Treaty of Peace between the Iroquois and the French is signed
After almost sixty years of conflict between the French and its Native Allies and the Five Nations, a Treaty of Peace between the Iroquois and the French is signed. The Seigneury of La Prairie and areas westward are opened to settlement”.
Land Concessions to French
The Jesuits order a survey and make land concessions to French settlers.
Change of location was temporary
King Louis XV issued new letters of patent unifying both SSSL grants into one with the desire to conserve the land for both the Jesuits and Iroquois. The new letters recognized that the community's change of location was temporary and necessary to let agricultural lands regenerate and was not an abandonment of land.
Complaint against the Jesuits
Kahnawà:ke lodged formal complaint against the Jesuits, Governor of New France sent to French King.
Lands were not to be conceded
Governor Duquesne came to Kahnawà:ke & affirmed lands were not to be conceded by Jesuits, since they could not concede what they did not own.
1760
Treaty of Oswegatchie
Promise: Seven Nations to be protected in their lands
Treaty of Oswegatchie was signed in Kahnawà:ke between British Crown & Seven Nations to remain neutral through end of war between France and Britain.
One treaty promise was that the Seven Nations be protected in their lands.
Jesuits illegally conceding
Capitulation of Montreal Article 40 stated – Indian allies …were to be protected in their lands.
Kahnawà:ke brings matter that Jesuits illegally conceding their lands to military tribunal. General Gage, Governor of Montreal judgment dispossessed the Jesuit, put Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke in full possession of the Seigneury, ordered deeds reissued to non-natives, appointed a Receiver of Rents, and ordered the boundaries between Seigneuries of La Prairie and SSSL be surveyed.
Lands of Indian Nations are reserved to the Indians
Royal Proclamation signed Oct. 7, 1763 states the lands of Indian Nations are reserved to the Indians, and that Crown consent is required prior to purchasing lands. Settlers are ordered to vacate
1935
Seigneurial Rent Abolition Act
Act is applied
Seigneurial Rent Abolition Act is applied to conceded SSSL lands.
Kahnawà:ke ownership of SSSL lands
MCK issues notice to the surrounding municipalities of Kahnawà:ke ownership of SSSL lands
Research to explore the history
MCK & INAC agree to share research to explore the history of the SSSL
2003
Canada accepts SSSL for negotiation
Acceptance is based on 7 breaches
The claim was accepted based on seven breaches of lawful obligation, including breaches of the Treaty of Oswegatchie, alienation of SSSL lands without surrender and the failure to collect seigneurial rents
2014
Specific Claims Policy exhausted
Explore renewed negotiation protocol
Parties exhausted all possible negotiations options within the context of the Specific Claims Policy and pursued other negotiations options
Negotiations protocol still intact; on hold to explore renewed negotiation protocol
2022-present
Special Ministerial Representative appointed
Pending Federal Cabinet approval of a new Negotiation Protocol
Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations has appointed a Special Ministerial Representative, Deborah Corber, to facilitate the finalization of a new SSSL Negotiation Protocol
Pending Federal Cabinet approval of a new Negotiation Protocol, negotiations on the SSSL Grievance shall resume.
2025
“Still Ours” Consultation starts 2025
MCK prepares to launch awareness campaign
Following slow movement on the process for negotiations and the 2024 consultation process by the Council of Chiefs (included community engagement kiosks, a community survey, and an in-person consultation during the summer community meeting) to set their priorities, MCK launches an extensive awareness campaign in 2025 about the land in question, entitled “Still Ours”.
