September 23, 1995
THE DULUTH DECLARATION
We, the sovereign people of the Saugeen Nation, have developed
from time immemorial a society which exercises all aspects of
nationhood. Our nation has been recognized by other nation
states through the creation of treaties and agreements of mutual
benefit. We have never abrogated our authority or relinquished
it to any other entity.
We hereby affirm our jurisdiction over the waters around the
Saugeen/Bruce Peninsula. This jurisdiction extends to the median
point in the water between the Saugeen Nation territory, water and
land, and all other national territories. We assert jurisdiction
over these waters in their entirety, which includes the fisheries,
lands and minerals, above and below the waters, including the lake
bed. We do so for the immediate purpose of the full regulation and
management of these resources, over which we have inherent rights,
treaty rights and unextinguished sovereign authority.
We reserve the right and authority to enter into agreements
concerning the disposition of the resource to the benefit of our
nation.
As a nation, we shall respect the international laws which promote
constructive and co-operative relations among sovereign nations,
and, as we deem appropriate, will invoke our sovereign rights in
applicable international processes.
The foregoing reaffirmation of jurisdiction over the
Saugeen/Bruce Peninsula waters is without prejudice to the
existence of other jurisdictional dimensions of Saugeen Nation
sovereignty under current or future international law, including
in relation to the waters of the Great Lakes, and to the timing
or manner of any other future affirmation or reaffirmation of
such other dimensions.
This declaration will be formally signed on October 2, 1995, by
the councillors of the government of Saugeen in a public ceremony
of the Saugeen Nation, upon which date it becomes legislation of
the Saugeen Nation.
R.R. #1, Southanpton, Ontario N0H 2L0, Ph# (519)797-2781