Saugeen Ojibway Nation discontinues Aboriginal title claim, calls on the Crown to fulfill obligation to protect First Nations’ waters

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Today, the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and the Saugeen First Nation (together, the Saugeen Ojibway Nation or SON) made the difficult decision to discontinue its Aboriginal title claim to SON’s water Territory.

The claim had been in court for over 20 years. After more than 100 days of trial, in 2021, the trial judge found that SON did not establish Aboriginal title to the entire claim area. However, in 2023, the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled the trial judge erred in failing to consider whether SON had established Aboriginal title to smaller portions of the claim area. The Court of Appeal remitted this issue to the trial judge. The remit was ongoing when SON discontinued the case. In an open letter to Canada and Ontario, SON’s leaders explain why they made this decision, and called upon the Crown to act honourably by engaging in good faith negotiations to implement SON’s rights in the Territory.

SON’s press release regarding the Aboriginal title claim, and their open letter to Canada and Ontario can be found below:

OKT had the privilege of representing SON on their Aboriginal title claim. OKT will continue to support SON in protecting their rights, exercising their jurisdiction, and holding the Crown accountable to their constitutional and treaty obligations.