APTN National News
One of the largest modern day treaties is being negotiated in Ontario.
It is also one of the most controversial.
A group of Algonquin grandmothers are now calling on the Federal Court to put a halt to the negotiations.
APTN’s Annette Francis has this story.
Davie, Kirby and the council never took community concerns into account in the drafting of the AIP. To date, he has not met with the community to hear our concerns and honestly work with us to resolve them. When we finally saw the AIP, the community asked for the opportunity to discuss and resolve our concerns before it went to a vote. We were not given that opportunity and it went to a vote. Pikwakanagan voted it down because the AIP documents a plan of extinguishment for us. We will not vote yes and make a commitment to follow a plan of extinguishment. The time to change it was before putting it to a vote. Now that it is voted down by Pikwakanagan, Kirby and the council have no mandate to move forward according to its terms.
Our community does not support extinguishment. I agree, your concerns should of been addressed prior to the vote as well as many others. I did ask the table to hold off on the vote, but as usual, they did not support me.
Greg. How do you see this process moving forward. Can a Treaty be reached? How do you intend on getting your concerns addressed?
The Pikwakanagan community, including our Grandmothers have tried everything to have our concerns dealt with honestly, unfortunately the only option left is court action. How the process moves forward all depends on how Kirby and the council deal with this matter.
Davie, when you voted yes to the AIP, you voted to support and approve the whole document including all of its provisions. Pikwakanagan voted no.
Greg. You know very well that there was a list of concerns that were identified prior to the vote, that had to be dealt with. A non-binding AIP, is exactly what it is. We voted to move ahead to address those concerns, not to support the whole document and all of its provisions. How do you address major concerns, if your not at the table?
We did not vote to support and approve the whole document including all its provisions. we voted yes to continue this process(next 6 months) to give us a final opportunity to address the many concerns , including yours that need to be fixed. Voting No, is not the solution to fixing a problem and making satisfactory changes and improvements. Our Community was not overly impressed with the AIP, and we fully support your self-gov’t issue, and the issue of making major changes to beneficiary, as well as many other changes that are not of immediate concern, as these above.
Davie, the question on the ballot was, “do you agree to approve the proposed AIP…” and “Do you authorize the Algonquin negotiation team to act on behalf of the AOO to negotiate the terms of a Final Agreement based on that AIP.” Therefore, it is clear that when you voted yes, you supported and approved the whole thing including all of its provisions.
So they let non natives vote on a tready that would give them money and have us band members of Pikwàkanagàn possibly lose all status rights. We voted no fair and square so why is our own chief turning his back to us and continuing on with this. It is a scary confusing time for Pikwàkanagàn residents. Meegwetch to the other first nations opposed to this and speeking out, we are a small community and need all the help we can get as we are very out numbered.
There were other Pik members who cast their vote in other Communities that they affiliated with. There were 178 Pik members eligible to vote with other Communities, so it is not as clear cut, as saying, the vote was No. Many of them voted, but were not counted with Pik
So what? The children of Pikwàkanagàn are what I worry about. My kids are full status Algonquin and I will not put there native rights on the the line for any amount of money or land. You voted yes because they said they would change it later? What do you lose if they don’t? We lose all we have left.
We fight a battle which you no nothing about. Until you have suffered at the hands of your oppressor or lived a life of oppression like we have on this reservation you cannot decide what’s best for us. Meegwetch.
My friend, your people are not the only ones who have suffered, that is totally an unfair and uncalled for comment. The Algonquins from Mattawa suffered and were severely oppressed as well. living off a reserve was not a picnic, and many of our people were publicly ridiculed and treated badly. You say you care about your children, what about the children of other algonquin families?
if the changes are not made, you loose nothing, because the AIP vote was non-binding. We can all walk away at any time. If this were the final vote, I would agree with your view of “losing’, but this vote was just to guage the overall support.
We lose nothing? We lost our right to voice our concerns, be heard. Who has gained from this for the last 23 years? Lawyers, ANR’s, AOO staff, council members, consultants, engineers, etc. list goes on.
If it is non-binding and we can walk away any time, why can Pikwakanagan not get out of this unacceptable AIP? We voted no.
The Antoine First Nation does not support everything in the AIP, contrary to what Greg Sarazin has stated. We voted to move ahead with the AIP, with the understanding that there would be anticipated changes and improvements. One important issue for our Community is tightening up the beneficiary criteria, amongst others like taxation and fairer land redistribution, which in my view, was unbalanced. Our Community does not want Pik members to loose their reserve or tax exceptions. The Antoine Community also has general list status People, that number approx. 150, that are status Indians under the Indian Act, but are not affiliated with a reserve. Pik status members are not the only status Algonquins participating in this claim. Meegwetch. APTN should make an effort to get all the facts before they break a story. Chief Davie Joanisse