FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION — The newly-elected chief of Fort William First Nation says there's plenty of anticipation among community members about the eventual settlement of a long-standing claim by Robinson-Superior First Nations for increased treaty annuities from the federal and Ontario governments.
Michele Solomon agrees that the recent resolution of a similar case between Robinson-Huron treaty signatories sets a historic precedent but believes the outcome for the Robinson-Superior treaty First Nations won't necessarily be the same.
That deal, announced on the weekend, provides for payments of $5 billion each from Canada and Ontario to the 21 signatories of the Robinson-Huron treaty of 1850.
Since 1874, members of both treaty groups have received only $4 a year as their share of resource revenue from their traditional territories.
A previous trial concluded with a finding that the governments had failed to honour an augmentation clause in the treaties which required the annuities to be adjusted periodically.
In an interview Monday, Solomon noted that the Robinson-Huron First Nations decided to negotiate with the governments after that ruling, but Robinson-Superior signatories chose to continue in court because they were unhappy with the offers the government put forward.
"What's in question now in court is what is the amount that it [the annuity] should have been augmented by, based on resource extraction and things like that."
She said closing arguments in the case are scheduled to be heard in Thunder Bay in September.
One reason the settlements could be different, the chief said, is that the amounts and kinds of resources extracted in the two treaty areas have been different over the years.
Solomon also pointed out that there are more communities and more people in the Robinson-Huron treaty area.
She said the current court case is aimed at addressing the inadequacy of payments in the past, but the question of future annuities will still have to be resolved as well.
Whatever the final settlement, Solomon believes it holds the potential to significantly change the lives of people in Fort William and the other Robinson-Superior First Nations.
"It can definitely mean an improved housing situation. It can definitely lead to more opportunity for investment. There's the potential to invest money and have interest coming back to the community. If you think about the annuity, and it's been $4 a year for all of my lifetime, it can make a significant difference to a person who has had mostly a marginalized existence, and it's certainly true for people here at Fort William First Nation."
She said the prospect of a settlement has generated a lot of excitement in the community.
