Cottagers concerned over land transfer deal
Access to Georgian Bay tourist spot may be limited once agreement reached
As an agreement looms over the transfer of territory in northern Georgian Bay to the local First Nations community, cottagers and tourists are expressing concern that their access to a pristine piece of Crown land may soon be cut off.
On the one hand, a spokeswoman for the provincial Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs told the Star that Wikwemkoong Unceded Territory plans to develop some of the land on Philip Edward Island — uninhabited Crown land popular with tourists, including Toronto- nians — as parks, for the continued use of the general public.
But Wikwemkoong’s chief said in an interview that a “final determination” on access has not yet been made and will be left up to members of his community.
Ratification of the proposed agreement over the territory, located 100 kilometres south of Sudbury, is expected within the next 18 to 24 months.
The government is now in a consultation period and hosting open houses, including one that was held in Toronto on Thursday.
“The association’s goal is to maintain future access . . . for all Ontarians and First Nations.” ROBERT NAIRN NORTHERN GEORGIAN BAY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER
“Recreational use of the islands in Georgian Bay that are proposed to be transferred to Wikwemkoong, including the Philip Edward Island archipelago, would require the permission of the First Nation,” said Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs spokeswoman Flavia Mussio in an email.
“The provincial Crown land would be transferred to the First Nation in fee simple, meaning Wikwemkoong would own the land as a private landowner.”
Negotiations have been taking place for almost a decade, and the government says that an eventual agreement is expected to include both financial compensation and transfer of lands.
Wikwemkoong has set aside legal action dating back to 1997 while the negotiations are ongoing.
That civil action includes 23,000 islands, according to government documents, which said the proposed settlement agreement would deal with the central portion of the litigation.
According to the government, it’s been proposed that 7,081 hectares Philip Edward Island, as well as some territory on the mainland, will be transferred to Wikwemkoong instead of other islands that form part of the First Nation claim because they are private lands that cannot be returned.
Those lands include Fitzwilliam Island, just off the coast of Manitoulin Island.
An association that represents dozen of cottagers in the area has said it is concerned with the relatively quick pace of the public consultation period, and is encouraging residents and property owners to write to the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs.
“The association’s goal is to maintain future access to Philip Edward and surrounding islands for all On- tarians and First Nations,” said Northern Georgian Bay Association board member Robert Nairn.
“For many years now, thousands of campers have visited the island, and effectively it’s been treated as a park . . . We know there’s access now. We don’t know for certain if there will be access in the future.
“That’s an unknown because of the ongoing negotiations that we’re not privy to.”
Wikwemkoong’s chief told the Star in an interview that there is still much up for discussion among members of his community. Ogimaa Duke Peltier said options about access include allowing anyone on the island.
“Yes, we’d like to settle this tomorrow, but we also understand that Ontario has its process to ensure that the public is aware that they are making efforts to return lands that were alienated from the unceded territory of Wikwemkoong,” he said.