Robinson Huron Treaty Nations Public Notice: No Consent for Herbicide Spraying in Treaty Territory
ROBINSON HURON TREATY TERRITORY (March 23, 2026) – The leadership of the Robinson Huron Treaty Nations, represented through Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin (RHW), is issuing this public notice to clarify its position regarding forestry activities within the Robinson Huron Treaty territory.
The 21 First Nations of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 continue to exercise our inherent jurisdiction and collective responsibility to protect our lands, waters, resources, and future generations. As the Original Peoples and unextinguished governments of this territory, we have never relinquished our inherent rights or authority over our lands and waters.
RHW does not provide permission to Interfor or to any other forestry company to conduct aerial herbicide spraying within the Robinson Huron Treaty territory.
Jurisdiction over our lands remains with Robinson Huron Treaty Nations. Our laws, responsibilities, and governance systems guide how our forests and ecosystems must be cared for. These responsibilities long predate provincial legislation and continue to exist today.
While we acknowledge Interfor’s recent public statement confirming that the company will not proceed with aerial herbicide spraying in 2026, this decision followed significant advocacy and mobilization by our Nations and community members. Our people spoke clearly: the aerial application of glyphosate and similar herbicides on our lands is unacceptable.
However, we remain concerned that public statements from industry and government leave open the possibility that spraying may resume in future years. The Robinson Huron Treaty Nations have been clear on this issue. At our Spring Gathering in May 2025, the Chiefs unanimously passed Resolution #2025-01 opposing the aerial spraying of glyphosate and other chemical herbicides throughout our Treaty territory and calling for an immediate moratorium on its use in forestry operations.
This position is reinforced by leadership across Ontario. In June 2025, the Chiefs-in-Assembly of Chiefs of Ontario passed Resolution 25/03A calling for the abolishment of glyphosate-based herbicides within the traditional territories of First Nations across the province.
The Robinson Huron Treaty Nations had already declared in 2021 that there shall be no utilization of herbicides or pesticides containing glyphosate within the Robinson Huron Treaty territory. That declaration remains in full force and effect.
We therefore reiterate that Interfor must not undertake, authorize, or participate in any aerial or ground-based application of herbicides containing glyphosate within our territory now or in the future unless and until a mutually negotiated agreement is reached with the Robinson Huron Treaty Nations.
RHW leadership plans to seek meetings with provincial officials, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, to discuss the elimination of glyphosate uses within the Treaty territory.
Other jurisdictions in Canada have already demonstrated that alternatives exist. The Government of Quebec banned the use of glyphosate in forestry operations on Crown Land in 2001 and relies instead on manual and mechanical forest management practices. These examples show that responsible forest stewardship can occur without chemical herbicides.
We ask that the province engage in meaningful dialogue with our First Nations on the herbicide and pesticide use within our Treaty territory. Continuing to permit its use throughout our territory is an affront to our Treaty relationship.
RHW leadership remains committed to constructive engagement with industry and government to ensure our lands and waters are protected from the harmful use of
glyphosate and that our Treaty relationship is respected as a Nation-to-Nation agreement.
Miigwech,
Gimaa Dean Sayers
Spokesperson for the Robinson Huron Treaty Chiefs
Member, Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin Political Working Group