July 6, 2010 - Toronto, Ontario, Territory of the Mississaugas of New Credit
The First Nations peoples ("Indians") have lived on the land known as Canada for thousands of years. The 133 First Nations that live within the boundaries of the province of Ontario have lived peacefully with the newcomers to this land and have established a formal relationship through the treaty-making process with Crown Governments.
There are many Treaties, both pre-Confederation and post-Confederation, signed between the First Nations in Ontario and the United Kingdom and Canada. It is of great concern to the First Nations in Ontario that our Treaty rights are too often infringed upon. We continue to strongly advocate for the recognition and respect of the Treaties that we signed in good faith with the British Crown and Canada. Our understanding is that the Treaties provided access to land for new settlers, and an agreement of peace between our people in exchange for mutual respect, sharing and mutual prosperity. Instead, what our people have endured is discrimination and dispossession yet we continue to advocate with Governments to uphold the solemn commitments agreed to in the Treaties. We continue to seek justice, fairness and a fulfillment of the Treaty promises.
Today, the First Nations in Ontario seek your support in our collective efforts to engage Canada in a comprehensive discussion on Treaty implementation. We believe that the effective implementation of our Treaties is a key component to the survival and future prosperity of our Nations.
The First Nations acknowledge that the United Kingdom has endorsed the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and we seek the continued leadership of the United Kingdom in ensuring that the rights of the Indigenous peoples the world over are promoted and upheld. To our disappointment, Canada has yet to officially endorse this UN Declaration and we seek your support in encouraging Canada to act appropriately and do the right thing by endorsing this UN Declaration and to work with the First Nations in Canada to ensure the observance and enforcement of the Treaties.
In closing, I wish to affirm the paramount importance of the Treaties we signed with Crown Governments and reiterate that these Treaties are the foundation upon which the First Nation – Crown relationship is based. As you have demonstrated in the past, the First Nations in Ontario continue to seek your support to promote and protect the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada.
Angus Toulouse
Ontario Regional Chief
Giida Aandek – Crane Clan