• The Algonquins were the occupiers of the Ottawa Valley when Europeans first arrived in 1613.
• The Algonquins were dispersed to some degree during the 1600's but by the end of that century were once again occupiers of the Valley.
• The Algonquins occupied the Valley when the British Crown asserted sovereignty free and clear of French claims in 1760-1763.
• One of the Algonquins' principal residence's during the pre-1763 period was Allumette and Morrison's Islands (now Quebec). No doubt other areas on the Ottawa and its tributary rivers in the territory were used by various bands for winter subsistence and summer gathering. The interior of the territory consisted of family hunting grounds to be used from Fall to Spring.
• After 1720 more and more Algonquin and Nipissings spent summers at Lake of Two Mountains.
• After 1763 the Algonquins were repeatedly assured by Crown officials that they could rely on the Royal Proclamation, and that they would not be disturbed in their hunting grounds unless and until they were purchased by the Crown. These promises were made by the King of England and communicated to the Algonquins by Sir William Johnson and his son and successor Sir John Johnson.
• In 1772 the Algonquins and Nipissings made their first of dozens of petitions seeking protection of their hunting grounds from incursions by squatters, and other assistance from the Imperial Crown.
• The Algonquins kept a signed copy of the Proclamation which they received shortly after December 24, 1763, until they returned it to Governor General Lord Elgin in1847. In their petitions they repeatedly referred to the Proclamation and the promises made by Sir William Johnson.
• The Algonquins never surrendered their land.
• After 1791, the old Colony of Quebec was divided into Upper and Lower Canada. The Lower Canada administration was responsible for the Lake of Two Mountains mission, but had no responsibility for territory in Upper Canada.
• In 1794, Lord Dorchester repeated the promises made in the 1760's by Sir William Johnson.
• In 1835, the Algonquins made their first petition specific to Upper Canada, pointing out that other nations in Upper Canada had entered into treaty arrangements where they obtained lands for settlement and annuities in exchange for ceding their hunting grounds. This petition also stated that the Algonquin Nation would respect existing third party rights in exchange for compensation.
• In the summer of 1835, during a meeting with the Chiefs in Toronto, Sir John Colborne apparently agreed to assist the Algonquins in their desire to occupy Allumette Island and lands to the south of it to a depth of three leagues. His promise was not recorded at the time, but is referred to in later documents.
• The Algonquin petitions were discussed by various Crown officials and the commissions, including the Lower Canada Executive Committee in 1837 and the Bagot Commission in 1845. Those commissions recommended that the Algonquin claims be converted into "an equitable right to be compensated" including a tract of land for their occupation.
• By the late 1830's, the Algonquin Nation had formulated its desire to enter into arrangements similar to those made by treaties with other indigenous nations throughout Upper Canada, under which a tract of land would be set apart for exclusive Algonquin use, and an annuity would be provided for the relinquishment of hunting grounds.
• The offer was never formally accepted, for one reason or another.
• With the creation of the Maniwaki reserve in 1853 and other reserves in Quebec, it was believed by government that the Algonquin claims were satisfied.
• In 1873, the Golden Lake reserve was purchased. All other requests for reserve were in due course denied, and it was suggested that all Algonquins should relocate to the Golden Lake reserve.