Working together towards reconciliation
MAWG submission to the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
By Sheilla Jones, March 27, 2025
The Modernized Annuity Working Group, in partnership with the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg and the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg, is evaluating increasing individual historic annuity payments as a form of guaranteed income and a means of sharing the prosperity of the land.
MAWG is proposing increasing historic annuities from the current $5 per year ($4 in Ontario) based on three models:
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Historic livelihood support model: $1,870 - $6,500
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Federal income support model: $7,500
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Land-based GDP model: $7,025 - $8,810
MAWG co-chairs Wayne Helgason and Sheilla Jones presented the First Nations Modern Annuity: A Guaranteed Income for FN People as part of the Indigenous Perspectives on Governance and Basic Income, The BIG Forum, University of Ottawa, May 25, 2024.
By Sheilla Jones, Wayne Helgason and Gregory Mason
Winnipeg Free Press, December 29, 2021
The November Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that the Crown violated Robinson Treaty terms by failing to increase annuity payments highlights the necessity of understanding the link between annuities and the land as a step toward reconciliation. Because without reconciliation, Canada risks losing its soul.
However, to achieve meaningful reconciliation, we must have the courage to talk about the land — beginning with addressing the deliberately deceptive means by which Canada’s government violated First Nations land agreements in aid of colonization...
News and features
Interview: Moment of Truth, ELMNT FM
Host: David Moses, with guests Rosanna Deerchild host of Unreserved. Plus Sheilla Jones author "Let the People Speak: Oppression in at Time of Reconciliation" along with Sheila North. Also, Caroline O'Neill interviews Paul Manly. Aired February 25, 2020
Sheila North (left) and Sheilla Jones (right) sign copies of Let the People Speak: Oppression in a time of reconciliation
REVIEW: Winnipeg Free Press, February 15, 2020
Tribute
Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont pays tribute in the MB Legislature to former MLA and Indigenous activist Jean Allard, October 15, 2021.
Jean Allard
1930-2020
Our MAWG team was saddened by the passing of Jean Allard on December 2, 2020 at the age of 90. Jean was an honorary member of MAWG, and worked for decades to advance the idea of modernizing Treaty annuities.
Read our tribute: A legacy for Jean Allard
MAWG Co-Chair Wayne Helgason talks about modernizing Treaty annuities with host Jim Compton in Episode 89 of "Let's Talk Treaty" a bi-weekly radio series produced by the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
Aired January 19 and 22, 2022.
By Sheilla Jones and Sheila North
Toronto Star, December 23, 2019
The origin of a potentially ground-breaking step toward meaningful reconciliation between Canada's first people and settlers can be laid at the feet of Métis leader Louis Riel. Literally.
APTN National News on Facebook
With Sheilla Jones, Sheila North, and APTN host Melissa Ridgen.
September 6, 2019
Earlier Posts
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Replay: Let the People Speak, short doc 18:20
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Promoting Let the People Speak, Global News Morning Winnipeg, Global TV, September 19, 2019
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Video: Redirecting money from Indigenous Affairs to Status Indians, APTN, April 7, 2019, 16:35
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Indigenous Affairs portfolio is democratically flawed, by Sheilla Jones, Ottawa Sun, January 12, 2019
Quick facts about annuities to get you started:
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What is an annuity?
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Why is it still $5?
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What does the Indian Act say about annuities?