Daniel LaForme, the band's chief, says rectifying the claim has always been on their agenda, ever since they realized, soon after the treaty signing, that they had been taken. It was just a matter of putting it forward. Now may be their moment. But in the face of hundreds of Indian land claims, Canada's federal and provincial governments are seen as being slow to respond to new realities. Meanwhile, some Euro-Canadians resent what they perceive as special deals for First Nations.
Some observers say the growing Indian claims issue is a sleeping bear.
The more than 480 claims in the works just cover the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Fullerton says property rights everywhere could be thrown into question should a court suddenly demand land-surrender treaties. But the government has been like a boxer in the ring that just doesn't see 'em coming. Ottawa could rule within the coming months on whether it accepts the Mississaugua treaty claim, which would lead to negotiations over the settlement. If it rejects the claim, the Mississaugas could appeal to the federal claims commission or go to court.