Saugeen First Nation - Contemporary Issues

Contemporary Issues

• Like Chief Wahbudick, many people of Saugeen still do not believe in surrendering their rights or the birthrights of their children.
• The original people of Saugeen still defend their territory.
• It is also important to remember where Kegedonce was found as Dudley George and other warriors defended traditional burial grounds by Ipperwash-Ausable River.
• The Duluth Declaration of 1995 affirm Saugeen First Nation's jurisdiction over the waters around the Saugeen/Bruce Peninsula. Though a 1993 Canadian Federal Court decision declaring that the Ojibways' right to fish commercially takes precedence over any other activity, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources have attempted to impose an Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licence on the Saugeen First Nation, a direct assault on Tribal Sovereignty, which the Saugeen First Nation have never abrogated authority or relinquished it to any other entity.
• Since 1830 the people were influenced and their lives affected by newcomers to the Saugeen Territory. These influences include:
  • Two-thirds of the current population of the Saugeen First Nation are not members of Saugeen. Many non-Native and Native people from other bands spouses of Saugeen-member enjoy housing through low interest loans, if the Band Member and Non Band Member divorce then the Band member will retain all property rights as Non band members cannot own property on reserve although they may lease the land. Leasing of land is usually only done on South Sauble Beach for cottages.
  • Racial and Cultural make-up of the Saugeen population now consists of Black/Ojibway, Chinese/Ojibway, Scottish/Ojibway, Ukrainian/Ojibway, Jewish/Ojibway, Ojibway/Odawa, Ojibway/Oneida, Ojibway/French and Ojibway/Pottawatomi, to name only a few.