Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
IOF Northern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Uri Gordin: We are upping the pressure and the pace of attacks, and we will continue the attack in the southern Syrian region
IOF Northern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Uri Gordin: We are operating decisively in the Sweida region and attacking Syrian regime targets
Sheikh Youssef al-Jarbou: The complete integration of Sweida into the Syrian state and the affirmation of the full sovereignty of the Syrian state
Sheikh Youssef al-Jarbou: Respect the sanctity of homes and the lives of civilians and not harm any home or private property within the city
Sheikh Youssef Al-Jarbou: Hiring competent police officers and personnel from the Sweida Governorate to manage the security file in the governorate
Sheikh Youssef al-Jarbou: Deploying internal security and police checkpoints from the state and police personnel from the Sweida Governorate in the city of Sweida
Sheikh Youssef al-Jarbou: Forming a monitoring committee composed of the Syrian state and honorable [Druze] sheikhs to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire
Sheikh Youssef al-Jarbou: A complete halt to all military operations immediately and a commitment by all parties to stop the military escalation
Statement of the Druze Community in Syria regarding the ceasefire agreement
Source in the Syrian Ministry of Interior told SANA: A ceasefire agreement has been reached in Sweida, and security checkpoints have been established in the city

Canada may pay First Nations tribe for treaty 'mockery': Court ruling

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 27 Jul 2024 12:52
4 Min Read

Although the highly anticipated finding is expected to result in billions of dollars being paid out, First Nation leaders claim the decision only adds another obstacle to the decades-long struggle for justice.

  • x
  • A First Nations land recognition video narrated by Chief Willie Littlechild plays on video screens prior to Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (AP)
    A First Nations land recognition video narrated by Chief Willie Littlechild plays on video screens prior to Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (AP)

The top court of Canada has found that the successive Canadian governments' "egregious" failure to uphold a crucial treaty struck with Indigenous nations rendered the agreement a "mockery" and denied generations of fair compensation for their resources.

Although the highly anticipated finding is expected to result in billions of dollars being paid out, First Nation leaders believe the decision only adds another obstacle to the decades-long struggle for justice.

Canada's supreme court condemned the federal and Ontario governments for their "dishonorable" actions regarding a 174-year-old agreement, which left First Nations people to live in poverty while nearby communities, businesses, and the government took advantage of the abundant natural resources to further their own financial interests.

The court's decision was made unanimously and was released on Friday.

The court stated in the ruling, "For almost a century and a half, the Anishinaabe have been left with an empty shell of a treaty promise."

The stark language is yet another illustration of how important cases continue to show the lingering legacy of the colonial project, which was initially conceived by the British government and continued after Canada gained independence.

The court's ruling to draw attention to the "egregious" methods in which governments have handled their agreements with Indigenous nations may have far-reaching effects on Canada as a whole as well as the impacted areas.

Read more: Indigenous America: The US kills its victim and walks in its funeral

The British Crown and a number of Anishinaabe nations on the banks of Lakes Huron and Superior signed a compact in 1850 that served as the basis for the case.

A unique "augmentation clause" in the Robinson Treaties, which covered 35,700 sq miles (92,400 sq km) of land, promised to increase annual payments "from time to time" as the land produced more wealth - "if and when" that payment could be made without causing a loss to the Crown.

Related News

Aboriginal group sues Australia for $1.1bln iron ore claim

Australian PM calls for urgent reforms in indigenous welfare

The lands and rivers included by the agreement produced enormous profits for businesses over the course of the following 174 years, as well as significant income for the province of Ontario. However, the annuities were set at $4 per person in 1874 and were never raised after that.

The court added: “Today, in what can only be described as a mockery of the Crown’s treaty promise to the Anishinaabe of the upper Great Lakes, the annuities are distributed to individual treaty beneficiaries by giving them $4 each,” leaving aside the “shocking” figure paid to beneficiaries.

“The Crown has severely undermined both the spirit and substance of the Robinson Treaties.”

One of the main topics the court addressed was the treaty's unique "augmentation clause." 

The court ruled that the nation-to-nation arrangement constituted an alliance of equals and urged the Crown to raise the yearly payments in order to go back "to the foundations of the treaty" and "engage the honour of the Crown."

Justice Mahmud Jamal wrote that it would be "patently dishonourable" to fail to do so.

Lawrence Wanakamik, chief of Whitesand First Nation, expressed to reporters the decision had been a “long time coming”.

In January last year, a series of high-profile pipeline conflicts in recent years have highlighted the volatile character of resource extraction projects, which frequently pit First Nations communities against strong corporations.

Two landmark agreements in western Canada could have reportedly reshaped the role of Indigenous nations in resource development projects, giving previously excluded groups more power and signaling a possible shift in how industry and governments negotiate with communities on the frontlines of environmental degradation.

It is worth noting that the region is currently home to coking coalmines with a dismal environmental track record: in March, a provincial court fined Teck Resources C$60 million for polluting local waterways with selenium at its Fording River and Greenhills operations. Other mines have been suggested, but they have been met with fierce opposition.

In recent years, Indigenous leaders in Western Canada have lobbied for a stronger say — or even complete authority – over resource developments affecting their area.

Indigenous people in #Canada performed dancing rituals during a pro-#Palestine rally in #Toronto as they demanded a ceasefire in #Gaza.#GazaUnderAttack #GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/RbZckmqudg

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 14, 2023

  • indigenous people
  • Canada
  • First Nations

Most Read

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025
An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

  • Analysis
  • 11 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Khamenei: Iran holds powerful strategic cards
Politics

Sayyed Khamenei: Iran holds powerful strategic cards

New cars are parked in the port of the southern city of Umm el Rashrash, near the border with Egypt, Occupied Palestine, February 15, 2012 (AFP)
Politics

Eilat Port shut down due to debts, Red Sea blockade

Smoke rises after and Israeli drone launched an airstrike on the entrance of the Syrian Ministry of Defense, Damascus, Syria, July, 16, 2025 (social media)
Politics

'Israel' hits Syrian military HQ in Damascus, strikes Sweida

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi gestures to the media as he walks between meetings during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting and related meetings at the Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur Friday, July 11, 2025 (AP)
Politics

China backs Iran’s nuclear rights, calls for diplomacy over force

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS