Robinson Huron Treaty gathering kicks off in Garden River

The Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 Gathering kicked off in Garden River First Nation Thursday morning, bringing together leaders and members of 21 First Nations within the treaty territory. 

The first two days of the gathering will be highlighted by a number of presentations and workshops at the Garden River Community Centre dealing with treaty rights, governance and culture.  

“It’s important for us to not only listen, but take the opportunity to take what you learned and take it back home to your communities, because we don’t want to get in a situation where there’s only a limited number of people who know about treaty,” said Robinson Huron Litigation Fund spokesperson Duke Peltier during opening ceremonies Thursday. “We need a lot more of our young people taking an active interest in what your treaty rights are.”

On the heels of a landmark $10-billion settlement agreement with Canada and Ontario over historic treaty annuity payments, the executive director of the Robinson Huron Litigation Fund said the present $4 annual payment to treaty beneficiaries is still very much relevant today.   

“It means the Crowns still recognize that we never gave up our sovereignty when we signed that treaty. We still have inherent rights that are based not on the treaty, but what the Creator bestowed upon us,” said Earl Commanda during opening remarks. “These are the things that we’re now trying to resurrect and remind our people that those things are not lost.”

On display during this year’s treaty gathering is an exhibit of sacred items that once belonged to Chief Shingwaukonse, a historic leader of Garden River who was one of the original signatories to the Robinson Huron Treaty, which was signed in present-day Sault Ste. Marie — also known by its Anishinaabe name, Baawaating — on September 9, 1850. 

Garden River First Nation has been engaged in talks with the Royal Ontario Museum in hopes of eventually repatriating the items, which includes a war club and a 200-year-old pipe. 

Photography of the sacred items is not permitted during the gathering.    

“What I think the most impactful thing is that we are in the presence of Chief Shingwaukonse’s pipe and his sacred items, and I think that’s one of things that feels good, extra good, for our people here, is that this pipe is now returned home — maybe not permanently, but I know that we’re taking steps to repatriate a lot of those things that have been held by museums, held by private collectors, held by private institutions,” said Garden River First Nation Chief Andy Rickard.  

Delegates from Garden River held ceremonies during a viewing of the sacred items at the Royal Ontario Museum earlier this year as a way of launching a formal process to repatriate the sacred items. 

“We stand on the shoulders of giants when we’re doing that important work,” Rickard said.

A round dance at the ballpark in Garden River will take place Thursday at 6 p.m. while Friday’s live entertainment by Crystal Shawanda and The Roger Daybutch Band is scheduled to take place outside of the Garden River Community Centre beginning at 6 p.m. 

The majority of events held during the treaty gathering are open to the general public.

“For us it is fitting that we celebrate, and this is a celebration,” Commanda said. 

The three-day gathering wraps up Saturday at GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie with a treaty renewal ceremony and an announcement with Canada and Ontario regarding the $10-billion treaty annuities settlement.

More information can be found at the event's website.