Negotiations

ALGONQUINS OF ONTARIO TREATY NEGOTIATIONS

The Antoine Nation is one of ten “Algonquin Collectives” recognized by the Agreement-in-Principle Among the Algonquins of Ontario and Ontario and Canada (AIP) dated 18 October 2016 executed by Chief Davie Joanisse on behalf of the Antoine Nation, together with Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario, and other Algonquins of Ontario.

The Algonquins of Ontario Treaty Negotiations have been continuing since the 1990s, motivated by what the AIP recognizes in its Preamble as:

  • “the Algonquins maintain that they have never been party to, nor beneficiary of, any treaty or land claim agreement with the Crown whereby they have ceded their Aboriginal rights, including Aboriginal title”;

  • “the Algonquins assert Aboriginal Rights, including Aboriginal title, to particular lands and waters in Ontario and Quebec based on their traditional and current use and occupancy of the lands and waters”;

  • “the Algonquins, Canada and Ontario have agreed to negotiate in order to clarify the rights of the Algonquins under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 in Canada, except in the province of Quebec”';

  • “the Agreement-in-Principle shall form the basis of negotiations towards a Final Agreement that will clarify the rights of the Algonquins that will be recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.”

In 2023, the Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) became the Algonquin Treaty Alliance (ATA), with seven rather than ten constituent collectives, but still welcoming all Algonquins who could be legitimately beneficiaries of any Treaty. Negotiations are continuing, with plans to finalize a Final Agreement in the near future.

A. 1994 Statement of Shared Objectives

Antoine Nation is a signatory to the Affirmation of and Addition to the 1994 Statement of Shared Objectives, dated March 2006, where the Crowns originally confirmed: “We are committed to achieving a just and equitable settlement of the longstanding claim of the Algonquins of Golden Lake” as signed by the then Chief Negotiators for Canada, Ontario and the Algonquins of Golden Lake, but in 2006 was resigned by the Antoine Nation as well as Canada, Ontario, and other Algonquins of Ontario.

B. Framework for Negotiation Agreement 27 July 2009

Antoine Nation is a signatory to the Framework For Negotiation Agreement 27 July 2009 along with the Crowns and other Algonquin of Ontario where all parties confirmed: “the Parties agreed to broaden the negotiations to include a number of Communities of Algonquins, namely Antoine ….”

C. Consultation Proces Interim Measures Agreement 27 July 2009

Antoine Nation is a signatory to the Consultation Process Interim Measures Agreement of 27 July 2009 (also signed by Canada, Ontario and the other Algonquin of Ontario) which established at para. 3 “an Algonquin Consultation Office appointed by and reporting to the Algonquin Nation Representatives” which reports to and takes instructions in part from the Antoine Nation.

It is important to note that Antione Nation also operates its own distinct consultation process for industry actors contemplating developments triggering constitutionally mandated consultation requirements within or near to Antoine Nation’s territory. Please contact the Antoine Nation for more details on this process.

D. Agreement-in-Principle 26 October 2016

The Antoine Nation is also a signatory to the Agreement-in-Principle of 26 October 2016 which defines “Algonquin Collective” in “CHAPTER 1 DEFINITIONS” as “a geographic collective of Algonquins located within, or in municipalities in Ontario immediately adjacent to, the Settlement Area which derives from or has evolved from an Historic Community or Band and is demonstrated by geographical concentrations of life and death event evidence including birth, baptism, education, marriage, residence, employment, economic, death and burial evidence, and for greater certainty includes Antoine ….” The AIP further defines “Algonquins” as “the Aboriginal people … who comprised Historic Communities or Bands and Algonquin Collectives, including, for greater certainty, Antoine …”

OTHER NEGOTIATIONS

Beyond and outside of the scope of Algonquins of Ontario Treaty negotiations, the Antoine Nation continues to assert its constitutionally protected Aboriginal rights throughout its territory. This successful assertion of rights has led the Antoine Nation to engage and negotiate with the Crown in Right of Canada, Crown in Right of Ontario, industry, municipalities, non-governmental organizations and members of the public concerning its rights.

As the Antoine Nation’s rights exist independently of any treaty-making process, until any of those rights are incorporated into a treaty, the Antoine Nation shall continue to engage in negotiations with all interested parties concerning the ongoing respect for and implementation of its rights within its territory.