Origin of ‘Share the Gifts’ Concept
The idea for Share the Gifts – Honour the Treaties was based on a movement called “Pay the Rent”. This developed in Australia, a non-Treaty territory, in the 1970s ‘to provide opportunities for non-Indigenous Australians to support initiatives controlled by the traditional land owners in their struggle for self-determination and economic independence.’
The movement is understood as reparation for the collective damage done to the original citizens of the land as a consequence of the occupation and theft of land resulting from British and later occupation. Building on a position that rejects the concepts of Terra Nullius and the Doctrine of Discovery, it recognizes the inherent rights of the original holders of the land (in Australia, those nations occupying prior to 1788).
Pay the Rent has been adopted by some non-Indigenous Australians until such time as the Australian Government fulfils its obligations to pay the rent on behalf of all those who have benefitted from the occupation. It is seen as moral and legal obligation in light of the minimal recognition by the Australian government of Indigenous sovereignty.
At the same time, Pay the Rent provides an opening for relationship building between those paying and the Nation to which the rent is paid. It is done by both individuals and organizations, including churches which have been a significant force in implementing Pay the Rent. It hopes to bring benefits to Indigenous peoples especially in the areas of health and wellbeing, land and resources, and customs and heritage.
Share the Gifts – Honour the Treaties Development
- Some years ago, Elaine Bishop spoke about the Australian Pay the Rent movement at a Kairos gathering which had just heard from Manitoba Treaty Relations Commissioner Jamie Wilson. Many of those present expressed interest in the idea being developed in Canada.
- In 2012, a small group of Kairos members, hosted by Commissioner Wilson, met several times to see if it were possible to adapt Pay the Rent to Treaty territories. They adapted the name to: Share the Gifts-Honour the Treaties based on the wisdom of Elders who reminded them that rent is not a concept that they share. They thought that this was a promising idea to offer to Settler peoples a way of confirming their Treaty membership on an annual basis.
- Discussions that were unresolved included how to calculate a reasonable annual payment (A percentage of total taxes? A percentage of property taxes? A proportion of Manitoba Hydro bills?) and to whom payment would be made (a Treaty 1 organization? The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs? The Manitoba Métis Federation?).
- While starting in Manitoba, as the movement develops there could be initiatives to extend it beyond Manitoba to both Treaty and non-Treaty areas.
- On April 29, 2017, a community consultation tested these initial ideas with Elders and other community members to decide whether and how to move forward, including separate Indigenous and Settler circles. The consultation resulted in encouragement that the organization be developed
- Share the Gifts – Honour the Treaties filed for incorporation in November 2017 and held its first Annual General Meeting on May 27, 2019.
- On November 29, 2018, Share the Gifts – Honour the Treaties hosted an Elder’s Gathering at Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre to “request wisdom about how to develop the organization to best manage donated funds and potential donations of land and sweat equity.”
- Ongoing discussions continue to explore how best to manage donations, and the continued development of a foundation or alternative structure, especially in the context of the Elders’ wisdom of the potential for money to offer great gifts yet also great challenges.