Introduction
Aanii, Boozhoo Debbie Mayer n’dishnikaz, Mississauga n’doonjibaa
Robinson-Huron Treaty (RHT) Coordinator
I have been under a contract to engage in the administration of the Robinson Huron Treaty Annuities for Mississauga First Nation and my duties include the documentation and a system of record keeping for safety and security, development of a system of annuity distribution for transparency adhering to financial standards, addressing conflict in the kindest manner possible and of course and most importantly reporting and development of suggested improvements to processes as we move through this settlement of past annuities agreement.
I have and continue to compile as much contact information of our band membership to ensure we are addressing their concerns, questions and inquiries and reporting back to members in a timely manner. I started this position April 29, 2024. Since that time I have been able to administer payments to over 96% of our membership. I am still actively working to contact those who have no information and have not received their disbursement.
Who am I-- I have been working for the community in various capacities over the past 14 years and prior to that serving the First Nation with other First Nation agencies for over 10 years. I recently retired from the position of Education Director, and after much debate with not only my family but myself I thought of this process and its importance and it needs to be handled in the best way possible. I have experience in strategic planning, financial accountability, research capabilities, culturally competency and trauma informed training, development of policies and procedures through input of as many of our people as possible. I believe in kindness and fairness to all and hope to proceed through this issue in the best possible way following and incorporating our Anishinabe teachings and knowledge.
Again, please stay in contact with any questions you may have and I will work towards responding in a timely manner while maintaining personal information confidentiality but working to include your voice and the voices of our membership over the next few months.
We are working to currently to fill four (4) positions for Trustees with the Bonekeosh Trust (see attached documents). All this will be done through a contracted individual and voting compilation will be done externally ON-LINE only through Simply Voting. More information will be posted on this process.
Miigwech
Debbie Mayer
1-705-261-0823
Bonekeosh Trust
The purpose of the Bonekeosh Trust is to ensure monies received through the signing of the Robinson Huron Treaty Settlement Agreement on September 9, 2023 and set aside in a Trust for the betterment of the community of Mississauga First Nation as a whole, as well as its members.
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The RHTLF was established by the 21 RHT First Nations to pursue the annuity claims (past and present) stemming from the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.
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Upon completion of the Past Compensation Settlement Agreement, the settlement proceeds were received by the RHTLF and were then almost all distributed to the 21 RHT First Nations based on the amended Compensation Disbursement Agreement formula they agreed to in 2012.