A group of beneficiaries from the Robinson Huron Treaty settlement, who are yet to be compensated for unpaid past annuities, are expressing various opinions on the amount proposed to them. The majority of the $10 billion settlement stemming from the Robinson Huron Treaty lawsuit has been disbursed, except for the one percent designated for non-member beneficiaries.
These beneficiaries now have the opportunity to seek compensation from the $100 million fund allocated for them. The annuities case pertains to the retroactive sum owed to the 21 Robinson Huron Treaty First Nations for resource access in the treaty territory, spanning approximately 92,000 square kilometers to the north and east of Lake Huron.
Since 1875, annual payments to treaty members had remained at $4 per person, despite assurances to raise the annuity in line with the escalating value of the land’s resources over time. The $10 billion settlement was finalized in 2024, with trustees setting aside one percent of the sum for Indigenous individuals not affiliated with member First Nations but still annuitants in Robinson Huron territory.
Distinguishing this group is their status as Robinson Huron Anishnabek who lack membership in any of the 21 First Nations that signed the 1850 treaty. While some express gratitude, others believe the offered amount is insufficient and belated.
Chief Angus Toulouse, a trustee overseeing the settlement funds and chief of Sagamok Anishnawbek, indicated that each beneficiary is slated to receive a base amount of $20,000, with an additional $500 for each year since birth as per the compensation disbursement agreement. Toulouse anticipates that the entire fund will be distributed to eligible applicants, with any surplus reverting to the litigation fund for allocation to the 21 First Nations.
Concerns have been raised that the offer may impinge on treaty rights, with some individuals on the Sudbury General List perceiving the base amount as inadequate compared to what members of First Nations have received individually. Despite these reservations, some like Kelly Simon, who has applied for compensation, are appreciative of being included in the fund distribution, albeit not at the same level as the 21 First Nations.
While legal action is being considered by some, others, like Simon, opt to forgo litigation, emphasizing gratitude for being acknowledged in the settlement. Toulouse disclosed that over 140 people have already applied for compensation, with applications open until September 2027.