Robinson Huron Treaty chiefs optimistic annuities case will soon come to a resolution

BATCHEWANA FIRST NATION—A spokesperson for the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund (RHLTF) is optimistic that the federal and provincial governments will come to the table in the next few weeks toward a resolution of the treaty renewal and ongoing Robinson Huron Treaty annuities case. It is the hope that common ground is found before the case goes back to court for the third and final phase early in the new year.

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

This optimism comes after a meeting the RHLTF had with the governments December 5. The historic meeting took place earlier this month 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.

“I’m optimistic we will have fruitful negotiations at the table (toward treaty renewal),” stated Dean Sayers, chief of the Batchewana First Nation and a spokesperson for the RHTLF. “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.”

“We would rather not have to go to court again, and I think the government is on the same page,” said Chief Sayers. “I think we are getting there.’ Chief Sayers said if the treaty agreement can be reached, “it will provide an incredible injection into our communities and neighbouring communities (neighbours) 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.”

The government leaders, “are serious about reaching a resolution on the treaty renewal,” said Chief Sayers. “And I asked the prime minister on Thursday (December 8) on this issue and he and the government is taking this settlement very seriously. I was comfortable the Canadian government is aware of and has an understanding of the importance and complexity of the case and the prime minister’s knowledge and answers off the cuff to questions proves this commitment to talk and find a resolution.”

“And Minister Rickford met us Monday and relayed that the Ontario government takes this seriously,” said Chief Sayers.

Minister Rickford, in a Twitter statement said, “Our government is focussed on creating relationships with Indigenous partners, through meaningful negotiations, as we create thriving communities.”

RHLTF leadership has been calling on both governments to reach a negotiated agreement instead of reaching a litigated outcome.
“Meeting with the Crowns in ceremony is an important first step to treaty renewal which will hopefully lead us to a negotiated settlement of the annuities litigation,” said Chief Sayers in a press release.

RHLTF spokesperson Duke Peltier of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory said, “this is the first time Robinson Huron Treaty Leadership has met with the Crowns in ceremony since 1850, 172 years ago. Our hope is this process will continue.”