Pither’s Point Park a hot topic

Pither’s Point Park is under much scrutiny behind the scenes in the Town of Fort Frances as well as on the reserves of Treaty #3.
The 99-year lease on this property that has been in effect since May 1st, 1910 between the Town of Fort Frances and Government of Canada, who represented four of the bands under Treaty #3 (Stanjikoming, Nigigoonsiminikaaning, Couchiching, and Naicatchewenin), is about to come to a close on May 1, 2009—only a mere eight months away.
The debate now is what will happen to this piece of property.
Historically, this particular piece of land has seen much controversy.
According to a document called “A History of Events and Decisions Regarding Pither’s Point Park: Final Report” written by Glen E. Treftlin Ph.D., the land was originally used as a grounds for trading under the Hudson Bay Company as well as a place for camping and perhaps even religious ceremonies for the natives in the area.
Later, in 1871, the land was then inhabited by Robert J.N. Pither—the Indian Agent sent by the federal government, namely John A. Macdonald, to “‘keep the Indians quiet’ as the Wolseley Expedition passed through the area on the newly established Dawson Route as well as to make negotiations with the natives pertaining to land and treaties.
Under Treaty #3, which was signed October 4, 1873, the land at the Point was surveyed as being a part of the designated treaty land acting as a “general reserve.” This meant that the land did not belong solely to Couchiching (which is the reserve closest to the location), but rather as a reserve for all of the tribes to share for general purposes.
However, Pither, who had reason to believe that the government would grant him a patent for the land as he carried out his work, built a homestead on the Point property and developed much of the land.
After being told that the land was, in fact, treaty land and could not be doled out to non-native people for these purposes, much information came to the surface claiming that the land did not in fact fall within the limits of the land designated under the treaty.
Mr. Vankoughnet, the Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs, later stated authoritatively that the Point property was simply Treaty land and that was that.
After several back and forth allegations on both sides of the debate, it was then decided that Pither would be removed from the property and compensated $3,700 for the buildings and the development of the land— but not the land itself as it was never rightfully his.
Then, on May 1, 1910, the Town of Fort Frances leased 60 acres of the Point land from the federal government in order to open a park that the entire town could benefit from.
The members of Treaty #3 were still allowed to use the land in the ways that they had in the past, however now, the park could be shared by everyone.
There were many testimonials provided in the report stating that the use of this land as a public park in the Town of Fort Frances made life much more enjoyable here. To add to that, many say that without the park there would not be as much reason to live here still.
A pavilion was built which housed a floor for dancing and an area to purchase ice cream. Also, a boardwalk and a dock were both installed on the property so as to make it that much more enjoyable for all.
All of the history of this land, along with all of the agencies and groups involved (federal and provincial governments, Indian Affairs, members of Treaty #3, and the Town of Fort Frances) means that in the end this land claim has many possible outcomes.
Sources say that the most probable outcomes would be that the property in question would become Crown land or that the land would be returned to Treaty #3 as a general reserve with the rights going to them to do what they wish. This is not an exhaustive list of possibilities but these are the two most likely rulings that locals can look to expect.