First Nation

Sauble Beach, a sandy stretch of land parked on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, is the second longest freshwater beach in the world—behind Wasaga Beach, near Collingwood. Eleven kilometres in length, Sauble’s shallow waters and powdery sand attract millions of beachgoers each year. But the beach’s ownership has long been a point of contention, until now.

On April 3, an Ontario judge ruled that the Saugeen First Nation are the rightful owners of a 2.4-kilometre section of Sauble Beach. The piece of land in question has traditionally been open to the public, extending into Sauble Beach North and encompassing the iconic “Welcome to Sauble Beach” sign. This new section adds to Sauble Beach South, which was already part of the Saugeen reserve, granting the First Nation ownership over the majority of the beach.

“This is a huge victory for our community and our people,” said Saugeen Chief Conrad Ritchie, in a statement. “We have been fighting to have the beach recognized as part of our reserve for generations. The beach is central to our way of life and, out of all our vast traditional territory, this is the land our ancestors chose to reserve for their future generations.”

The dispute over Sauble Beach can be traced back 170 years. The Saugeen asserted that when they signed Treaty 72 in 1854, establishing their reserve, the federal government improperly surveyed the land. The feds acknowledged their mistake in the 1970s, placing their support behind the Saugeen’s claim over Sauble Beach. But the Town of South Bruce Peninsula and the Ontario government opposed the claim, forcing the Saugeen First Nation to take the issue to court in 1995.

Over its 30-year history, the legal dispute has taken combative turns, such as in 2014, when federal government officials proposed a negotiated settlement, granting the Saugeen First Nation ownership of the beach with the clause that it would co-manage Sauble with South Bruce Peninsula. The town, however, turned this proposal down, deciding to continue fighting for ownership.

The beach is the town’s crown jewel. Paid parking around Sauble, which South Bruce Peninsula operates, costs approximately $30, generating a significant portion of the town’s annual revenue. With ownership transferring to the Saugeen, that could disappear.

Parking is only one of the cliffhangers left lingering in the wake of the court’s ruling. There are several private landowners who fall within the reserve’s new boundary. The town is waiting on an additional ruling from the court to see whether these landowners will be granted life interest, allowing them to remain where they are. There’s also the question of whether the beach will be open to the public. Over the last few years, Sauble Beach South, which was already owned by the Saugeen, has been made private, fencing the land off for cottagers who lease land from the First Nation.

The Saugeen did not respond to comment on the beach’s future, but Chief Conrad Ritchie said in a statement: “While the court recognized the importance of Sauble Beach to our people, we recognize that it is important to others as well, including as a tourist destination. We look forward to working with all of our neighbours to keep it a special place.”

South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Garry Michi said in a statement that the town has yet to decide whether it will appeal the decision. “Our immediate priority is to gain clarity on beach maintenance and governance issues until the final terms of the court’s ruling are settled later this year. Town council will be reaching out to the Saugeen First Nation to discuss these matters and will be working to find a mutually acceptable interim resolution.”

A second court proceeding will be held to determine whether the federal government owes damages to the Saugeen First Nation for incorrectly surveying its reserve.

Feature Video

Muskoka Road 38 winds through the District of Muskoka’s backcountry, connecting Highway 169 to Highway 400. Weaving through maple trees and granite outcroppings, the road cuts straight through the heart of the Wahta Mohawks First Nation.

Displaced from their homes in Kanesatake, Oka, Que. by the federal government, the Wahta Mohawks were relocated to Muskoka in 1881. Yet, despite the peoples’ long history with the area, they’ve had little opportunity to establish an identity. But that’s beginning to change.

On March 20, the Muskoka District Council passed a unanimous resolution to change the name of Muskoka Road 38 to Kanien’kehá:ka Iohatátie, meaning Mohawk People Road. The name change is part of the district’s attempt to strengthen Indigenous relations and honour its side of the truth and reconciliation process.

In June 2022, a multi-jurisdictional working group started meeting to figure out the details associated with changing a road’s name. The group included district staff from roads and transportation, geographic information systems, communications, and the continuous improvement unit, as well as staff and elected officials from the Township of Muskoka Lakes and Wahta Mohawks First Nation. The group discussed what impact a name change would have on databases, such as Google Maps, how it might affect emergency services, and what kind of budget would be required to replace road signs.

To select a name, Wahta Mohawks First Nation staff began an engagement campaign, reaching out to community members through newsletters, emails, direct mail, in-person outreach, and various social media platforms. Community members were asked to submit names in Kanien’Kéha, the Mohawk language, along with the English meaning of the name and the rationale for selecting it.

Forty-five names were submitted. Wahta Mohawks First Nation staff created a naming committee to narrow the submissions. The committee included Wahta Mohawks chief and council members, Wahta community elders, Wahta community youth, and two fluent Kanien’Kéha speakers. Three possible names were selected: Kanien’kehá:ka Iohatátie (Mohawk People Road), Wahta Iohatátie (Wahta Road), and À:kweks Iohatátie (Eagle Road).

In February, a tri-council was assembled, which included Wahta Mohawks Chief Philip Franks, Wahta Mohawks Councillor Lorie Fenton-Strength, Township of Muskoka Lakes Councillor Ruth Nishikawa, and District Chair, Jeff Lehman. Georgian Bay Mayor, Peter Koetsier, chaired the meeting as an unbiased facilitator. The tri-council had the opportunity to ask questions about the Wahta Mohawks’ history and the name selection process. In the end, the council adopted Kanien’kehá:ka Iohatátie as the new name for Muskoka Road 38.

“The new name, Kanien’kehá:ka Iohatátie, recognizes the Wahta Mohawks as a people and the territory where we live,” said Chief Franks in a statement. “Kanien’kehá:ka Iohatátie is no longer a number on a map; it now indicates an active community of people who have a unique language, culture, and history in Muskoka.”

The name still needs to be ratified by the Township of Muskoka Lakes’ council, which will likely happen in April. And Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation needs to sign off. The road’s grand renaming is scheduled for September 2023 in conjunction with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

As this name change will impact more than just the peoples of Wahta Mohawks First Nation, district staff are working to educate and support locals affected in the area—there are approximately 200 residential and commercial properties along Muskoka Road 38. To ease the transition, the district is offering a goodwill payment of $100 to each household or business along Muskoka Road 38. The payment is intended to cover the time and cost associated with updating identification, contact information, signage, and business materials.

Any residents or business owners with questions about the name change can contact Tina Kilbourne, project manager, at 705-645-1200 x 4308 or tina.kilbourne@muskoka.on.ca.

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