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Guest contributor: Moccasin Identifier Team

Initiated, designed, and led by Carolyn King and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Moccasin Identifier is a teaching tool and public awareness-building program for Treaty relationships between Indigenous and Non- Indigenous Canadians.

We have received requests to provide a description of the difference between historic and modern treaties. This article attempts to answer the question plus provide some additional background.

For terms of reference, historic treaties were made between 1701 and 1923. Historic treaties were marked in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and parts of British Columbia; the first modern treaty was signed in 1975.

Canada is renowned for the wealth and diversity of its natural resources and has long relied on royalties from extractive industries to contribute to the gross domestic product.  

“Governments derived $22 billion annually on average from the natural resource sectors during 2012-2016. There are 418 major resource projects under construction or planned over the next 10 years in Canada, worth $585 billion in investment.” [1]

Treaties are negotiated agreements that define the rights, responsibilities and relationships between Aboriginal groups and federal and provincial governments. The treaty system was a means by which the Crown gained sovereignty, without military intervention, over the west in order to open it up for settlers. In return for pledging allegiance to the Crown the chiefs and their communities received promises (each Treaty is different) in exchange for the majority of their land. The Constitution Act 1982 reaffirmed and upheld all historic treaties made between 1701 and 1923, as well as modern land claim settlements.

James B. (Jamie) Wilson is the former* Commissioner, Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. He is passionate about the importance of treaty education for all Canadians and believes very strongly that recognition that treaties have shaped this country and that all Canadians need to acknowledge that we all have treaty people. We were honoured to have the opportunity to talk to the Commissioner about his work and his goals as Commissioner.

James B. (Jamie) Wilson, B.A., U.S.T.C., M.Ed.  is the Commissioner, Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba

In an Opaskwayak Cree Nation family brimming with PhD holders, Jamie Wilson likes to refer to himself as the ‘underachiever’. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. Armed with a Masters degree in education administration, a fascinating military career as an elite Special Operations Ranger, and possessing a warrior spirit and a passion for education, Wilson is rapidly earning a reputation as one of Canada’s brightest, new Aboriginal leaders with a pragmatic, get-things-done attitude.

The history of extinguishment of First Nation title has its roots in old or historic treaties as shown from the excerpt below from Treaty 3, between Her Majesty the Queen and the Saulteau Tribe of the Ojibbbeway Indians, signed on October 3, 1873. It is plain to see the language of extinguishment - “cede, release, surrender”.

While other cultures used wampum, this article is primarily about the  Haudenosaunee usage.

Rainy Lake has always been important to the Anishinaabe of this region,” says Chief Janice Henderson of Mitaanjigamiing First Nation.
“The district needs to work harder to understand the history and the importance of reconciling the many claims and issues have had with the way land and resources have been dealt with by Ontario and Canada, and commit to supporting processes that deal fairly with them,” she added.

May 29, 2012, Traditional territory of Treaty No. 6…Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (Canada) have always had a unique relationship with the British Monarchy through the Treaties that were agreed to with the Crown. Treaty No.6 was entered with the Crown at Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan in 1876 and is central to a special celebration taken place next week. Onion Lake Cree Nation through its Treaty Governance Secretariat will be hosting an “historic” Treaty No.6 Summit from June 3-7, 2012. This big celebration will also coincide with Queen of England’s, Diamond Jubilee which marks the 60th year of her reign.