Temagami Land Caution facts for kids

The Temagami Land Caution was an important event in Ontario, Canada. It was a disagreement over land in the Temagami area of northeastern Ontario. This land claim was started in August 1973 by Gary Potts, who was the Chief of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai people.

The Teme-Augama Anishnabai are an Indigenous community. They wanted to protect about 10,000 square kilometers (about 3,861 square miles) of land. They called this land "n'Daki Menan," which means "Our Land."

What Was the Temagami Land Caution?

The Temagami Land Caution was a legal action. It was like a warning placed on land titles. This warning meant that the land could not be sold or developed. It stopped new projects like mining from happening on government-owned land in the Temagami area. This caution lasted through the 1970s and 1980s.

Why Was the Land Caution Important?

The Teme-Augama Anishnabai people believed this land was theirs. They had lived there for a very long time. The land caution was their way of saying, "This is our traditional territory, and we want to protect it." It was a way to stand up for their rights and their connection to the land.

Roadblocks and Protests

In 1988, a politician named Vince Kerrio approved a plan. This plan was to extend a road called Red Squirrel Road. The problem was that this road would go right through the land covered by the Temagami Land Caution.

This decision made the Teme-Augama Anishnabai people and environmental groups very upset. In 1988 and 1989, they set up roadblocks. These roadblocks were a peaceful way to protest the road construction and protect the land.

Court Decisions and the End of the Caution

The disagreement eventually went to Canada's highest court, the Supreme Court of Canada. In 1991, the Supreme Court made a decision. The court said that the Teme-Augama Anishnabai had given up their rights to the land. This was said to have happened through a document called the 1850 Robinson Treaty.

However, the Teme-Augama Anishnabai people said they never signed or agreed to this treaty. They argued that their ancestors did not give up their land rights.

In 1995, the Temagami Land Caution was officially removed. This happened because of another order from the Supreme Court of Canada. Even though the caution was lifted, the issues about Indigenous land rights and treaties continue to be important topics in Canada.