Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation [Toronto Purchase]

June 2003

The First Nation claims that the federal government, in a breach of trust, failed to explain adequately the circumstances around the purchase of traditional land in 1787 (known as the Toronto Purchase) and failed to inform the First Nation that the 1787 surrender was invalid. The First Nation also maintains that a second surrender in 1805, intended by the government to ratify the 1787 purchase and validate the surrender, included more land than was originally agreed to by the First Nation in the 1787 surrender. The 1805 surrender included the Toronto Islands, which the First Nation asserts were explicitly excluded from the 1787 surrender. The First Nation never accepted the boundaries laid out under the 1805 surrender.

A total of 11 planning conferences have been held since the First Nation asked the Commission to inquire into the rejection of this claim in July 1998. Through 1999, the government and the First Nation worked together to complete the research required, hiring independent researchers and agreeing on terms of reference. The First Nation’s legal counsel completed a revised legal submission in the year 2000, and steps were taken for the claim to proceed through the specific claims system.

As of March 31, 2003 the First Nation was awaiting the response of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to this claim.

Response: On June 17, 2003, the Indian Claims Commission published its report on this inquiry. The claim is currently in mediation at the ICC.

To download the report