Algonquins of Ontario Land Treaties: Agreement-in-Principle (AIP)

Who are the Algonquins?
A widely dispersed group!

I was excited to attend a meeting to explain the process in the land claims settlements. It was attended by 34 people.

Negotiator Bob Potts gave us an excellent overview of the process.

One councillor opened by questioning the rights of 'normal people' to access Crown Land, and to limit access, i.e., hunters, from hunting on private land.

To us 'normal people', and I consider myself normal as I am NOT a politician, I am proud that somebody has finally sat down and found consensus with the Algonquins of south and central Ontario.

MPP Randy Hillier
Mr. 'Back Off Government'

It was in 1603 the Samuel de Champlain first sailed the Ottawa River, with help from Native Peoples. They brought disease. They took land.

It is shameful that it was in 1772 that they first petitioned the Crown, via the Governor of the time, to set up Aboriginal Title Rights. Unfortunately, each Governor would travel back to England, having been replaced, and they would begin anew. Shameful.

The role of municipalities
The municipalities are going to have to see this as an opportunity for growth. To embrace the future.
The politicians are going to have to figure out how to manage their new constituents, and to further understand First Nations in their municipalities. This meeting was a good one to help break down stereotypes, and build bridges and build friendships. Not all managed to do so at this meeting, nor at the vitriolic first meeting held last month.

It is with hope that this treaty will be finalised, completed and signed in 15 years, they told us. This AIP was begun in 2005, and it took them until December of 2012 to work it out.

 There are many lobby groups who have been after the team to look after vested interests:

• Hunt camp owners, hunters, cottager associations, aggregate pit owners, municipalities, OFSC sledders, to name a few.

It is my fervent hope that this process continues.  The Algonquin Nation has shown a deep respect for the land. 

Moose Hunting Tag System

They have established and maintained a 5-year moose hunting tag system, to limit hunting to numbers that are manageable by 

the moose population. They have worked with the MNR to determine appropriate culls. They plan a Fish Management program, too.

Who attended?

I counted 34 people.

• 5 media people (2 from EMC)
• 11 staff on the team
• 7 local municipal politicians (councillors/deputy mayor/mayor, etc. from various municipalities)
• 1 MPP

In total there are 80 municipalities involved, the city of Ottawa, as well as the various lobby groups.

It is a huge venture.

It is a wonderful opportunity for all involved to live, work, and play with our Algonquin Nation brothers and sisters and how wonderful of them to share this land with us! (We 'normal people', from away! 

These negotiations are an opportunity to embrace the new millennium. Colonisation of the past destroyed a complex society of First Nations. Let us hope that this treaty will model my hope for the future.

 

Harvesting

 For more information:
 The Algonquin Nation

 links to pertinent documents

For more information

Article about the previous meeting:

Negotiators dismiss anglers, hunters claims as "categorically, inappropriately wrong"

Posted Feb 28, 2013 By Desmond Devoy

EMC News - The chief negotiator for the Algonquins of Ontario is hitting back at claims made at a recent meeting that private property will be handed over to the First Nations community. Bob Potts, chief negotiator for the Algonquins of Ontario, speaking...

Algonquin Land Claims Ontario

Negotiators promise accountability with land claims financial settlement

By Desmond Devoy
EMC News - The Algonquin First Nation has no intention of squandering the $300 million settlement they are seeking in their ongoing land claim. The comment was made by... 
It began with a town hall meeting called by that paragon of virtue, Randy Hillier.

Public discusses hopes, concerns for Algonquin land deal

MPP Randy Hillier

Sometimes it is embarrassing, admitting the Randy Hillier is our Member of Provincial Parliament. To his credit, he held a meeting to discuss the ramifications of the current Algonquin Land Claims. To his discredit, he open by saying he'll call the First Nations 'Indians.' He could have asked!

• Algonquin Land Claim

He is not known for his respect for government, nor his respect for those who are different, e.g., aboriginal, gay, in a public sector union, or believe that the environment needs protection!

This the man who is on a government payroll, as an MPP. The misinformation around these land claims is getting worse. The fearmongering, assumptions and outright lies by lobby groups, such as the hunters and fishing groups, landowner associations, with flyers sent door-to-door, have been appalling.
Sponsored by the Ontario Federation of Anglers, Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association, Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations. Lobby groups with much time, energy and money, as well as attitude. People who exploit the land and pollute for their fun, adventure and profit.

Hillier's partner-in-office, MP Scott Reid, sends out mailers that ask for input on issues, badly phrased to read similar to the question 'when did you stop beating your wife'.

Methinks Hillier is the pot calling the kettle black!
""It's important for people to express themselves," he said, but he had concerns that the unions were "expressing falsehoods, not facts." 
While he did not attend the hospital union-sponsored meetings in Perth or Smiths Falls last week, Hillier did urge "anybody who was at those meetings (to) take what was said with a box of salt." 
He also slammed the unions for, what he saw as, putting unnecessary fear into the hearts of seniors. 
"(It is) intolerable that the union leadership would elevate these anxieties," said Hillier."

Public discusses hopes, concerns for land deal

Posted Feb 7, 2013 By Desmond Devoy

EMC News - While the Perth Legion hall is far removed from the flying banners and protests of the Idle No More movement, the ongoing national debate about Canada's relationship with the First Nations peoples still came to the surface last week. Lanark,...

