Canada, Ontario Governments reach $10 billion settlement with the 21 Robinson Huron First Nations

The governments of Canada and Ontario have reached a proposed $10 billion settlement with the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund, representing the 21 Robinson Huron First Nations.

The governments of Canada and Ontario have reached a proposed $10 billion settlement with the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund, representing the 21 Robinson Huron First Nations.

Since 2012, the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund, representing the 21 Robinson Huron First Nations mostly in northeastern Ontario, has been in litigation with the governments of Ontario and Canada for failing to increase annuities payments as the resource revenue in the treaty territory grew.

"In 2012, 21 First Nations in the Robinson Huron Treaty Territory came together to hold the governments of Canada and Ontario accountable through the courts, but we know reconciliation cannot be achieved in the courtroom,” said Duke Peltier, spokesperson for the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.

“Canada and Ontario heard us and met us at the negotiation table to make this proposed settlement a reality."

The First Nations claim that under the Robinson Huron Treaty (RTH), the collective annuity to the First Nations and beneficiaries should have increased over time as resource revenues within the Treaty territory increased. The annuity increased only once, rising from approximately $1.70 per person to $4 per person in 1875 and hasn't increased since.

The proposed settlement is to resolve claims related to past annuities – compensation that should have been paid for the past 170 years, since the treaty was signed in 1850. The proposed settlement includes $5 billion from Canada and $5 billion from Ontario to be paid to all 21 First Nations included in the Treaty.

The RHT is based on a nation-to-nation relationship between the people of Canada and First Nations of the area.