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numbered treaty
DCHP-2 (Jun 2016)
n. — First Nations
any of the 11 treaties signed between Canada and Aboriginal peoples between 1871 and 1929-30 (see Image 1).
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — This term is part of Canada's legal heritage. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, agreements were signed between a representative of the monarch and the chiefs of several First Nations bands. Though the different treaties were signed at different times for land across a very large area, the general understanding was that the Aboriginal peoples would give up their land rights in exchange for reserve lands as well as other goods, such as cash, farming assistance, schools, hunting and fishing rights, infrastructure, and allowances for supplies (worded as blankets and equipment for hunting, fishing and farming). In Treaty Six, for land in Alberta and Saskatchewan, there was a clause for a "medicine chest" for the use of First Nations, which is a provision for medical care (see the first 1989 quotation). Disputes have arisen over which services should be provided and which should not, which then-National Chief Georges Erasmus summarized in 1989 (see the second quotation). Chart 1 shows that the term is almost exclusively used in Canada. See also the Canada in the Making reference, "Numbered Treaty Overview".
COD-2 lists the term but does not label it "Cdn".
COD-2 lists the term but does not label it "Cdn".
Note that the 1973 quotation does not include the term, yet gives early acknowledgement in the public domain (The Globe and Mail) as to Aborigional peoples' land rights.
Quotations
1970
The Robinson treaties of the Eighteen-Fifties in Ontario established the pattern for the numbered treaties on the Prairies which saw the Government begin to promise more than money.
The numbered treaties promised schools on reserves (Treaty No. 1); to pay the salaries of teachers (Treaty No. 7); to provide farm equipment and stock (Treaty No. 3) and to provide a chest of medical supplies for Indians at the agent's office (Treaty No. 6).
1973
[Aboriginal rights can be defined as property rights which inure to native peoples by virtue of their being the original owners of lands. There is much historical evidence for recognition of these rights, one example being the land cession treaties in Canada between 1850 and 1923. The issue of aboriginal rights remains important for all Indians (125,000), Inuit (Eskimo) (17,000) and Metis (perhaps 150,000) people who did not surrender their rights through treaties.
Unsurrendered lands include almost all of British Columbia, the Yukon, Quebec and the Maritimes, as well as the part of the Northwest Territories traditionally used by the Inuit.]
1987
Why is it that in 1987, 224 years following the signing of the royal proclamation, 120 years following the British North America Act, and 118 years following the first of the numbered treaties, all legal statements acknowledging our relationship to native inhabitants, indigenous people of this country are still fighting for justice with the federal government?
1989
It is critical for the media to understand that the written word has, historically and to the present, been the major source of our distorted image. You only have to look at one of the treaties signed between Britain and various Indian nations to understand the tremendous impact the written tradition had on the oral tradition of our nations.
For the purpose of land cessation, our people were gathered together at assemblies with British officials. Treaties were read to the assembly through an interpreter and large tracts of land were literally "X'd" away. Since that time our people have struggled with learning the "secret of the talking paper". Now we have learned that secret and, still, we find ourselves in a position where we must continually justify, beyond reason, who we are and what we are trying to achieve for future generations. Our place in Canadian society is absolutely justifiable. What is not justifiable is the present government's lack of political goodwill.
1989
Mr. Mustus is one of the 300,000 Indians in Western Canada whose ancestors smoked peace pipes and then signed 10 numbered treaties with Queen Victoria's representatives.
In return for a promise to stop fighting and surrender title to enormous tracts of land between the 49th and 60th parallels, "Her Most Gracious Majesty" and the Dominion of Canada agreed to "lay aside reserves" for Indians, "maintain schools for instruction in such reserves" and provide them with "a medicine chest."
1996
When Indian governments squabble with federal and provincial governments, treaties invariably play a part in the dispute. The three parties often have different interpretations of the documents and the benefits and rights they confer to Indians.
Of the 11 numbered treaties, three were signed in Saskatchewan.
It will be up to Arnot to provide some enlightenment and guidance. He takes office next week.
2005
Chiefs representing the approximately 200 bands in the 11 agreements known as numbered treaties, which cover Northern Ontario, the Prairies and parts of British Columbia and the territories, announced that they will attempt to speak through their own representatives in Kelowna as part of the Alberta government's delegation.
The numbered treaties, signed by Ottawa and natives between 1871 and 1921, granted the federal government large tracts of land throughout the Prairies, the North and northwestern Ontario for white settlement and industrial use in exchange for promises of items including cash, blankets, tools and farming supplies.
2013
"The fact is that if you take a close look at the history, it was actually First Nations that advised the representative of the Queen, William Johnson, they actually advised this guy about what kind of things it would take to resolve their issues and he took that back to England," said Stonechild.
He said the proclamation is important today as it was two and a half centuries ago.
"Even though it was negotiated around the Great Lakes area, it applies to all of Canada," said Stonechild. "It is the basis of all treaties in Canada ... The numbered treaties are probably the best known."
He said it is equally important to all Canadians because of it helped create the rights and freedoms of all Canadians.
References
- Canada in the Making • "Numbered Treaty Overview"
- COD-2
Images
Image 1: Locations of the numbered treaties (Source: Wikimedia Commons. Map: Themightyquill)
