Mica Bay Incident

The Mica Bay Incident occurred immediately prior to the signing of the Robinson-Huron Treaty. The political tensions leading up to it reflect ongoing Indigenous concerns around land rights, mineral extraction, and corporate/crown encroachment on traditional territories.[1]

In 1849 a group of First Nations and Métis people were displeased with ongoing mineral extraction by local mining companies.[2] This mining was occurring outside of a negotiated treaty and contrary to the 1763 Royal Proclamation's statements on Indigenous land and resource rights. In November 1849 a group traveled from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to Mica Bay on the shore of Lake Superior.[3] Upon arrival at Mica Bay the group attacked copper mining sites established by the Quebec Mining Company, with the goal of forcing the Company off the land. Over 100 soldiers were sent to put down the incident and in December a number of the leaders were arrested and detained in Toronto.[4]

Leaders of the incident included Chief Shingawukonse (Garden River First Nation), Chief Nebenaigoching (Batchewana First Nation), Chief Oshawana, Allan Macdonell, Metcalfe, and others.[5]

The Mica Bay incident is known as the tipping point which forced the government to negotiate treaty agreements with Indigenous communities in the Lake Huron and Lake Superior region.[4]