about more economic development. There would be a definite benefit to sharing of the lands, and our people would be able to find contentment in getting this protocol in place and in the spirit of ancestors who have come before them. It would provide comfort and closure.” He also said at the time that government leaders, “are serious about reaching a resolution on the treaty renewal.”
“We are looking forward and are excited in regards to the next week or two weeks of negotiations,” said Chief Sayers.