Ontario chiefs pull out of treaty

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The Williams Treaties no longer exist. And life will resort to what it was like in the pre-1923 era.

Those are the messages seven Chiefs from First Nations groups announced at a news conference in Toronto on Oct. 19. The seven Chiefs, who collectively represent about 7,000 people in Ontario, signed a declaration which stated they were withdrawing from the Williams Treaties.

This pact, originally signed in 1923, spelled out hunting and fishing protocol in an area covering about 20,000 square kilometres in Ontario.

"By withdrawing from this treaty, what we're doing is what the Ontario and Canadian governments have already done," said Chief Jeff Monague of the Beausoleil First Nation.

"They have never honored this treaty. They have in effect withdrawn from this treaty."

Besides the Beausoleil First Nation, other groups involved were Alderville First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island, Chippewas of Mnjikaning, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation and Mississaugas of Scugog Island.

The Chiefs opted to withdraw since they were unable to resolve several issues relating to the Williams Treaties through court action and negotiations with the provincial and federal governments.

Though only one of what they believed were many transgressions, the so-called last straw for the Chiefs was a move made by Chris Hodgson, the Minister of Natural Resources in Ontario's new Progressive Conservative government.

This past August he cancelled the Community Harvest Conservation Agreements, which had been implemented earlier in the year by Ontario's then New Democratic Party government.

Hodgson gave each of the seven Chiefs a 30-days written notice on Aug. 30 that the government planned to cancel the agreements. The Chiefs filed a motion for an injunction prohibiting such action. But they were told on Sept. 29 the Ontario Court had denied the request.

Monague said now was the right time to withdraw from the long-standing pact.

"To protect our people for the future, we need to take some drastic action," he said. "We're at the point now where we say let's stop in 1995 what was supposed to happen since 1923."

In a news release, the Chiefs said the cancellation of the harvest agreement "favors confrontation over co-operation." The Chief's, however, are anxious to sit down with government officials to hopefully iron out the differences.

By withdrawing from the Williams Treaties, Monague said the First Nations people would return to their relationship with the governments as it was pre-1923. Communities will recognize the harvesting activities of their own members and ensure both safety and conservation practices are in place.

As far as the provincial government is concerned, First Nations people must now adhere to Ontario fish and game laws. Those who disregard such laws are subject to penalties and fines.