Billion dollar mining bonanza: Sudbury mines belong to the Whitefish First Nation?
At $1.64 billion per person, this is surely the biggest claim ever in Canada. When I returned to Canada a few years back, I was assured that Canada is not litigious like the US. Seems those who told me that are wrong. I repeat, this claim is for $1.64 billion per person.
The announcement of the claim is so routine and bland you almost pass it by:
The Gimaa (chief) and council of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek wish to announce that they have commenced litigation against Canada and Ontario for the failure of the Crown to provide the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek with a reservation consistent with the terms of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.
The Atikameksheng Anishnawbek reservation is located 20 kilometers south west of Sudbury Ontario and is currently 45,000 acres in size.
In 1850 the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek entered into the Robinson Huron Treaty with the Crown which was to have set aside a reservation that is more than five times larger than the current reservation that was set aside in 1885.
The Crown has failed to honour the terms of the treaty and the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek seek financial compensation for the loss of use of the land as well as the return of Crown land to the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek.
The loss of use of the land in question has been conservatively valued at $550 billion and is based on an amount owing for all mineral and timber extraction that has taken place from 1850 to date.
The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, turns itself inside-out trying to be neutral, or at least objective, or at least informative, stating:
After years of slow times, Sudbury is booming again as global demand for metals is on the rise. Mr. Detlor [lawyer for the band] said the band is only making the claim now because of new historical information has come to light.
Who said there is no value in being a student of history? The bigger problem for the band may be fecundity: the 2001 census put the band at 335 members, but they now claim to have 800. This seven-year baby boom means that each band member will get only $687.5 million.
The band is playing it smart: we will invest the money and recovery our spiritual relationship to the land. Who can gainsay that? I quote from The Subdury Star:
Petahtegoose [band chief] said the land claim is about his community’s spiritual relationship with the land and, up until now, the government has hindered that stewardship. A loss of land has resulted in a loss of culture, given the unique relationship aboriginal people have with the land, he said. “When you think of our sense of identity, our sense of being, our sense of belonging it helps to solidify our home to say that we’re finally [got] the government of Canada to acknowledge that we are a people, we have a home and we have land,” said Petahtegoose. “It’s really for us to decide how those lands are going to be used, whether or not we’re going to develop some or reserve others.”
Luckily I have not invested in any of those mines in Sudbury–have their stock prices changed any as a result of potential new owners and regulators? But I am a taxpayer of Canada: it would be interesting to see how much each Anglo-Saxon taxpayer will have to cough up to get to a million an aboriginal? What the hell, the government is doling out money like water to make up for past sins: the Chinese in Vancouver; the Church and its schools; failure to let German refugees off a boat; and more no doubt being thought up by smart lawyers. Might as well base a payment on new historical facts as on new emotional fashions.
Seriously though, an Aboriginal I know and respect put it this way: they are living in desperate conditions, with ill-health, abusive families, ill-educated, and poor. Now at least they have awoken and are trying to become whole again. Better the money comes from commerce than from government hand-outs. Better the impetus be the law of Canada–respect for the treaties of the Crown–than pity or charity. And as for Anglo-Saxon immigrants: you choose to come here and be part of a country that is burdened by history–your Lady of Sudbury may not help you now.
2 comments
Since the 1600’s the Crown has signed military alliances and entered into treaties hundreds of times with the First Nation people of Canada. To date they have chosen not to honour any of them, not one. These are legally recognized contracts which our government has broken and reneged on from the day they were signed. All this was done of course on behalf of the British and subsequently Canadian citizen.
For example, Treaty 8 was signed in 1899. There were 21 very clear distinct terms all parties agreed to when they signed the contract. Shortly after the signing, our federal government decided that they would only fulfill 7 of the terms and ignore the rest. One term was that no Indian shall be hanged and so far that continues to be upheld. Another one which has not changed since the signing is that each registered qualified status Indian shall receive $5.00 per year for treaty money.
As far as all the other terms such as tax exemptions, ammunition and many others the government simply changed their mind. So don’t wonder why these two groups hate each other as much as they do.
For the past 35 years our Supreme Court has been trying very hard to restore the honour of the Crown. To date this effort has been in vain. When I asked why, they tell me because there is so much resistance from the Crown. I asked when the Crown became dis-honourable and the Supreme Court judge I spoke with could not pin down a specific date. The last 45 landmark Supreme Court decisions since 1973 which ruled if favour of the Aboriginal side of the litigation is an indicator of the courts attempts to bring about reconciliation between the Crown and the Aboriginal people of Canada. Unfortunately our federal government just doesn’t buy the idea. To achieve reconciliation there have to be people involved that are conciliatory. This isn’t happening between these 2 groups. So when a First Nation comes up with a $550 Billion claim that says the tenant has reneged on the rent due why would anyone be surprised. Canadians should also not be surprised with the Supreme Courts resolve and determination to restore the the honour of the Crown..whether they Crown likes it or not. If it takes the settlement of $550 Billion claim to make their point..then so be it. All on behalf of completely indifferent Canadians of course. Will this become a wake up call? Will the people being demanding accountability?
what would this country look like if someone had not colonized it.
There would be no mine to sue, no taxpayer to rape. maybe some should start looking after themselves,like get a job and not depend on welfare.
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