Page 58 - Georgina Island

Our treaty rights came about in exchange for our agreement to
share our lands. It was agreed that all First Nations people would
be entitled to these rights, which in many treaties were granted
“for as long as the sun shines and the rivers flow.” Despite these
assurances, the federal government has not always upheld their
end of the treaty agreements, and many First Nations, including
our people, have been forced to fight for these rights through
the courts (the legal system). We successfully argued in court for
the Collins Treaty, and in 1999, we received compensation from
that treaty.

After a lengthy court process in the 1990s and early 2000s,
efforts were made to address compensation of agreements
that were never fulfilled in the Williams Treaties. In 2018, the
First Nations and governments of Canada and Ontario arrived
at a negotiated settlement of the Williams Treaties. (see The
Williams Treaties: A Chronology of Events, on page 69 of the
Resources section).

Treaty rights and how they are interpreted are an ongoing
concern for our First Nation. Ensuring that both parties honour
the spirit and intent of the treaties, making sure that treaty
agreements are fit to modern times, and ensuring that our right
to our traditional lands is not taken away are some of the major
issues in present-day treaty negotiations.

In 2016, our Chief and Council
met with Carolynne Bennet
(in orange), Minister of
Crown–Indigenous Relations
and Northern Affairs. Other
Chiefs at the meeting were
Anishinabek Grand Council
Chief Patrick Madahbee (far
left) and Deputy Anishinabek
Grand Council Chief Glen Hare
(far right).

56 Georgina Island First Nation

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