Saugeen First Nation wins treaty ruling on century-old land dispute in Sauble Beach

Saugeen First Nation has won a boundary dispute with a municipal government over a stretch of beach that's a popular tourist destination in Ontario's Bruce Peninsula.

On Tuesday, the First Nation said Superior Court Justice Susan Vella ruled Monday that a strip of Sauble Beach has always belonged to them. 

The stretch of land in question is just over two kilometres in length, located west of Lakeshore Boulevard, extending between 1st Street South and 6th Street North.

"This is a huge victory for our community and our people," said Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Richie. "We have been fighting to have the beach recognized as part of our reserve for generations." 

The First Nation said Vella wrote in her decision that the federal government breached treaty rights by failing to protect and preserve Treaty 72, which was signed in 1854. She ruled that two years later, in 1856, the Crown improperly surveyed the land when it marked out reserve territory.  

Land claim opposed by province, town

The federal government recognized the mistake in the 1970s and has supported Saugeen First Nation in its claim. It was officially filed in 1995, facing opposition from the Ontario government and the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. 

The municipality was not immediately available for comment Tuesday, but said in a statement that council will review the decision and consider next steps.

"Council understands how important this issue is to the town and thanks all residents in advance for your patience," wrote Mayor Garry Michi.

The First Nation said it sees Sauble Beach as an important tourist destination and plans to work with residents to maintain that. It is not clear at this time what will happen to the people who have title deeds and businesses on the section of beach. 

"We appreciate that the court acknowledged our proper reserve boundaries were not being respected and that the problem had to be fixed," Ritchie said.