Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin Treaty Chiefs declare that recent tariffs instated by the Trump Administration don’t apply to First Nations within the Robinson Huron Treaty Territory.
In a statement released on March 10, Sovereign First Nations rejected the application of tariffs because they breach pre-existing treaties.
“As self-determining Nations, the signatory First Nations of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 have long governed their trade and economic relations, including trade with relatives across the Canada-U.S. Medicine line (border). The imposition of external tariffs on First Nations commerce undermines their jurisdiction and disregards the Treaty relationship with the Crown,” the statement reads.
Article III of Jay’s Treaty of 1794 between the US and what is now Canada allows Indigenous people in Canada to live and work freely in the United States, as well as the right to freely trade products and do business. Tariffs that disrupt trade between the two countries go against its terms and could have grave economic consequences for various First Nations.
In a quote from the Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin press release, Chief Cathy Stevens of Nipissing First Nation said, “Our Nations have never relinquished our inherent rights to govern our lands, economies, and trade. Canada must respect our rights rather than allowing our trade and economies to be disrupted by political maneuvering. First Nations trade is not a bargaining chip.”
“We have pre-Confederation relationships with First Nations south of the medicine line,” said Lake Huron Regional Chief Scott McLeod in an interview with rabble. Included in those relationships, is the free trade between Nations.
The tariffs threaten these centuries old relationships by taxing communities that have existed long before either the United States or Canada were formed.
He went on to explain that products traded include items that are not available to respective First Nations.
“It could be traditional foods, corn. It could be products that are made on First Nations, anything from cigarettes to bead work. We’ve been constantly trying to improve our economic opportunities in our First Nations. And this is just part of what we do, and what we’ve been doing for 1000s of years with those First Nations south of us,” he said.
When asked if the government has reached out to his First Nation amid the current tariff war, Chief McLeod responded by saying “absolutely not.” Not only have they not been contacted, but they are being spoken for instead of spoken with.
“They haven’t been in contact with us, which is a violation of the treaty right there. Premier Doug Ford goes on record speaking on behalf of all of Ontario, which includes our First Nations, as if he owns those resources,” McLeod said. “And if there’s, it’s almost as if there’s no treaty in his mind the way he speaks. He should be speaking to First Nations, and he should be talking about the relationship that Ontario and Canada have with the First Nations by, but we’re not on his radar.”
In the press release, Chief Wilma-Lee Johnston of Serpent River First Nation said, “We are not stakeholders. We are rights-holders. Trade decisions affecting our lands, economies, and Treaty rights must include us at the table.”
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