Robinson-Huron Treaty Chiefs File Statement of Claim

613
Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee. – Photo by Jody Kechego
Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee. – Photo by Jody Kechego
Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee. – Photo by Jody Kechego
Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee. – Photo by Jody Kechego

Robinson-Huron Treaty Annuities at Issue

THUNDER BAY – ANISHINABEK – First Nations parties to the Robinson-Huron Treaty haven’t seen their benefits increased in 140 years. “There are 21 First Nation communities – 30,000 beneficiaries to the Robinson-Huron Treaty,” says Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee. “Each person receives $4 per year. The annuity has not increased since 1874. This is a long time coming and a giant step forward.”

Chiefs from the Robinson-Huron Treaty territory are filing their Statement of Claim today in right of Canada and Ontario regarding the longstanding failure of the Crown to raise annuities under the Treaty signed in 1850.

“The Treaty is pretty clear that the annuities would increase when the resource revenue generated from the territory increased,” said Madahbee, who helped initiate this process over 30 years ago. “It couldn’t be plainer that the territory has generated vast amounts of revenues from forestry, mining and other resource development. Still we receive four dollars per year. That is unfair and not what we bargained for.”

Under the Robinson Huron Treaty, signed on September 9th, 1850, the Anishinabek (“Ojibewa Indians”) agreed to share their lands and resources with the newcomers – approximately 35,700 square miles of territory. In return, the Crown, among other things, was supposed to pay annuities that were to be augmented from time to time.

“This is the 164th anniversary of the signing of the Robinson-Huron Treaty,” says Madahbee. “It was meant to provide economic benefits for our people. This is not what our ancestors signed on for.”

Of the 21 signatory communities, 19 are Anishinabek Nation communities and the other two are Batchewana and Shawanaga.

Previous articleStrike at Thunder Bay Bombardier Manufacturing Facility Drags On
Next articleMegadrought Due to Climate Change a Possibility – Cornell University
NetNewsledger.com or NNL offers news, information, opinions and positive ideas for Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northwestern Ontario and the world. NNL covers a large region of Ontario, but are also widely read around the country and the world. To reach us by email: newsroom@netnewsledger.com Reach the Newsroom: (807) 355-1862