Most Canadians probably have no idea how many land claims are in process today. Starting with Treaty 5 in 1798 vast tracts of land around the south shores of Georgian Bay underwent treaty negotiations between the British Crown and various Ojibwa and Chippewa Nations. Treaty obligations were rarely honoured and some Nations, like the Nawash Chippewa Nation assert their land continues to be unceded.

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation recently settled a land claim with Grey County and are in on-going negotiations with the Canadian government to regain control of Saugeen Peninsula and other land and water resources throughout their traditional Territory.

Claim negotiations over Treaty 72 are fascinating and far reaching because the Saugeen and Nawash Ojibway are asserting ownership of road allowances currently vested in nine municipal defendants in Gray and Bruce Counties.

“The part of the claim that is likely to have the most far-reaching effect is the return of unsold road allowance, particularly shore road allowance. It was the practice of the original surveyors in Ontario to leave a 20-metre strip of land around all coastlines of major lakes. This strip is known as a “shore road allowance.” Over the years, as roads were built they tended to follow the easiest terrain rather than the shore, consequently the owners of the land inside the allowance began to view the 20-metre strip as their property although they held no patent to it. Many have built expensive homes on it.” Read more … You can just see the shoreline from this gondola ride up the mountain.