FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2012
Toronto, ON — The Chiefs of Ontario firmly support the Chiefs from the Robinson-Huron Treaty territory who served Notice of Claim today on the Crown in right of Canada and the Crown in right of Ontario with regard to the longstanding failure of the Crown to raise annuities under the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.
On September 9, 1850, 162 years ago, the Robinson Huron Treaty was made. Under the Treaty the Anishinabek agreed to share their lands and resources with the newcomers – approximately 35, 700 square miles of territory. In return, the Crown agreed to pay annuities that were to be augmented from time to time. Treaty beneficiaries currently get $4.00 per year. There has been no increase since 1874. This despite the fact that the Treaty is explicit in that the annuities would increase if the resource revenue generated from the territory produced such an amount as to enable the increase without incurring a loss.read more