In 2019 local residents and interested stakeholders were informed of the Washagamis Bay First Nation Garden Islands reserve land claim. Washagamis Bay First Nation (WBFN), a signatory to Treaty 3, claims that specific islands currently a part of the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve, were not set apart and confirmed as reserve for WBFN as they should have been under the terms of Treaty No. 3 (signed in 1873).
Through negotiations between Ontario, Canada and WBFN, 10 islands have been proposed to be deregulated (removed) from the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve by Ontario and transferred to Canada to be added to reserve for the exclusive use and benefit of WBFN. The proposed settlement lands are located west of Corkscrew Island in Clearwater Bay and at the mouth of White Partridge Bay. Ontario and Canada will not take away or expropriate private property to settle this claim. Access to private property and the public right to navigation will be maintained.
In 2019, Ontario initiated consultations and received public comments on the candidate lands which have since been refined. Ontario is once again conducting consultations about the Proposed Settlement Lands. Feedback from the public, Indigenous communities, municipalities, and stakeholders will be considered by Ontario before the proposed settlement is finalized.
Written comments may be submitted by email to WBFNGardenIslands@ontario.ca or by mail to Claims Negotiation Branch Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation 160 Bloor Street East, 9th Floor, Toronto, ON M7A 2E6.
As part of Ontario’s consultation efforts, a regulation proposal notice has been posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) to seek comments on the proposed deregulation of the 10 islands. https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-0447
Comments must be submitted by November 17th, 2026, following which Ontario will review and consider comments obtained through the consultation process and address any remaining significant concerns before the proposed settlement is finalized.