Shingwaukonse & the Making of Canada

 

There is a new book called The Making of Canada: An Epic History in Twenty Extraordinary Lives. Author Greg Koabel goes off the usual path of Canadian heroes to include several women, including the Indigenous saint, Tekakwitha and Black freedom activist Mary Ann Shad.

 There is also a chapter devoted to Shingwaukonse, an Ojibwe leader born in 1773 who resided in what is now Garden River near Sault Ste. Marie on the north shore of Georgian Bay. He was a savvy negotiator with colonial governments looking to appropriate lands for mining in a time when what we now call Canada was being formed. There was plenty of pressure for Indigenous leaders along the shores of Lake Huron and Lake Superior to accept lousy deals but Shingwaukonse organized other bands to resist. In his diplomacy he appealed to principles of fairness and British property law. He felt that his people had no future if they were relegated to a reserve. He wanted them to be active partners in any prosperity resulting from an agreement. He was convinced that the Great Spirit had been beneficent to his people so the land needed to be protected for generations to come. 

                                                                             Chief Shingwaukonse 

In the sometimes tense process of negotiation Shingwaukonse and others were arrested, supported by the Globe newspaper. The Hudson's Bay company threatened to withhold trades with these Indigenous communities if they didn't capitulate. Eventually charges were dismissed. 

In the end what are known as the Robinson Treaties were established but almost immediately breached by governments. Finally though, in 2023, the governments of Canada and Ontario agreed to an out-of-court settlement of $10 billion as compensation for the broken promises of 170 years. 

I found this story illuminating, including the vision of Shingwaukonse for future generations as well as the recognition of the Creator. At this moment Indigenous groups are dealing with the feds and the province over bills C5 and 5 regarding land title in the North. They too speak freely of the gifts of the Creator and their sacred responsibility even as they are bullied and cajoled to comply. Little wonder they are wary of trusting governments in these negotiations. The more things change the more they stay the same.