An out of court settlement regarding a land claim is being negotiated between the Town of Saugeen Shores and Saugeen Ojibway Nation.
A joint release says, Saugeen Shores and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) are working on finalizing an agreement settling Saugeen Shore’s involvement in SON’s long-standing legal action in relation to parts of the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula.
Nawash Head Councillor Anthony Chegahno says in a statement, “These talks are a positive step towards reconciliation and part of building strong relationships with local governments in our traditional territory.”
The release says, once final, the agreement will settle a claim launched by SON about 25 years ago. The claim went to trial in 2019, and closing arguments were heard in October 2020. A decision has yet to be released.
Saugeen First Nation Chief Lester Anoquot says, “We look forward to continuing to moving forward with our neighbours in the spirit of cooperation.”
Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau says, “The Town is very pleased with the positive progress towards settling this long standing land claim. We look forward to our continued work with our friends and neighbours at SON on this settlement. I hope this is the beginning of a path forward for our communities to build a stronger shared future.”
The release says more details about the settlement will become available once it has been finalized.
Saugeen Ojibway Nation is made up of two First Nations: the Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation and the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation with a shared history and ancestry.
SON’s traditional territory includes the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula and about 1.5 million acres of land to the south of it, stretching from Goderich to Collingwood.
SON launched a claim related to some of the lands on the Peninsula 25 years ago against Canada and Ontario.
The release explains, the case is about the actions of the British Crown which, in 1836, pressed SON to surrender 1.5 million acres of its lands south of Owen Sound. In exchange, SON says the Crown promised to protect the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula for SON, forever. But, 18 years later the Crown came back for a surrender of the Peninsula.
SON’s legal action says that this was a breach of the duty the Crown owed to SON, and that the Crown misled SON in the
negotiations leading up to the surrender. It seeks the return of lands on the Peninsula that are still owned by Ontario or Canada or have not been bought and paid for by third parties. SON’s claim also includes some municipal road allowances and shore road allowances. That includes roads owned by Saugeen Shores.
An agreement between Saugeen Shores and SON would settle the portion of the claim against Saugeen Shores, but the claim will continue against Canada, Ontario and other municipalities.