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This was an item discussed here during the past several years. Those familiar with the Agreement-In-Principle and related comments (eg. criticism by former APP superintendent John Winters) may be interested in the vote results.
In the second report, there seem to be objections to the AIP process by some Algonquins, so ratification may be subject to some uncertainty, along with the implications for APP.
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Algonquins' land claim heading to a vote
Thursday, December 3, 2015 12:48:02 EST AM
The Algonquins of Ontario will vote on a land claim agreement-in-principle between Feb. 29 and March 7.
The land claim, which has been in the works for more than 20 years, involves the transfer of 117,500 acres of Crown land along the Mattawa and Ottawa river watersheds, as well as $300 million in cash. The proposed agreement is the result of years of negotiations between the Algonquins of Ontario and the federal and provincial governments. The agreement-in-principle is not a legally binding document. It will, however, provide a framework for future negotiations for a final agreement – one that will have the legal status of a treaty. “If ratified, (the agreement-in-principle) will represent a significant first step toward reaching a modern-day treaty that would be protected under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982,” the Algonquins of Ontario said in a news release.
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Algonquins refuse to surrender rights and land
Say ‘No’ to a bad deal and an unfair process
by Chief Lance Haymond
Last edited by frozentripper (2/19/2016 11:00 am)
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Chief Lance Haymond is chief of the Eagle Village First Nation. With 890 registered members, it is located in Quebec. Over a year ago, the now dissolved ABR learned that the formalization of the draft AIP was being delayed at the federal level by objections from various Algonquin groups located east of the Ottawa River (in Quebec).
The fact that the AIP is soon to undergo a ratification vote by the Algonquins of Ontario, appears to indicate that it has passed through both the provincial and federal legislatures successfully.
Chief Lance Haymond's article details concerns held by a large number of Algonquins who have not been excluded from the negotiation process by the Ontario and Canadian governments.
You can access the website of the Eagle Village First Nation at .
For updates on the situation from the perspective of the Algonquin of Ontario, you can visit their website at
You can also read their latest newsletter at ..
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Voting on the AIP is now in progress and the letter below indicates that the results should be in after March 7. In the letter, the principal negotiator Robert Potts very briefly suggests that if there is "NO" vote, negotiations on the matter might end... or not, due to uncertainty in the process.
There seem to be more news reports, blogs and opinion pieces online now, advising Algonquins to "just vote NO", etc... so worth watching as things develop.
Last edited by frozentripper (3/01/2016 12:34 pm)
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A recent protest in Toronto.
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Even if the AIP turns out to be acceptable to the Algonquin voters, the number of objections suggests that future negotiations won't be fast or easy... here's another vid on Algonquin title and rights. I haven't seen more than a few minutes since it's over an hour long, might be worth watching.
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Catch-up on the AIP vote ...
March 17th -
"Forty-seven per cent of eligible Algonquin voters across 10 communities in Ontario participated in the ratification vote and more than 90 per cent voted in support of the agreement-in-principle."
"Fifty-seven percent of Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation members who voted, voted against it. Pikwakanagan First Nation is the only community involved in the land claim that’s recognized under the Indian Act."
April 5th -
"A group of grandmothers from the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation have gone to Federal Court in a bid to force their band council into withdrawing from a modern day treaty covering a large swath of eastern Ontario, including Ottawa."
More news updates -
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Further developments ...
"The chief of the Kinounchepirini Algonquin People (not the Kinounchepirini Algonquin First Nation which is a different group) said a community meeting is being held May 29 at noon at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 170 Ellis in Pembroke to discuss the A-I-P and other issues related to the land claim process, as well as unite off-reserve Algonquins who have went through an extensive process to determine their ancestry, overseen by Justice James Chadwick in 2013."
"On the eve of the vote, the Grandmothers of Pikwakanagan called on the council of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation to immediately pull out of land claim talks. Since the vote, they have launched a lawsuit still trying to put a halt to the proceedings."
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I know most people blame the government for the dragged-out land claim, but there's been a lot of drama on the part of the FN"s.
Seems like it's always 1 step forward, 3 steps back.
Barbara
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