-
1500
Pre-Contact Treaties
Indigenous peoples used treaties long before settlers arrived: some groups created foundational treaties between themselves and the lands & creatures they shared the land with, and many used treaties to bind diverse nations together.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
Period: 1534 to
Early Trading
Local trade relationships are established between Indigenous peoples and Europeans through gift exchange systems.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
Two-Row Wampum Treaty
An agreement made between the Five Nations of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) and the Dutch government. Seen as the foundation for subsequent treaties between the Haudenosaunee and European/North American governments.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: Nativemedia [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons -
Period: to
Covenant Chain
The Haudenosaunee make an alliance with the English with a series of treaties known as the Covenant Chain.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
The Great Peace of Montreal
To settle conflict, this agreement brings together 40 European and Indigenous nations.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
Period: to
Atlantic Peace and Friendship Treaties
A series of treaties to end conflict between the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and English peoples. The treaties provide the British with limited land access and recognize Indigenous land rights.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
The Royal Proclamation
King George III recognizes Indigenous sovereignty west of the eastern British colonies.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
The Treaty of Niagara
24 First Nations accept the Proclamation, others reject and continue conflict with British in Pontiac's War. Those that accept translate it to their own diplomatic terms.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
Period: to
Unnamed Treaties
A series of unnamed, and sometimes blank, treaties are created in Upper Canada in order to secure land for settlement, which force First Nations peoples to move west.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
Douglas Treaties
14 treaties negotiated by the Colony of Vancouver Island on the southern part of the island, permitting European settlement and offering support for Indigenous bands such as Esquimalt and Songhees.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
Robinson/Huron & Robinson/Superior Treaties
Treaties between European settlers seeking more land and Indigenous peoples northwest of the Great Lakes.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
Treaty 1
An agreement between Canada and the Anishinabek and Swampy Cree in Southern Manitoba.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia
Image: Canada location map.svg:derivative work: Yug (talk)Canada (geolocalisation).svg: STyxderivative work: Themightyquill [CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5), via Wikimedia Commons -
Treaty 2
Treaty signed between Canada and the Anishinabe of southern Manitoba.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia
Image: Canada location map.svg:derivative work: Yug (talk)Canada (geolocalisation).svg: STyxderivative work: Themightyquill [CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5), via Wikimedia Commons -
Treaty 3
Treaty signed between Government of Canada and the Salteaux band of Ojibwa peoples. A.K.A the North-west Angle Treaty. Provided Canada access to Salteaux territory in what is now northwestern Ontario and eastern Manitoba, in exchange for goods & Indigenous rights to hunting, fishing, and natural resources on reserve lands.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
Treaty 4
A.K.A: the Qu'Appelle Treaty. Signed between Cree, Saulteaux band of Ojibwa peoples, the Assiniboine and the Government of Canada. Treaty 4 ceded Indigenous lands in what is now southern Saskatchewan, and small parts of Southern Alberta and Western Manitoba, to Canada in exchange for payments, provisions, and rights to reserve lands.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
Treaty 5
A.K.A: the Winnipeg Treaty. Signed between the Government of Canada, Ojibwa peoples and the Swampy Cree of Lake Winnipeg. Covers much of what is now central and northern Manitoba, and small portions of Saskatchewan and Ontario.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
Treaty 6
Treaty agreement between Canada and Cree, Assiniboine, and Ojibwa peoples across central Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
Treaty 7
An agreement between Canada and the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Stoney-Nakoda, and Tsuut'ina Nations in Southern Alberta.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
Treaty 8
Signed by the Crown and First Nations in the Lesser Slave Lake area - what is now northern Alberta, northwest Saskatchewan, and parts of the Northwest Territories and B.C.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
Treaty 9
Treaty 9, A.K.A: the James Bay Treaty, covers most of what is now Ontario north of the Great Lakes. It was signed by Canada and the Cree and Ojibwa peoples in the area.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
Treaty 10
Treaty 10 was signed by Canada and Indigenous peoples in northern Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia
Image: Canada location map.svg:derivative work: Yug (talk)Canada (geolocalisation).svg: STyxderivative work: Themightyquill [CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5), via Wikimedia Commons -
Period: to
Treaty 11
The last of the numbered treaties, signed by Canada and the Dene, Gwich'in, Tlicho, Sahtu and others, covering land in what is now the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
Williams Treaties
Canada responds with a new deal for the Anishinaabeg of southern Ontario, who seek redress for a blank treaty signed in 1787. The Williams Treaties are believed by many to be the worst treaties ever negotiated in Canada.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: Ontario treaties map. Retrieved from The Canadian Encyclopedia -
League of Indians of Canada
The League of Indians of Canada is established by Mohawk activist Fred Ogilvie Loft to advocate for land rights due to fight against narrow interpretations of treaties.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: Fred Ogilvie Loft. Retrieved from: Canadian Museum of History -
Land Claims System Established
The Government of Canada creates two processes for redress, in response to the Calder Case and Indigenous activism: one for First Nations to argue treaties that haven't been honoured, and another for cases where no treaties exist.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: Frank Calder. Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
The Calder Case
One of the first treaty rights cases discussed in Supreme Court. Nisga'a Tribal Council President Frank Calder argues that his nation should still have title to land if no treaty exists. He lost the case, but Supreme Court acknowledges Aboriginal Title.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: Frank Calder. Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
The Cree and Innu in northern Quebec use outstanding land claims to block the province's exploitation of hydroelectric power. This is the first modern treaty to include Indigenous self-government.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: James Bay map. Source: NormanEinstein [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) ou GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], de Wikimedia Commons -
Aboriginal Rights in the Constitution
"recognition of existing aboriginal and treaty rights" is included in Section 35 of the patriated constitution. This begins a new era of land rights activism in the courts.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Source: RICHARD FOOT [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons -
Period: to
Land Disputes
Violent land disputes begin at Oka, Quebec; Gustafsen Lake, BC; Ipperwash, Ontario; and other places.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
Nisga'a Final Agreement
More than 20 years of negotiation results in a treaty for the Nisga'a: a legacy of Frank Calder.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: Frank Calder. Retrieved from: The Canadian Encyclopedia -
Creation of Nunavut
The creation of the territory of Nunavut is the result of a modern treaty, which allows the Inuit peoples land rights, self-government, and a place in Canadian Confederation.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: Nunavut map. Source: EOZyo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons -
Land Claims Agreements Coalition of Canada
Indigenous signatories of every modern treaty form a lobby group to demand that Canada honour treaty agreements, in response to implementation delays and failures.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: Land Claims Coalition logo. Retrieved from: Land Claims Agreements Coalition website -
Period: to
Supreme Court - Duty to Consult
The Supreme Court rules that any time development will affect community rights, the community must be consulted and their concerns must be addressed.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide -
Idle No More
Sustained national protests defend Indigenous lands in response to federal legislation that may further erode treaty rights. The movement spreads globally. Today Indigenous peoples & non-Indigenous allies still struggle to see treaties honored.
Retrieved from: Historic Canada Education Guide
Image: Idle No More movement. Source: r.a. paterson [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
