URGENT Message to Pikwakanagan Anishinabe

Kwe Kwe Anishinabe!

We are taking the extraordinary step of sending you this hand out directly because your Chief and Council, as well as the governments of Canada and Ontario, have ignored our legitimate concerns about how the “Algonquins of Ontario” Proposed Agreement-in-Principle will affect Algonquin Peoples’ Aboriginal Title and Rights.

We are asking you to please vote NO in the “Algonquins of Ontario” Referendum on the Proposed Agreement-in-Principle for the following reasons:

  • The DEFINITION of “Algonquin” used in the “AOO AIP” is too broad and the Referendum Voters List includes over 7,000 self-identified individuals with little or no Algonquin ancestry (Preamble/Chapter 1/Chapter 3). Pikwakanagan Members are less than 10% of Registered Voters.
  • EXTINGUISHMENT — The AIP accepts extinguishment of Algonquin Aboriginal Title with no compensation for past treatment of Algonquin Peoples or theft of Algonquin lands and resources by governments. (Chapter 2)
  • ONLY 1.3% LANDS OFFERED AS MUNICIPAL LANDS — The Ontario will transfer approximately 117,500 acres of “Settlement Lands to Algonquin Institutions” (pg. 28). That’s only 1.3% out of the approximately 9 million acres of Algonquin Nation lands in what is now known as Ontario that Pikwakanagan Members are giving up. (Chapter 5)
  • ONLY $300 MILLION OFFERED MINUS THE LOAN REPAYMENT — “Canada and Ontario shall make a Capital Transfer of $300 million to an Algonquin Institution” (pg. 45). Take off the AOO/Pikwakanagan Loan of about $20 Million so far and counting — since it would take years to negotiate a “Final Agreement”. This money won’t go to individuals it will go to an “Algonquin institution” controlled by the “Instant Algonquins” will outnumber and outvote Pikwakanagan Members. This is NOT compensation and doesn’t reflect the true value of the lands and resources illegally taken by Ontario & Canada from Algonquin Peoples. (Chapter 6)
  • OUTNUMBERED & OUTVOTED — The AIP accepts that all self-identified “Instant Algonquins” will get constitutional section 35 status as “Beneficiaries” and will continue to outnumber and outvote Pikwakanagan Members under the so-called “Modern Treaty.” Who is an Algonquin and entitled to benefits from agreements is an Algonquin Nation issue; it is not just for one band to decide.
  • GIVE UP RESERVE — The AIP accepts that the Golden Lake Reserve will become private property (Fee Simple) under municipal government like anywhere else in Ontario.
  • GIVE UP TAX EXEMPTION & BECOME A MUNICIPALITY — The AIP accepts that the Pikwakanagan Indian Act Band Council system will become a Municipal type government through a separate Self-Government Agreement & Pikwakanagan Members give up tax exemption. You will pay all taxes like any non-Algonquin Ontario resident!

PROTECT YOUR ALGONQUIN TITLE & RIGHTS AND THOSE OF FUTURE ALGONQUIN GENERATIONS!

THIS REFERENDUM IS A FRAUDULENT PROCESS & A VIOLATION OF ALGONQUIN RIGHTS!

WE ASK YOU TO VOTE NO!

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