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September 8, 2005 - MEDIA RELEASE

Robinson Treaty promises broken for 155 years

NIPISSING FIRST NATION -- It has been over a century and a half since First Nations signed the Robinson Treaties, but Anishinabek people continue to struggle for rights to land and resources promised in those treaties.

First Nations in two regions of Ontario are commemorating the 155th anniversary of the signing of two historic and important treaties this week. The Robinson-Superior Treaty was signed on September 7, 1850 while the Robinson-Huron Treaty was signed two days later on September 9, 1850.

"There are many important and outstanding issues related to the Treaties. Our right to hunt and fish has been restricted by constant government harassment and interference, and annuities have not increased to reflect the resource development on traditional lands," said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief John Beaucage.

"Most importantly, the Government of Canada has not respected the government-to-government relationship established under the treaties, so our jurisdiction and the authority of First Nation government has been undermined," added Beaucage.

Interest in Indian lands along the north shores of Lake Superior and Lake Huron began in the 1840's as many mining companies began to send prospectors, surveyors and engineers into the region. As mining companies successfully obtained licences to extract resources, many First Nations people in the region began to complain to the Crown that their claims to the land were being ignored.

The Robinson Treaties marked the beginning of an emphasis on a "cash-for-land" treaty approach by the Crown, which was to have far-reaching effects on First Nations, who regarded money just as they had regarded the trade goods offered in previous treaties - as gifts in exchange for their agreement to share the use of their traditional territories with settler populations.

To assist in the settlement and commercial development of the region, Lord Elgin, Governor General of Canada, ensured that treaty commissioner - and former fur trader -- William Benjamin Robinson was given a budget of 7500 pounds Sterling (approx. $30,000 Cdn in 1850) to purchase as much land as possible. He was successful in obtaining title to approximately 50,000 square miles (32 million acres) of Indian territory for approximately 66 cents for every square mile, or 640 acres.

Chief Michael "Eagle" Dokis of Lake Nipissing said after attending the treaty negotiations, "When Mr. Robinson came to the Indians to make a Treaty for their lands, they were not willing to give up their lands and would not sign a Treaty. He then told them they need not be afraid to give up their rights because Government would never do anything to make them suffer, he said you know yourselves where you have the best lands and there is where you have your reserves for yourselves and your children and their children ever after."

Every Chief's consent to the terms of the treaties was indicated by his "mark" - usually a totem or clan symbol - on the official document. The First Nations leaders could neither read nor write English and relied totally on the honesty of the treaty commissioner about what they were agreeing to.

The Robinson-Superior Treaty was negotiated with the Chippewas of the Sault Ste. Marie area and gave the Crown, "the shoreline of Lake Superior, including islands from Batchewana Bay to the Pigeon River, inland as far as the height of land." The Treaty stipulated an upfront payment of $8,000 (all amounts Cdn) and an annual payment of $200 each year thereafter. This is an area of over 20,000 square miles, stretching approximately from present day Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in the east, past Thunder Bay, Ontario, in the west.

Two days after William Robinson had negotiated the Robinson-Superior Treaty, he negotiated with Chief Shinguacouse and the Lake Huron Chippewa Indians for the Lake Huron shoreline, "including the islands, from Matchedash Bay to Batchewana Bay and inland as far as the height of the land."

An agreement was made to surrender territory, except for the reserves, for $8000 and an annual payment of $240 for over 30,000 square miles.

In addition to the cash, each Robinson Treaty included a list of reserved lands, indicating size and location of each reserve assigned to each Chief. The Huron Treaty included 21 such reserves but Superior only listed three.

The Robinson Treaties also guaranteed to First Nations the "full and free privilege to hunt over the territory now ceded by them and to fish in the waters thereof as they have heretofore been in the habit of doing."

However, said Beaucage, "First Nations continue to be subject to harassment by provincial Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers in the field, and there are instances of First Nations people being prosecuted under provincial legislation despite these treaty rights."

"The government of Canada does not honour our treaties in the spirit they were entered into," said the Anishinabek Nation leader.

The Anishinabek Nation incorporated the Union of Ontario Indians as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 42 member First Nations across Ontario. The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

For more information contact:
Jamie Monastyrski, Communications Officer
Union of Ontario Indians
705-497-9127 (2290)
monjam@anishinabek.ca