Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Settlement Proposed for Rouge River Valley Claim
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
Honouring the Treaty relationship and working in partnership is key to advancing lasting reconciliation. We believe the best way to address outstanding issues is through negotiations and dialogue.
Today, Ogimaa-Kwe (Chief) Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Honourable Greg Rickford, Ontario’s Minister for Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, announced a proposed financial settlement to resolve the Mississaugas of the Credit’s Rouge River Valley Tract Claim.
Negotiators for the parties have initialed the agreement, which means they are prepared to recommend a proposed settlement for ratification and signing. The proposed settlement includes $108.4 million from Canada and $75 million from Ontario, for a total settlement of $183.4 million for past losses.
The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation’s Rouge River Valley Tract Claim addresses a longstanding treaty-related dispute between the parties that dates back to the late 18th century. In its claim, the Mississaugas of the Credit asserts outstanding Aboriginal rights and title to an area encompassing 128,697 acres in the southern part of the Rouge River Valley Tract on the north shore of Lake Ontario.
Through these negotiations, the First Nation is seeking fair financial compensation from the Crown and a renewed Treaty relationship based on mutual respect, partnership and shared prosperity. The proposed financial settlement is an opportunity for Ontario and Canada to provide compensation to the Mississaugas of the Credit to settle this 230-year-old Treaty dispute.
As the next step, the First Nation is moving forward with a community engagement process to provide information about the proposed settlement to their members. The First Nation will set a date in the near future for a community vote to seek approval from their members on the proposed settlement. Following community approval, the proposed settlement must also be approved by the First Nation, Ontario and Canada before it can be finalized and signed by the parties.
Negotiated claim settlements help address past wrongs and contribute to reconciliation in Canada by rebuilding relationships and creating new opportunities for First Nations like the Mississaugas of the Credit to build a more prosperous future for their communities based on their own priorities.
https://www.canada.ca/en/crown-indigenous-relations-northern-affairs/news/2025/03/mississaugas-of-the-credit-first-nation-ontario-and-canada-announce-proposed-settlement-and-next-steps-on-rouge-river-valley-tract-claim.html