MANITOULIN—It may have been a long time coming but the lifelong research work of Albert (Hardy) Peltier baa is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with the signing of the Manitoulin Project agreement between Canada and five Island First Nations. Mr. Peltier is probably best known to most on Manitoulin wielding a guitar onstage as a popular entertainer, but he was also a passionate advocate for First Nations rights and for decades sought redress for Canada’s historical mismanagement of First Nations trust funds.

On December 10, 2023 the Canadian government agreed to compensate Aundeck Omni Kaning, M’Chigeeng, Sheguiandah, Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing First Nations for the historic mismanagement of three claims.

While the settlement addresses those claims, the First Nations stress that the Manitoulin Project is not a land claim or settlement, but rather a redress of historic mismanagement of trust funds and that no lands or rights are being surrendered. Negotiations on land claims and other issues are ongoing and outside of the Manitoulin Project process.

Still, the process will result in a settlement amount—although the amount involved in the settlement has not yet been released to the public.

The settlement agreement will require the assent of band members with a voting threshold of 25 percent of membership for each of the five members of the Manitoulin Project.

UCCMM Tribal Chair and Aundeck Omni Kaning Chief Patsy Corbiere noted that she believes that vote may be pushed back to sometime in February as it will require considerable research on the part of band staff to ensure that all members—especially those off-reserve—are fully informed of the details of the settlement and the voting process.

“Half of the band members are off-reserve and half on,” she said. “They are spread across the country and some are in the States. We have got to make sure we have contacted everyone.”

Although the threshold for the vote might seem high, Chief Corbiere suggested that, since money is involved, getting out the vote should be easier than for other canvasses of the communities.

The details of the three claims encompassed in the Manitoulin Project have not yet been released to the general public on the advice of the team’s legal counsel.