Temagami - Deep Water Daki Menan - My Land

Protecting our forests ... more than just saving trees

Hap Wilson, Obabika Pines

second Chief of Timagami Band Aleck Paul ,1913:

Dr. Donald Smith, professor of Canadian history at the University of Calgary

Thor Conway, archaeologist (1982):

Archie Belaney aka Grey Owl, ( 1906-1911 ):

Dr. Ed Rogers, ethnologist, Royal Ontario Museum, 1983:

Justice in Paradise. Dr. Bruce Clark, 1999:

Evidence of Desecration of Ancient Forests and Sacred Aboriginal Sites on Unceded Indian Land

• Temagami Forest Unit Management Plan 02003-02024, © MNR, 2002.
  Modified: With superimposed already logged areas
  
• Map of planned clearcut of block 30 near Bob Lake, adjacent to Native sacred site at Chee-Skong lake, produced by Alex Broadbent ,02002.
  
• Wastes in logging operations near Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wilderness, 01989.
  Photocopy of Temagami Society article
  
• Wildlife and old-growth: Logging plan 1989-91.
  Photocopy of Temagami Society article
  

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Protecting the Land

3000 B.C. - XVII A.D.
1620	Five years after Samuel Champlain passed through Lake N'bi'sing (Nipissing ) Europeneans first heard of Temagamis.
1695	Nadoways and other Iroquois are driven out of most of southern Ontario back into the heartland of the Five Nations (present upper New York state).
1701	Peace Ceremony between Iroquois and French and Algonkian Nations, with 'a Temiskaming Indian at the head of a party of his nation', which , by inference, included the Temagamis.
1763	The Royal Proclamation of King George III , designed to halt the "Great Frauds and Abuses" committed against the 'several Nations or Tribes of Indians, with whom we are connected, or who live under our protection', ( Constitution Act of 1982 explicitly preserved any rights or freedoms recognized by the Proclamation), the Temagami country was clearly not within 'Canada' which was now to be called 'Quebec', rather it was protected as Indian land. Bruce Clark in "Justice in Paradise", 1999: "The Royal Proclamation of 1763 confirmed the Indians' liberty from the despotism of the colonists, their governments, and their courts. It did so by zoning all territory as Indian country, except those particular regions that were purchased from the Indians.[42]"
1836	Europeneans came to lake Temagami for furs and their outside influence would never be really removed.
1850	Robinson-Huron Treaties: Alexander Morris, Late Lieut.-Gov. of Manitoba, the North-West Territories and Kee-way-tin, 1850: "In consequence of the discovery of minerals, on the shores of Lake Huron and Superior, the Government of the late Province of Canada, deemed it desirable, to extinguish the Indian title, and in order to that end, in the year 1850, entrusted the duty to the late Honorable William B. Robinson." Bruce Clark in "Justice in Paradise", 1999: "There is no mention of the Temagami name in any treaty, nor is there a description of a Temagami Indian reserve in any treaty. And no Temagami Indian ever signed any Indian treaty or any document attaching to any Indian treaty".[59]" "No contract of purchase and sale has ever been drawn up identifying the Chee'Bai'Gin [Maple Mountain] / Temagami region. The 1850 Robinson Treaty expressly and explicitly concerns only the lands of the Indian bands whose "chiefs and principal men" affixed their signatures at the end of it. No Temagami Indian never signed that treaty or any document referring to it. No Temagami ever signed anything having to do with aboriginal rights.[77]"
1877	Chief Tonene of the T-AA asks to be taken into treaty to gain protection from settlers. Request denied.
1879	Chief Tonene to the members of the Temagami band, 1879: "for the white men were coming closer and closer every year and the deer and furs were becoming scarcer and scarcer as each year passed so that in a few years more Indians could not live by hunting alone." Chief Tonene had requested supplies from the government to start a small farm and advised the Temagami Indians to clear land wherever they liked and assured them they would not be disturbed. Chief Tonene to the federal Indian agent Charles Skene from Parry Sound, 1879: "We never ceded our lands and know nothing about the Treaty ."
1901	1901 Ontario establishes the Timagami Forest Reserve.
1906	DOMINION OF CANADA ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS: "They seem rather to oppose anything pertaining to modern living. They do not take to farming, or in fact to anything else which would better their mode of living. No reserve has as yet been given to this band. The members live around the shores of Lake Temagami, while quite a number live on Bear island, near the Hudson's Bay Company's post. Lake Temagami is situated 72 miles from North Bay, and is now reached by the new railway, operated by the Ontario government. This lake is noted for its clear water and beautiful islands, and is now a prominent tourist resort. The members of this band are a bright, intelligent body, and take more readily to the modes of living of the whites. They are noted as expert canoemen, a number being employed by the Hudson's Bay Company for this purpose."
