As summer fades, Saugeen First Nation celebrates getting their beach back

Saugeen First Nation in Ontario joined together for some sun and sand to celebrate getting their beach back. The fight to be recognized as the rightful owners of a popular beach ended a month ago after the Supreme Court refused to hear a case against them. Saugeen Beach has been a popular destination for people in the area since the early 1990s, when it was known as Sauble Beach. “I was a kid, I remember my dad was on band council at that time and he showed me where the boundary was and he told me one day we’re going to get that back, that’s our beach,” said Councillor Sonya Roote. “He’s been gone for a while but today, his grandchildren and great grandchildren are here for the victory, so it feels amazing so many people along the line worked on this by so many people.” Members of Saugeen First Nation celebrate their beach. Photo: Annette Francis/APTN. The beach is just over two kilometres wide and runs on the northern edge of Saugeen First Nation on the shores of Lake Huron, about 220 km northwest of Toronto. It wasn’t included as part of the reserve because of a surveying error going back to 1854. The town of South Bruce Peninsula fought the case to the high court in Ottawa and lost. Saugeen Beach is on the shores of Lake Huron about 220 km north of Toronto. Photo: Annette Francis/APTN. According to Councillor Randall Kahgee, it will take some time to repair the relationship. But he said that with a willingness to work together, it can happen. At the moment, Saugeen is working on phase two of the case – compensation for all of those years of being without the land. He added that the case brought a surprise supporter. “The one thing that I think was very interesting about this case I think it stands apart from a lot of cases that our treaty partner actually stood with us. Canada was actually an ally and acknowledged that these lands should’ve been and  always should’ve been part of Saugeen so that you don’t see that very often,” he said. “I think that was a very unique example but my hope is that we will try we work to resolve those issues through negotiations, we don’t have to litigate that portion of it.” Continue Reading