Understanding brings peaceful solutions
By Sharon Weatherall
ORILLIA – Jeff Monague says education — getting to know and learn about each other — is the best way to resolve First Nations issues and disputes peacefully.
That is how four First Nation communities came to an understanding with government to settle the Coldwater Narrows dispute and negotiate $300 million for lands that were taken from them in the 1800’s.
One of five presenters in the 2013 Aboriginal Speakers Series hosted by Orillia`s Lakehead University campus, , Monague, Eagle Clan, Beausoleil First Nation, spoke about the Coldwater- Narrows Reserve and Settlement.
A current band councillor and Georgian College native language instructor, Monague said Anishinabek translates into “Good people” and early treaties that were about peace and friendship later became about land and acquiring land.
“A treaty is a contract between two or more political authorities and states or sovereigns, and government signed treaties on behalf of the Native people making them ‘Treaty People’,” he said.
Monague says the first contact between native people and settlers in central Ontario was made by Samuel de Champlain in the early 1600’s, when the French started to trade and make the first informal agreements and treaties.
“In 1830 Coldwater Narrows was the first reserve in Canada and our people were placed in the Coldwater region. During 1830-38 our people lived a nomadic lifestyle and the government was having a hard time keeping them in one spot. At the time they were trying to integrate Indians into the population to eliminate them – we were in the way and they needed to remove us. They referred to us as the ‘Indian Problem’. Many died through germ warfare through smallpox, typhoid.”
Native people were initially involved in the settlement of the lands in that area through farming, and building of the Coldwater Road and Flour Mill but early settlers wanted the land and so it was sold out from beneath them. These were lands not surrendered but taken and people were removed to different areas. The four bands involved were Rama, Georgina Island, Beausoleil First Nation and Cape Croker.
At the time Coldwater Reserve Chief John Assance did not want to leave and held a protest inside the mill with warriors. In the 1970’s the chiefs met to discuss the Coldwater history. In 1985 the chiefs sanctioned research and in 1991 the Chippewa Tri-council submitted a claim. In 1996 the claim was rejected but was resubmitted in 1998. In 2002 Canada agreed to negotiate, and in 2012 the Tri-Council agreed to accept Canada’s $300 million settlement and to share it with a fourth community, Cape Croker.
“Along the way Canada changed negotiators numerous times to stall things and at a cost,” said Monague. “We have used the money to look after our communities for housing, jobs, the education system and health issues. Beausoleil put their share into a trust to live off the interest and last into the future.”
Monague also spoke about the protests surrounding Site 41 that started in 2008, after municipal officials decided to build a mega waste disposal above a pure-water aquifer without any consultation with First Nations in the area. When he was Beausoleil Chief 18 years earlier, Monague said the development of the dump would impact fishing and poison the water. Nearly two decades later Beausoleil women joined area farmers to stop the dump through peaceful protesting, rallies and ceremonies.
“They invited the farmers to become involved so everyone got to know each other through sharing life and family stories to come together in a common cause,” said Monague. “They held peaceful rallies to educate people and there was a great sharing of information. Finally unity prevailed and the municipality backed off and decided not to build a dump.”
“We did it through non-violent ways, ceremonies and understanding our neighbours. If every Canadian knew more about First Nation People we could come to an understanding. We will always be different but we can come together –– sometimes it takes a crisis for that to happen.”