1910	DOMINION OF CANADA ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS: "No reserve has yet been given to this band... The health of this band for the past year has not been good, a number having typhoid, which has been prevalent in that part of the country for the past year. Several of them have been furnished hospital and other assistance, and are recovering from the illness. The Indians of this band have been addicted to liquor, and, when an opportunity offers, they will get it, but are improving in this respect. They are very reticent as to furnishing information against the parties supplying liquor. During the past year fines have been imposed, which have proved beneficial. With a few exceptions they are moral."
1911	DOMINION OF CANADA ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 1911.: "The Indians of this band follow hunting during the winter, and when they start for the woods, they remove their families with them, which necessarily closes the school during the winter months. The Indians are beginning to understand that, as their former vocations of hunting and fishing are being depleted, they will be obliged to seek other sources of employment from white men, and a knowledge of the English language will be beneficial to them in securing such."
1912	DOMINION OF CANADA ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS: "school is kept open for the summer months only, owing to the Indian families leaving for the woods each fall and not returning until the following spring.The children of the Temagami band are very bright and appear to learn readily. A very noticeable feature is that only a few years ago none of the children on the reserve could understand the English language, while to-day a number can speak it quite readily. This progress has been made only by the attendance of the children at the Indian schools. The Indians are beginning to understand that as their former vocations, hunting and fishing, are being depleted they will have to seek other sources of employment from white men and in which a little education would be beneficial to them."
1914	DOMINION OF CANADA ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS: "The health of the members of the Timagami band has not been good during the year, as there have been a good many colds and more or less tuberculosis. The majority of the members of the Timagami band live in teepees and tents. It is a noteworthy feature that a large number of the Indians now speak English fluently."
1915	DOMINION OF CANADA ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS: "Annuities paid under Statute. Cockburn, Geo. P., annuities paid: Dokis Band, 99; Nipissing Band, 285; Timagami Band, 85; total, 469"
1920s	Old Missabie walks over to Chief Frank Whitebear to tell him about the logging at O-bawb-ika (Obabika) lake within his family territory. Chief walks over and shuts down logging camp's operations for a month.
1964	The Timagami Forest Reserve is abolished.
1973	Chief Gary Potts files land cautions in 110 townships within n'Daki Menan (My Land) and asserts Teme-Augama Anishnabai ownership. The cautions stop mining but not logging.
1975	ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 1974 - 1975 ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE HON. JUDD BUCHANAN, PC, MP, MINISTER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION CANADA, OTTAWA, 1975. "At the close of 1974, 49 claims relating to land or various aspects of Indian Affairs administration over the years had been submitted by Indian bands and organizations across the country. In Ontario, the Department has indicated that it will participate in a settlement of the Temagami Band land claim in keeping with the Government's Claim Policy. Nevertheless, counsel for the band stated that he and his clients would seek a court decision on the merits of their claim, although they would be prepared to begin negotiations at the same time."
1976	ANNUAL REPORT INDIAN AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS: The Temagami Band's claim to 4,000 square miles near Lake Temagami, Ontario, was under negotiation with the involvement of provincial and federal officials.
1977	ANNUAL REPORT INDIAN AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS: In Ontario, the Temagami Band informed the Federal Government in 1973 that it would be making a claim to 4,000 square miles near Lake Tamagami, and subsequently filed cautions on this area, which is unpatented Provincial Crown land. In January, 1977, a decision of the Director of titles for the Province lifted several of these cautions. The Band appealed that decision, and appeal proceedings are now expected to resume later in 1977.
