Ontario and Canada Ministers Commit to Annual Council Fire Gatherings with Robinson Huron Treaty Leadership

Press Release

Baawaating – Sault Ste Marie: Yesterday, September 9th, 2025, amongst the Robinson Huron Treaty (RHT) Anishinaabek Chiefs and citizens at the 175th commemorative Robinson Huron Treaty Gathering in Baawaating – Sault Ste Marie, the Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships, committed to annual Council Fire gatherings with RHT leadership.

The rekindling of the Council Fire was a commitment that RHT leadership have been calling on the Crowns to commit to – a process to negotiate the annuity augmentation clause of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.

As stated in the Supreme Court of Canada decision last July 2024, this sacred treaty affirmed the nation-to-nation relationship between the Lake Huron Anishinaabe and the Crown:

4) The Robinson Treaties built on a close relationship between the British and the Anishinaabe of the upper Great Lakes that existed long before 1850. That relationship was guided by the Covenant Chain alliance, dating back to the 17th century, which symbolized the close connection between the British Crown and Indigenous peoples, including the Anishinaabe. The British and the Anishinaabe maintained this connection in part through annual gift-giving around sacred “council fires” as expressions of mutual generosity and goodwill.

While no dates have been set as of yet for a first Council Fire on annuity augmentation, this is a momentous step forward for our people – with our Treaty partners.

Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund (RHTLF) will continue to provide ongoing updates to our RHT First Nation communities.

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