A map of Saugeen Ojibway Nation traditional territory provided in 2019. (submitted image)
An agreement has been reached between Grey County and Saugeen Ojibway Nation to settle the county’s involvement in SON’s long-standing claims that went to trial last year.
The county issued a media release Thursday to announce the settlement in SON’s legal action in relation to parts of the Bruce Peninsula will include the transfer of about 275 acres of county forest in Georgian Bluffs – the Mountain Lake forest property.
Statements from Chief Lester Anoquot of Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation and Chief Greg Nadjiwon of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation were included in Grey County’s public release about the settlement.
Anoquot says: “This agreement is an important step forward in a long history of our communities working towards righting a wrong. We are happy and hopeful that we are taking this step with our neighbours towards building a better understanding and a stronger future alongside one another.”
While Nadjiwon says: “The recognition of our connection to and ownership of our lands throughout our territory has always been the objective of our struggle and our legal claim. It is important and meaningful to us that this agreement includes Grey County conveying lands at Mountain Lake to settle their portion of our claim.”
Two of SON’s longstanding claims – filed in 1994 and 2003 — went to trial in April 2019. It seeks compensation and for lands still owned by Ontario and Canada on the Bruce Peninsula, including some municipal road allowances, to be returned to SON because of a breach of duty by the British Crown in the 1800s.
SON claims the British Crown pressed it to surrender 1.5-million acres of its lands south of Owen Sound in 1836 – an area that stretches from Goderich to Collingwood.
In exchange for those lands, the Crown made a promise to protect the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula for SON from settlers forever.
But, 18 years later the Crown came back for a surrender of the peninsula. SON claims the Crown misled it into believing the lands couldn’t be protected in order to push SON to agree to Treaty 72 in 1854.
SON’s other longstanding claim is about ownership of lands underwater adjacent to its traditional territory in Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.
Grey County is the first municipality involved in SON’s claim to reach a settlement.
Northern Bruce Peninsula, South Bruce Peninsula, Saugeen Shores, Bruce County and Georgian Bluffs, as well as the Ontario and Canadian governments are also listed in in the legal action.
Bayshore Broadcasting News inquired if Grey County will provide any direct financial payment to SON as part of this settlement that will impact ratepayers?
A Grey County spokesperson says full terms of the settlement are required to remain confidential as per the terms of the agreement reached between Grey County and SON.
The release from Grey County says it has included the Mountain Lake forest property in Georgian Bluffs in the settlement in the spirit of reconciliation, and without any admission of liability on the county’s part.
A Grey County spokesperson says the property provided in the settlement is different than what was sought in the claim.
“This settlement provides some closure to a long-standing claim, but I hope it can also be the beginning of more conversation, more understanding and a stronger relationship between Grey County, SON and the Anishinaabe people,” says Grey County Warden Paul McQueen in a statement.
Grey County Council will formalize the land transfer by passing a by-law at its Oct. 8 meeting.
An online information session to inform the community about the land transfer will be hosted by the county sometime next month as well.
The release from Grey County says after the transfer is complete, the property will continue to be subject to all regular land use planning policies and procedures.