Chief and Council probably could not directly suspend negotiations, so it suspended the joint agreements — which had the same effect. But that action, too, according to the constitution, required assembly approval. It did not have it.

Although little was said during the election about suspending negotiations, it was widely understood on the reserve that this was the platform of the chief and second chief, Second Chief Peter McKenzie said.

The March suspension resolution (both are similar) said the review process would include “taking the time necessary to share our understanding of who we are; reconnect with Daki Menan; address our governance issues, including citizenship; understand the impact of the Robinson Huron Treaty from the signatories perspective; foster an understanding of the court process and its impacts; and development of a community vision with one voice.”

Ayotte thought these were valuable ideas, but saw a disconnect. “I don’t understand why we have to shut down negotiations to do all those.”

“Our time has come to re-unit as a People,” the resolution read. Ironically, the suspension may have done the opposite. It was carried out unilaterally by the smaller TFN, excluding the nation as a whole.

Tribe united

Two groups represent the aboriginal community: Temagami First Nation and Teme-Augama Anishnabai. The 653-member TFN represents status Indians, defined by the Indian Act, who are also band members. The 1,200-member TAA represents the entire Temagami tribe, which includes the TFN members and non-status Indians — also known as Metis, lost their status, or their forebears did, under Indian Act rules. Until 1992, the TAA was the sole aboriginal negotiator.

Teme-Augama Anishnabai is the traditional name for the tribe, in use when non-aboriginals arrived on their land. In 1907 the Canadian government, flexing the Indian Act, created the Temagami Indian Band. It made a list of the members, excluding some, and anyone not on it was neither an Indian nor part of the band. A bureaucrat now knew better who was a “citizen.”

Over the years others lost their status, their nationality.

"My aunt [Rita O'Sullivan] next door was considered non-status and my mother [Laura McKenzie], her sister, was status," said John McKenzie. "That made no sense to me. We are all blood related." O'Sullivan lost her status, under Indian Act rules, when she married a non-Indian.

(She regained her status after the 1985 revocation of the Indian Act clause that took it.)

In an act of defiance, Potts, as a young chief, led his people to take back from Ottawa the right to decide their citizenship, the most basic lever of self-determination.

“The Metis were all organized and they knew who they were and we knew who we were," said McKenzie. "It’s just that one was called non-status and one status. We decided if we are going to court [over the land claim], we are going as one people.”

In 1975, a resolution passed in the tribal assembly calling back together the Deep Water Nation and the creation of an organization for all descendants of the traditional families. They called it the Teme-Augama Anishnabai.

Tribe undermined

The suspension of negotiations, particularly in a manner that leaves the appearance of internal squabbling, can only weaken the TFN's hand with Ontario. The province is the key player as these negotiations are primarily about land, and it is the landlord.

It is the fourth settlement round — 1980-82, 1986-87, 1990-94, and 1999-2008. Memories are still vivid of the internal aboriginal acrimony in 1994 that resulted in the settlement’s rejection. Ontario watched taxpayer dollars walk out the door with each effort. How much will government invest in negotiations or the settlement if it is wary that the aboriginal community will ever sign? Or even stay to talk?

There is concern among some members that the influence of local interests over Ontario and Canada is rising. A park on reserve lands on the shoreline of Lake Temagami was added to the settlement agreement. Locals wanted it to protect the shoreline from aboriginal development.

The settlement will inject economic development funding. That, now, is postponed.

The land claim has been a dark cloud for everyone in Temagami, particularly on Lake Temagami. They have been waiting since 1973 for clear skies.

Potts continues to file the minimum paperwork. Negotiations aren’t dead.