Numbered Treaties

Social Studies 9

Chapter 4

What are numbered treaties?

The beginning of the numbered treaties are in the Royal Proclamation of 1763.

Britain made the proclamation at the end of the Seven Years’ War as it attempted to gain control over North America (formerly New France)

The proclamation recognized First Nations’ rights to land and established the principle of making treaties with First Nations through peaceful negotiations.

Other laws also affect the collective rights of First Nations, like the Indian Act and the constitution.

British Monarchs and The Treaties

The Numbered Treaties were between the British monarchs and First Nations.

Under the treaties, First Nations agreed to share land and resources in peace.

Canada’s government later agreed to the terms covering First Nations’ education, reserves, annuities, hunting and fishing rights, etc..

The terms differ among the eleven treaties.

The Numbered Treaties

Create a definition for the following: Reservation:

Land for the exclusive use of First Nations

Annuity: An annual payment: Treaty 7 = $5.00

  Affirmation:

Something declared to be true

The Treaty Terms I believe are still relevant today are…

The Treaty Terms I believe should no longer be granted are…

The Numbered Treaties

How hard has the Canadian Government worked to affirm First

Nation’s rights?

Timeline of the Numbered TreatiesAffirmed FirstNations Rights

Threatened FirstNations Rights

The Indian Act was created in 1876 It allowed the government to make laws for First

Nations without consulting them. Demonstrates the belief that European ways were

superior (ethnocentrism) Government appointed “Indian Agents” were to

speak on behalf of the first nations. The original aim was to assimilate First Nations

into a European culture Residential schools and laws banning aboriginal

traditions were used to do this!

The Indian Act

Wanted to remove the Indian Act.

Wanted to remove collective rights and grant aboriginals the same rights as all other Canadians.

The White Paper on Indian Policy - 1969

Recognizes First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples as Aboriginal peoples, and recognizes their existing Treaty and Aboriginal rights.

This means the Numbered Treaties are Entrenched in our Constitution

Section 35 of the Charter…

The act has been revised a number of times to update/modernize it. Read pages 138. What issues are revealed in regards to updating the

Indian Act?

Modernizing the Indian Act

For First Nations, the Numbered Treaties are sacred — nation-to nation agreements, solemnly made, that cannot be changed without their agreement.

Treaty rights and citizenship go together for First Nations now, in the past and into the future.

Final Thoughts…