To our Elected Chief and Council of Fort William First Nation, 

As you are all aware, our First Nation will soon experience a life-changing event with the Robinson Superior Treaty Annuities Settlement. While we may not yet know the exact details or the amounts, we respectfully bring this petition to your immediate attention.

By signing this petition, I am a registered member of the Fort William First Nation and attest the name I use is my full legal name. 

This Our REQUEST:

We, the undersigned members of the Fort William First Nation, submit this petition to the Chief and Council to:

1. Fully distribute 100% of the Robinson-Superior Treaty Annuity Settlement funds directly to individual members.
2. Prioritize this outcome as part of the community consultation process.
3. Ensure transparent communication and reporting regarding the implementation of this request.

Optional - Link to Status Card Verification: Click Here

Background: The majority of our members of voting age have expressed a clear desire to have 100% of the settlement funds distributed directly to individual members. A gathering of members will be needed to discuss legal fees and distribution/admin costs, following the Settlement Agreement outcome. 

Rationale:

• Empowerment — Individual members should have the right to determine how to use their own portion of the settlement funds for their personal, family or community benefit.
• Accountability — Full distribution ensures transparency and fairness in the handling of the settlement funds.
• Urgency — Many members face immediate financial, housing, education and other personal needs that this settlement can help address. But most importantly, our Elders are aging, they are going on to the Spirit World, let us do this to ensure they can be at peace knowing their families are taken care of and they can live in comfort for their remaining years.

This petition stems from a deeply personal matter concerning our rights as members of the Robinson-Superior Treaty area. We have struggled with fairness, transparency, and adequate recognition throughout the years, culminating in the ongoing issue of the Robinson-Superior Treaty Annuity Settlement Funds. These funds are not an act of generosity, but rather a compensation owed to us for past failures in our annuities – it marks a debt that must be fully repaid. 

For years, dedicated members have worked tirelessly to uphold our rights, rights enshrined in the agreement of the Robinson-Superior Treaty. With this petition, we seek to reinforce those efforts and address an insidious historic injustice. Our aim is to ensure every single member receives their rightful share of the Annuity Settlement Funds. More than just money, these are reparations that symbolize recognition of our past and a commitment to our future.

The pride and resilience of our people is unwavering, our community robust. But the fair and rightful distribution of the funds can significantly enhance our socio-economic position and enhance our members' ability to pursue fuller, richer lives. Let this petition be the catalyst for change that finally brings about the long overdue justice to everyone in the Robinson-Superior Treaty area. It is our right. It is about time!

We urge everyone to sign this petition and join us in insisting on the rightful and fair distribution of the Robinson-Superior Treaty Annuity Settlement Funds to every member. Let us alter the trajectory of inequities and build towards a future of fair play and respect. Sign this petition today!

Closing Statement:

We respectfully ask Chief and Council to consider this petition as a formal representation of the majority's wishes. This request aligns with the principles of fairness, transparency and community empowerment. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Respectfully submitted, 

The Undersigned Members of the Fort William First Nation 

If you would like a printable copy of this petition, in a .PDF format, please contact me at roniaudley@icloud.com
Image courtesy of Red Sky Métis Independent Nation.

NOTE: This petition originally began accounting for Fort William First Nation, but its contents can be expanded to other reserves involved in the settlement.