FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 11, 2024
Ontario orders removal of illegal Pond Lake cabin; Legal challenge of Metis Harvesting Agreement continues
Bear Island, ON. March 11, 2024:
The Teme-Augama Anishnabai (TAA) and Temagami First Nation (TFN) will continue their court action to have the Ontario Metis Harvesting Agreement declared illegal with respect to N’dakimenan (Our Land).
On March 5, 2024 the Chiefs and Councils received correspondence from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) stating that “the ministry has sent a letter to Marc Descoteaux requesting the removal of the cabin, as well as any other property from the site, and requesting that the site be left in a clean and safe condition, restored as much as possible to its original state.”
The OMNRF said its decision was made after receipt of a letter from the Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) which stated it did not support the Pond Lake cabin: “It is the ministry’s position that, absent community support, there is no authority for a cabin at the location in question.”
“While our objective to have the nuisance cabin removed is met, the larger issue of the Ontario Metis Harvesting Agreement remains,” said TFN Chief Shelly Moore-Frappier. “We have inherent rights to N’dakimenan because of our 7000-year history here. Our identity is tied to this specific place. The Metis do not have that connection. Further, we have naturalized any mixed-blood people as our citizens. It is our inherent right to decide who our people are. We are the only Indigenous people and the only rights-holders in N’dakimenan.”
“There were never Metis people here nor was there ever a Metis community in N’dakimenan,” added TAA Ogimaa Michael Paul. Ogimaa Paul and Trevor Twain were mainstays at the protection camp established at Pond Lake early last fall. “I will defend our rights against anyone who wants to interfere or take those rights away. That means we have to continue our fight against the Metis Harvesting Agreement.”
In its Statement on Harvesting Rights and the Structure at Pond Lake, the MNO contends that “The 2018 MNO-Ontario Harvesting Agreement requires the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) to treat MNO Harvesters Card holders the same as First Nation harvesters for the purposes of enforcement. The Agreement also sets out future negotiations on key issues, including incidental cabins.”
Also in its statement, the MNO announced that it has instituted a moratorium on “incidental cabins” that are tied to the exercise of Aboriginal and Treaty land-based rights such as harvesting. MNO member Marc Descoteaux describes the cabin he built at Pond Lake as an “incidental cabin.”
“I find it highly questionable that the MNO is putting a moratorium on occupation of land by way of incidental cabins while they maintain that the proposed federal Bill C-53 is not about land,” said Aanike Ogimaa John Turner.
“The whole Metis Nation of Ontario organization is questionable. We have newly created “historic Metis communities” and a whole new category of people basing their Metis identity on a distant ‘non-status Indian ancestor’. If Canada, Ontario, and the MNO have their way, the MNO could have rights that are stronger than ours, and in our own land even.”
On two separate occasions in meetings with Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Minister of Northern Development, TFN Chief Shelly Moore-Frappier asked the minister to explain the process by which Ontario identified the six newly recognized “historic Metis communities” in Ontario. He did not provide a direct response, citing the need to gather additional information. The TAA/TFN Statement of Claim will be amended to remove Marc Descoteaux since the cabin is to be removed. We expect that the removal of the cabin and site restoration will occur by June 1, 2024.
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For more information:
Heidi Jobson, Temagami First Nation Communications Officer
communication@temagamifirstnation.ca
Tel: 705-237-8943 ext. 107
www.temagamifirstnation.ca
DOWNLOAD THE NEWS RELEASE – November 20, 2023
DOWNLOAD THE BACKGROUNDER
STATEMENT OF CLAIM – Filed November 19, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 18, 2023
Teme-Augama Anishnabai and Temagami First Nation Evict Metis Nation of Ontario from N’dakimenan (Our Land); Peaceful Encampment Established at Pond Lake Site of Unauthorized Cabin
North Bay, ON. September 18, 2023:
On September 14, 2023, the Teme-Augama Anishnabai and Temagami First Nation issued eviction notices to the Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and set up a peaceful protection camp at the site of the unauthorized hunt cabin built by MNO members on N’dakimenan (Our Land).
