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Treaty Process in Canada
Please note that only years are accurate in this timeline. The fields for day and month could not be left blank so January 1st was chosen in every case -
The Royal Proclamation
Read more about the Royal Proclamation here. Read more about the Royal Proclamation and its implications here</a>The Royal Proclamation established important principles regarding the relationship between the government and aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal people were nations who had title to their lands and must be farily recompensed if their land was used. It further established that only the British government could buy Aboriginal land or sign treaties for land. The Royal Proclamation is still referred to today. -
Upper Canada Treaties
1781-1836 The Upper Canada Treaties were signed and include 27 land cessions in Southern Ontario. Many were with native soldiers who were allied with the British during the American Revolutionary War including Joseph Brant. -
The Robinson Treaties
Two treaties signed with the Ojibway in Ontario. The Aboriginal people gave up rights to the land in exchange for money, reserve lands and rights to hunting, fishing and trapping. -
The Vancouver Island Treaties
1850-1854 Fourteen treaties were signed with many of the First Nations of Vancouver island. Rights to territory were given up in exchange for reserve lands, sums of cash and the right to hunt and fish off the reserve lands. -
The Constitution Act (The British North America Act)
Read more here on how the act that created Canada affected its relationship with Aboriginal people In this act of the British parliament that created Canada, the division of responsibilities and powers was established. Aboriginal people were put under the jurisdiction of the federal government while resources were placed under the control of the provinces. -
"The Act for the Gradual Civilization of the Indians"
THe federal government announces its intention with this act to embark on a policy of assimilation of Aboriginal people. Assimilation is "to absorb people into a larger social group". -
Treaties 1 and 2
Signed with the Chippewa and the Cree, it included relinquishing rights to land in exchange for $3 per person, reserve lands and a school in every reserve. -
Treaty No. 3
In return for giving up title to traditional lands, the Saulteau received reserve lands, the right to hunt, fish and trap in unoccupied lands, $12 per person with another $5 annually, twine, farm implements, tools and livestock, and a school on each reserve. -
Treaty No 4
For giving up title to traditional lands, the Saulteaux with whom this treaty was signed got reserve lands, the right to hunt, fish and trap in unoccupied territory, $12 per person plus $5 more annually, ammunition, twine, tools, farm implements and livestock, and a school for each reserve. -
Treaty No 5
Between Saulteaux and Cree tribes, the terms of this treaty are almost identical to those of Treaty 3 and 4. -
Treaty No. 6
Negotiated between the Crown and Cree, Saulteaux, Assiniboine and Chipewyan Frist Nations, the terms of this treaty were very similar to 3, 4 and 5 with the addition of a "medicine chest". -
The Indian Act
[Read more about the Indian Act and other legal measures here](www.mapleleafweb.com/features/the-indian-act-historical-overview#early)The Indian Act was passed into law by the Canadian government in 1876. This act profoundly changed the lives of the Aboriginal people of Canada. They were no longer sovereign allies whose assitance was valued,. Now they were viewed as a nuisance and hinderance to the government of Canada especially in western settlement. Under this act they became wards of the state with every aspect of their lives controlled and dictated by the federal government. The aim now was assimilation. -
Treaty No 7
Negotiated between the Crown and Blackfoot, Blood, Piegan, Sarcee and Stoney First Nations, the terms of this treaty are very similar to those of earlier numbered treaties except that a school was not requested but funds for school teacher's salaries was. -
Residential Schools
[Read more about Canada's residential schools and their negative impact here. ](www.wherearethechildren.ca/en/blackboard/index.html)While there had been schools for Aboriginal people prior to 1883, that date marks the first schools opened by the federal government taking their guiding principles from the Indian Act. The schools were funded by the government but operated by a major Christian denominations. Students at these schools were severely punished for speaking native languages. The aim of the schools was to Christianize Aboriginal people and to teach basic skills. The effect of these schools was devestating. -
The Northwest Rebellion
Read more about the Northwest Rebellion here. A Metis rebellion against the Canadian government over Metis rights and land claims. It split the nation based on issues of language, religion and race. Louis Riel was tried and executed. -
Treaty No 8
This treaty was negotiated between some Cree and Dene (Beaver and Chipewyan) First Nations and the Crown and had the same terms as Treaty No. 7. Up to 1914, the Slavey, Dogrib and Yellowknives were adhered or added. -
Treaty No 9, The James Bay Treaty
Negotiated between Cree and Ojibway First Nations and the Crown, the terms were very similar to previous treaties. A unique aspect of these negotiations was that the federal government added provinical government approval for the first time. -
Treaty No 10
This treaty was much the same as other treaties except that instead of farming implements and tools farming assistance is specified and instead of teacher's salaries, the wording is the education of Indian children "as may from time to time be deemed advisable". This treaty was negotiated between the Crown and Cree and Chipewyan First Nations. -
Treaty No 11
The reason why this treaty negotiation occurred so much later than others was that the area was considered unfit for agriculture. However in 1920, Imperial Oil discovered oil in the region and negotiations were begun with the Dene groups (Slave, Tlicho, Gwich'in and Hare). Their treaty's terms are the same as those of Treaty 7. -
The WIlliams Treaties
Read more about the Williams Treaties here. These treaties were undertaken to clean up oustanding land claims in Southern and Central Ontario. -
The White Paper
Read more about the White Paper here. In 1969, the Canadian government proposed repealing the Indian Act and transfering responsibility for Indian affairs to provinces. The paper proposed the elimination of Indian status. Aboriginal Canadians repsonded vigourously and with displeasure. -
The Calder Case
Read more about the Calder Case here. Frank Calder and other Nisga'a elders brought this case to court, claiming that their rights to traditional lands had never been extinguished. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. While the court's judges were split on their decision, they did establish that Aboriginal title to land did exist at the time of the Royal Proclamation. -
James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
Read more about the James Bay Agreement here. The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement is the first modern treaty. When the Quebec government wanted to build a massive hydro electric project in Northern Quebec that would massively change local ecosystems, Cree and Inuit peoples stepped in to stop them. The Quebec government was forced to negotiate an agreement before they could go ahead with the development. -
Last Residential School Closes
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The Sparrow Judgement
Read more about the Sparrow Judgement here. In this judgement, the Supreme Court recognized that aboriginal people have the right to carry out certain subsistence activities and that this right takes priorty over the interests of other groups. -
The Creation of Nunavut
Learn more about the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement here. The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement results in the creation of a new territory carved out of the North West Territories. Providing $1 billion over 14 years and a form of self government since the population of the territory is 85% Inuit, this was a landmark worldwide in aboriginal land rights.
