Asserting jurisdiction as first Robinson Huron Treaty billboard unveiled
By Kelly Anne Smith
MARTEN RIVER — The first Robinson Huron Treaty territory billboard was unveiled on Hwy 11, north of North Bay, on June 27. Past Marten River, on the northbound side, the new billboard is a forest scene with a morning mist, overlaid with the words ‘Robinson Huron Treaty’, ‘Anishinaabe Territory’, and a Peace Pipe. Leroy Bennett from Sagamok Anishnawbek sang an Honour Song for the unveiling.
Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin Executive Director Earl Commanda says the signs are important in asserting jurisdiction and to create awareness across the territory of Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.
“This is an area where we’ve been since time immemorial. We don’t say we’re Anishinaabe of the Robinson Huron. We are Anishinaabe in the Robinson Huron Treaty Territory. And there’s more Anishinaabe outside of our territory,” he expresses. “Taking a look at the significance of the Treaty, people understood that they were sharing the land with the settlers. They didn’t understand the ceding of the land and all its resources.”
Dokis First Nation Chief Gerry Duquette says the Treaty is about being good neighbours.
“It’s a friendly reminder that you’re entering our lands and everybody’s welcome. We’ve signed a Treaty. We honour the Treaty. The Treaty is to share, to have people feel welcomed in our territory in a good way,” he states. “We hope it makes people aware of this area with Nipissing First Nation on Lake Nipissing and Dokis, just down the Upper French River. We always hunted, trapped, and fished, and moved along. Our members were prominent in the fur trade and we were up and down this area in the 1800s and the 1900s when the trapping was good. We still travel and come on these highways and we want to make sure people feel welcome and aware of where they are.”
Chief Duquette says non-Indigenous people might not realize the vast land mass of the Treaty.
“It goes from Penetanguishene, to the watershed, all the way towards Timmins, to the shorelines of Lake Superior towards Sault Ste. Marie. It’s a huge territory.”
He points to protocols for entering territories.
“When I come in from Dokis to meet [Nipissing First Nation] Chief McLeod, I feel welcomed. Even if it is a shared territory, you have that mutual respect that you’re going into his area also. It’s a courtesy saying we are fishing in your area. And we do that amongst ourselves. You stop and say hello.”
“Everybody is a Treaty member whether you’re Indigenous or not. You still live in a Treaty and people don’t realize that they are able to live, to hunt, fish, to work, whether it’s forestry or mining, because of the Treaty. It’s allowing people to share this vast territory in a good way.”
Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod says the new Treaty billboard was received warmly by communities.
“A lot of people on social media are proud of that sign. I think it has to do with that in the last 160 years, we’ve been invisible to non-Indigenous communities. Not just the people themselves but our history and our territorial lands have been taken for granted. It’s instilling a sense of pride to the community members of the Robinson Huron Treaty. We are finally starting to see acknowledgement and recognition of our territory and our Treaties and our history.”
Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod explains the annuities claim coming before the Supreme Court involving 21 First Nations.
“There has been no increased amount since 1874. The decision has been rendered in favour of the Robinson Huron Treaty communities to receive compensation for that,” he says. “That has been appealed by Ontario. Prior to the provincial election, although they did not totally appeal, the province did indicate willingness to negotiate a settlement. Which is very welcomed; however, the appeal is still proceeding in court. We have not heard from Doug Ford about further talks in regards to his indication of willingness to negotiate. We are giving him some time. We realize he is just getting his cabinet set up. We have forwarded an e-letter to him recently. We expect him to move forward in good faith with us to negotiate a settlement.”
Nine other Treaty roadside signs are destined for Hwy 144 from the north, Hwy 17 from the east, Hwy 69 from the south, Hwy 6 from Manitoulin Island, Hwy 17 from northwestern Ontario for the west and some within the territory.