1978	ANNUAL REPORT INDIAN AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS: The band appealed that decision and judicial proceedings are continuing, with the province of Ontario seeking clarification of the interest that the Temagami people are claiming.
1978	Ontario sues the Temagami Anishnabai in the Supreme Court of Ontario. Prior to this date Ontario had always used the excuse that the Temagami Anishnabai were not covered by the Robinson-Huron Treaty to oppose giving up valuable timberland in the form of a reserve. They now argue that the Temagami Anishnabai have given up their sovereignty rights in the Robinson-Huron Treaty.
1979-80	INDIAN AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA INDIAN AND INUIT AFFAIRS OFFICE OF NATIVE CLAIMS NORTHERN AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION 1979 - 1980 ANNUAL REPORT CANADA: With regard to the Temagami band, which has claimed over 4 000 square miles in the vicinity of Lake Temagami, litigation between the band and Ontario continued during 1979 - 80 with regard to the definition of aboriginal title and the nature of the band's interests in the lands claimed. The federal government has not been able to document that the band was represented at the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850. Since the band approached the federal government in 1879 to take treaty, there have been numerous and unsuccessful requests to Ontario to provide Crown lands as a basis for a settlement with the band. The federal government remains willing to negotiate a settlement with the band, subject to Ontario's required participation..
1980	ANNUAL REPORT 1980 - 1981 INDIAN AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA.: In November 1980, the province, the federal government and the Temagami band agreed to begin negotiations to settle the band's claim for 10 360 square kilometres of land in the vicinity of Lake Temagami. Certain procedural questions pertaining to the opening of negotiations remained unresolved at the end of the fiscal year. ..
1984	The court finds against the Teme-Augama Anishnabai claiming that their land rights were signed away by a chief to the west of them in 1850. The Teme-Augama appeal.
1986	Ontario plans to begin construction of the Red Squirrel logging road but is stopped by court action and lobbying, temporarily.
1988	June: Road construction finally begins only to be blocked by the Teme- Augama Anishnabai. Dec 1988. The blockades come down and no further construction is to occur (by court order).
1989	Spring: Environmentalists carry on the blockades and more than 350 are arrested around Ontario in opposition to logging. Even soon to be Premier, Bob Rae, gets accidentally arrested. Blockades at Red Squirrel Road in 1988-1989 map.
1990	April: Development in Temagami is stopped and the gov't signs a stewardship agreement with the Teme-Augama Anishnabai.
1991	The Supreme Court of Canada rejects the Temagami First Nation's appeal.
1992	Treaty negotiations begin.
1995	November: A provincial judge lifts the land cautions and opens the region to mining for the first time in more than two decades.
1996	August 27, 1996: An explosion takes out a logging bridge near River Valley. The press claims the a traditionalist native group (Ma-kominising Anishnabeg) has taken responsibility.
1996	September 4, 1996: Earthroots begins its blockade of the Rabbit Lake Road which is being extended to access old growth forest at Owain Lake. There are 22 arrests in the first two days.
1997	The protest was launched by the environmental group Earthroots, which was fighting plans to log an Owain Lake area it asserted was pristine old-growth pine forest. Over the course of the almost three-month protest, police report 56 people were arrested on a variety of charges, including mischief and intimidation. Protesters formally closed their forest defence camp in late November. Logging by Goulard Lumber of Sturgeon Falls continued proceeded despite the demonstration The bill to police the Owain Lake forest demonstration last fall was almost $545,000, or $6,600 for each of the 83 days of protest.
1998	Representatives of the Temagami First Nation (TFN) and the Teme-Augama Anishnabai (TAA) met with Ontario government officials to discuss a possible start-up of negotiations after more than two years. "We've been ready to talk, we've been ready to negotiate, we've been ready to meet with them, I think they will find us fair, I think they will find us reasonable, and I think they will find us with a mutual goal of trying to provide jobs for their people." said Premier Mike Harris on an afternoon visit to New Liskeard July 21. The Teme-Augama Anishnabai (TAA) in a show of solidarity with the Temagami First Nation (TFN) voted to accept the rectifications that the TFN made to the 1993 Agreement in Principle (AIP). Doug Carr, the senior negotiator with the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat, feels that the deal is no longer open for discussion because the Temagami Aboriginal community rejected the Agreement-in-Principle in 1993. TFN Chief Jim Twain explained that because of all the legal jargon, the TFN was not sure what exactly was in the document. "For Mr. Carr to use the Ontario Government's unilateral withdrawal of the 1993 Agreement as an excuse for not considering the contents of the current document is even more ridiculous than the excuse used in the 1880's, which was that the land was too valuable to turn over to the Indians," Chief McKenzie said.