Algonquin land claims tentative deal: What does it actually say?

Posted Feb 7, 2013 By Desmond Devoy

EMC News - Among the many questions brought up for discussion at last week's land claims public meeting, questions about land rights, land access and hunting were very much to the fore. So, what does the deal say, exactly, about all of these issues?...

Negotiators dismiss anglers, hunters claims as "categorically, inappropriately wrong"

Posted Feb 28, 2013 By Desmond Devoy

EMC News - The chief negotiator for the Algonquins of Ontario is hitting back at claims made at a recent meeting that private property will be handed over to the First Nations community. Bob Potts, chief negotiator for the Algonquins of Ontario, speaking...

Private land not to be expropriated in Algonquin land claim discussions

Posted Mar 14, 2013 By Desmond Devoy

EMC News - The chief negotiator for the Algonquins of Ontario is reiterating that the land claims agreement-in-principle (AIP) will not expropriate private property. "No private property will be expropriated," said Potts last week. "They (the...

Public discusses hopes, concerns for Algonquin land deal

Sometimes it is embarrassing, admitting the Randy Hillier is our Member of Provincial Parliament. To his credit, he held a meeting to discuss the ramifications of the current Algonquin Land Claims. To his discredit, he open by saying he'll call the First Nations 'Indians.'


While Hillier expressed what the meeting was not about, he admitted difficulty in deciding how to address the First Nations community. "I will use the word Indians, out of respect for Indians, because they deserve respect," said Hillier. "I don't know the proper name for them." 
Totally disingenuous. If a sitting MPP doesn't know what to call First Nations, he is stupid. And we know that ignorance is not knowing. Stupidity is the active pursuit of ignorance.

Since Lanark County is the Back Off Government capital of Canada, I believe he was trying to put himself on the side of those landowners and hunters who have hunted, clear cut and polluted lands in this region for nearly 200 years (1816) and continue to want to do so at the peril of flora and fauna.

Very few brave folks spoke out about the land claims. I thought of attending, but figured Hillier would be speaking to his friends, the extremist hunters and landowners.

"People's lands were taken," said Elizabeth Snyder. "For nearly 300 years, that has not been addressed. That's a long time to be on other people's land, rent free." 
Snyder also expressed her view that the Algonquin's demands were reasonable. 
"We have gotten off quite lightly," Snyder said. "They could have asked for more. We are trying to right a wrong. This is a good step." 

Lanark County
Back Off Government capital

"We cannot undo history," said Hillier in reply. "What we have done in the past has not worked," he added, referring particularly to collective land ownership to be found on reservations, for example. 

Truthfully, we haven't done anything except avoid settling the issue and costing taxpayers and First Nations much in the way of lawyer's fees. Hillier, who attempted to avoid paying property taxes while earning an MPPs salary of over $100,000 per year.

Most at the meeting, so Desmond Devoy implied, are more concerned about their land rights. It is high time that we settle this terrible issue and right the wrongs perpetrated on a people that took care of us in the early days when Whites invaded a difficult land. My grandmother told stories of Native Peoples who helped her family in the early days of settlement here.

Shame, Randy Hillier.

NEWS items:

• Algonquin reach draft land claim deal in eastern Ontario
• Quebec Algonquins question Ontario land claim
• Public discusses hopes, concerns for land deal

Posted Feb 7, 2013 By Desmond Devoy

EMC News - Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington MPP Randy Hillier hosted an information session on the Algonquin land claim agreement in principle at the Royal Canadian Legion hall on Tuesday, Jan. 29, and he was quick to state what the evening was not about. 

"It's not about Idle No More. It's not about Attawapiskat. It's not about Caledonia. It's not about the millions spent on the Indian Act," said Hillier. 

• Algonquin Land Claim

www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca › Home › Land Claims

Anyone with legal interests who may be affected by this claim’s proposed land selections is being notified and offered an opportunity to meet with representatives of Ontario. Maps are in PDF.

• Executive Summary, Chapter Summaries and Frequently Asked Questions
• “Preliminary Draft Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement in Principle December 2012”

• When will Hudak MPP, Randy Hillier pay his taxes?

Sept., 2011

Public court documents reveal the CRA has gone to the extraordinary step of placing two separate liens totally $14,880 on the property Hillier owns with his wife. 

• Smiths Falls men fined $3,900 for hunting offences

www.emcsmithsfalls.ca/.../Smiths+Falls+men+fined+$3,900+fo...

1 day ago – EMC News - EMC News - Two Smiths Falls men have been convicted of multiple hunting offences and fined a total of $3,900.

Nicholas James William Kelford pleaded guilty to six charges, including illegally hunting ducks, Canada geese and white-tailed deer during the closed season, illegally transporting and possessing white-tailed deer, allowing hunted game to become unsuitable for human consumption, abandoning hunted game, and hunting beaver without a licence. Kelford was fined $2,900 and is banned from hunting for two years.

William Jared Witham pleaded guilty to hunting white-tailed deer during the closed season and to illegally transporting white-tailed deer. Witham was fined $1,000 and is banned from hunting for one year.