The eviction notices were sent to the MNO members who built the cabin, Peter Descoteaux and Marc Descoteaux, and copies were sent to MNO Regional Captain of the Hunt Denis Lefebvre, and to the Chief Captain of the Hunt, MNO President Margaret Froh. The eviction notice states that the MNO members have no Indigenous rights within N’dakimenan and no right to occupy the cabin constructed at Pond Lake.
“N’dakimenan is the recognized homeland of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai. We are the only Indigenous People of N’dakimenan and the only bearer of inherent rights. Our established inherent rights come from continuous occupation over thousands of years. These are recognized facts. By contrast, the MNO was created in 1993 as an Ontario corporation and looks to the Governments of Canada and Ontario for recognition”, said Chief Shelly Moore-Frappier of Temagami First Nation.
“This is our land and the MNO has no business building a cabin and hunting on our land. There are no metis and there never was a metis settlement here in N’dakimenan, said Teme-Augama Anishnabai Ogimaa (Chief) Michael Paul. “We are Teme-Augama Anishnabai. N’dakimenan is our homeland. I know I am right and those so-called metis are squatters here.”
Teme-Augama Anishnabai Aanike-Ogimaa (Second Chief) John Turner said, “In the case of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai and later the Temagami First Nation, we have thoroughly documented our history through oral tradition and early trade and church records. Further, anyone who could be described as “metis” was naturalized and adopted by the Teme-Augama Anishnabai exercising inherent jurisdiction. The MNO is riding on the coattails of colonial law to assert false claims to land rights and manufactured Indigenous identity, with the backing of Ontario and Canada.”
Second Chief of Temagami First Nation, Jesse Paul, is concerned about the threat to future generations of Teme-Augama Anishnabai. “The future of our Youth is at stake. This is a threat to our People, our animals, fish, lands, water and everything we have depended on since the Creator put us on N’dakimenan.”
The Teme-Augama Anishnabai and Temagami First Nation have applied to join the Wabun Tribal Council’s court challenge to stop Canada’s Bill C-53, An Act respecting the recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan, to give effect to treaties with those governments and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. International Treaties between the Crown and Indigenous Nations, concerning the above- named territories, have existed long before Confederation. These are long-established and constitutionally protected Aboriginal and Treaty rights. Bill C-53 is an assault on the established inherent rights of bona fide Indigenous Nations.
Furthermore, there has been no consultation. The Crown has not honoured its legal obligation: the Duty to Consult with First Nations and Inuit.
The Teme-Augama Anishnabai and Temagami First Nation are taking legal and on-the-ground actions to preserve our established rights in N’dakimenan against MNO claims and encroachments. These actions are taken after years of diplomatic effort on our part. The MNO did not have the courtesy to respond to our letters. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is aiding and abetting MNO’s activities in N’dakimenan without our consent.
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For more information:
Heidi Jobson, Temagami First Nation Communications Officer
communication@temagamifirstnation.ca
Tel: 705-237-8943 ext. 107
www.temagamifirstnation.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Download the background information HERE
Spokesperson: Aanike Ogimaa (2nd Chief) John Turner will be acting as the main spokesperson on this matter however all of leadership can be made available to speak to this very personal and important matter.
For Media Inquiries:
Heidi Jobson, Temagami First Nation Communications Officer
communication@temagamifirstnation.ca
Tel: 705-237-8943 ext. 107
www.temagamifirstnation.ca
Media Coverage
Why did Indigenous-led conservation funding set off furious backlash from First Nations? – Mar. 4, 2024 | The Narwahl
First Nations in Ontario turn to the courts to shut down Métis hunting cabin – Nov. 29, 2023 | APTN News
Métis Nation of Ontario accused of recasting ancestors as Métis – MAY 27, 2023 | Global News
Chiefs voice concerns with Métis Nation of Ontario self-governance legislation | APTN News
Ontario First Nations leaders concerns about legislation on Métis self-governance – June 19, 2023 | CPAC
Ontario First Nations chiefs oppose federal Metis self-government bill | Chiefs of Ontario
Rally on Parliament Hill – Chief Shelly Moore-Frappier
Related Links:
www.temagamifirstnation.ca
www.thetaa.ca
www.fnrightsatrisk.ca
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