The Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council is contemplating initiating a legal dispute against the City of Ottawa, alleging the city’s failure to engage with First Nations as required by the constitution, particularly concerning the forthcoming Tewin development project. This potential legal challenge is highlighted in a motion put forward by Coun. Theresa Kavanagh, scheduled for discussion at the city’s planning and housing committee meeting on October 15.
Kavanagh is urging her fellow council members to remove 445 developable hectares in Ottawa’s rural southeast from the official plan, effectively reversing a contentious decision made four years ago by the previous city council under former Mayor Jim Watson. Grand Chief Savanna McGregor, representing seven federally recognized Algonquin communities, has been opposed to the Tewin project, a collaboration between the Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) and developer Taggart Group, since its initial debate in 2021.
The AOO, established two decades ago to negotiate a modern-day treaty, comprises 10 communities in Ontario, with only the First Nation of Pikwakanagan federally recognized. Recent years have seen nearly a quarter of the AOO’s members removed from the voter list due to lack of Algonquin ancestry. Notably, First Nations in Quebec are not affiliated with the AOO and consider it an unauthorized entity.
McGregor views the Tewin development as part of a larger dispute over the legitimate negotiation and consultation rights regarding unceded Algonquin territory in the National Capital Region and beyond. The tribal council, dissatisfied with the city’s engagement with the AOO on Tewin, has sought legal counsel from Amir Attaran, a University of Ottawa law professor, to challenge the city’s actions.
Attaran argues that the City of Ottawa has neglected meaningful consultation and accommodation of Algonquin First Nations, in violation of constitutional rights. Despite potential legal hurdles, McGregor and other Algonquin leaders remain steadfast in their commitment to safeguard their unceded territory, emphasizing the importance of fighting for their rights for future generations.