1999	Teme-Augama Anishnabai (TAA) and the Temagami First Nation (TFN) - proposed a settlement based on the former agreement-in-principle. It would have turned over 115 square miles of Crown land and $15-million to Temagami Natives' control, and established a larger shared stewardship area. But the provincial government had already stated that the old deal, twice rejected by the TFN, was no longer on the table. "But if they sign the agreement-in-principle, everything is gone. Treaty rights are gone, aboriginal rights are gone," Woody Becker said. December of 1995 saw an end to the 22-year-old Native land caution over much of 4,000 square miles of Crown land in the Temagami area and Temiskaming. Three Temagami-area Native groups had filed to appeal a court judgment that ruled the long-standing cautions had no legal effect. As 1999 ended, the longstanding Temagami Indian land claim was still unresolved, but at least two sides were talking. Temagami First Nation (TFN) and the Teme-Augama Anishnabai (TAA) took action.They moved a small cabin to a Crown access road just off the Lake Temagami Access Road that leads to Shiningwood Bay. "We're not only protesting here," said TAA Chief Doug McKenzie from a small camp at the site March 15. "We're taking action and we're going to start developing this as a new community."
2000	Temagami aboriginal leaders and Ontario's Attorney General say a framework agreement signed last week could signal a settlement in the longstanding Temagami land claim dispute. Almost three months after a draft agreement was approved by Teme-Augama Anishnabai (TAA) and Temagami First Nation (TFN) members, the province signed the agreement June 21. The signing of the agreement itself was done over the fax machine, when overcast conditions prevented provincial officials from landing in North Bay. The weather conditions were a sign of the ancestors' disapproval of the process, said Woody Becker, a long-time opponent of earlier attempts to resolve the land claim. He is also one of four people who are parties to a lawsuit that is attempting to block the negotiation process. Mr. Becker, Tom Friday Sr., Leo Paul Sr. and Verna Friday filed lawsuits in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice June 19 against the TAA, TFN, and the provincial and federal governments. They're arguing that the TAA and TFN have no authority to negotiate on behalf of the Friday, Becker and Paul families. They're also asserting that the federal government is breaching its obligations to the families.
2001	Federal government joins Temagami claim talks. "We now have all the necessary parties involved to settle the land issues that have been looming for over a century, a larger land base will alleviate this problem, and will provide a solid foundation for the future of our nation." said Temagami First Nation Chief Raymond Katt. Questions have been put to negotiators concerning the impact of a settlement on access to existing portage routes, winter routes, and camp sites, and the nature of any possible mainland development.
2002	Spirit Forest near Sacred Native Shrine at- Chee-Skon Lake is threatened by clearcut logging of Block 30. Video coverage from Change of Seasons ceremony at Obabika Lake and block 30 issue
2003	Negotiators for the Temagami aboriginal community and the Ontario government announced last week that they've agreed on elements that they hope will form the basis of a settlement. Key points in the agreement include 127 square miles of reserve lands, a $4-million economic development package, and $20 million in financial compensation for the Temagami aboriginal community. Protection for the Lake Temagami shoreline is also promised, through either the creation of a waterway park or in another form. But shoreline areas where a high mineral potential has been identified would be exempt and remain available for exploration. The 127-square-mile now suggested as a reserve is slightly larger than the 115 square miles - with 3 (three) square miles set aside as traditional family lands.
2005	Government reneges on obligation in Temagami!. The Cooke Lake Road expansion will facilitate the logging of the Maple Mountain range, known as sacred burial site, Chi-Bai-Gin - 'a place where spirits go'.
	stay   tuned
Sources	Temagami Chronology Temagami Land Caution Archives Alex Mathias, 2002-2003 F.G. Speck. Memoir 70 and 71, 1913 Bruce Hodgins and Jamie Benidickson. "The Temagami Experience", 1989 Temagami Times, spring edition 1983, 1985. Alexander Morris. "The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.", 1880 Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Neodim Kollobok. Temagami, 2002-2005