'We are the land owners' says First Nations chief after judge dismissed town's claim to Point Park territory

Desmond Brown · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 20, 2025 4:47 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

The 4 First Nations that marque up Agency One person won a large ineligible triumph aft an Ontario Superior Court justice dismissed claims by the Town of Fort Frances to the Point Park territory, a disputed parcel of onshore implicit which the municipality had claimed ownership.

Terry Allen, Chief of Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, said the Agency One communities are associated owners of the lands. Along with Nigigoonsiminikaaning, Agency One besides includes Naicatchewenin, Couchiching, and Mitaanjigamiing First Nations.

According to Allen, the Town of Fort Francis had been leasing a portion of the onshore for 100 years. But helium said erstwhile the lease expired successful 2009, "they claimed ownership and tried to propulsion america retired arsenic inherent owners."

The Town of Fort Francis took the substance to court, and connected Tuesday Justice J.S. Fregeau ruled that the municipality has nary assertion to the Point Park lands, nor does it person immoderate assertion to compensation. 

"It's been a agelong ineligible combat for that injustice … a combat that should person ne'er happened successful the archetypal place," Allen told CBC Thunder Bay.

"Our radical enjoyed the Agency One reserve located connected the shores of Red Lake for thousands of years … it was ever ours … the ruling fundamentally reaffirms what our ancestors, elders, leaders, communities person ever known, that we are the onshore owners."

A almighty infinitesimal for information and recognition

The ruling was handed down days earlier National Indigenous Peoples Day, which is being observed this twelvemonth connected June 21.

"This is simply a almighty infinitesimal for information and recognition," Allen said. 

"These lands, they person ever been utilized for ceremonies and those types of activities, and to spell backmost to that and to revitalize the lands for those purposes is fundamentally our intent now."

Allen besides said the 4 First Nations inactive person to "come to the table" and "we're going to beryllium backmost and truly marque plans connected however we're going to usage the lands for everybody to enjoy."

CBC News has reached retired to the Town of Fort Frances for remark connected the ruling and adjacent steps, but Mayor Andrew Hallikas said they are "currently reviewing the decision" and are not successful a presumption to marque immoderate nationalist remark until assembly has met and discussed it.

The municipality volition sermon the ruling successful an in-camera league of politician and assembly connected Monday night.

LISTEN | Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation Chief Terry Allen speaks pursuing tribunal ruling: