Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice has resumed hearing a case involving the interpretation of treaties that were signed 167 years ago.
First Nations that were party to the Robinson Superior and Robinson Huron treaties with the Crown back in 1850 are challenging what they allege is the government’s failure to implement the “annuity augmentation” provisions.
The initial payment was $2 per individual, and was last increased in 1874, to $4 per person.
The treaties committed the Crown to provide annuities as the lands that were ceded produced revenue, and the annuity was to increase when revenues increased, but that has not happened.
Robinson Superior treaty signatories included First Nations has along the Lake Superior shoreline and farther north, while parties to the Robinson Huron treaty were located in northeastern Ontario.
Hearings are expected to continue through February and the court is allowing the proceedings to be livestreamed.
Go to: https://livestream.com/firsttel for the link.