Treaties: Home
Find information to learn about treaties between Indigenous nations and Canada, with a focus on Winnipeg and Manitoba.
Welcome.
This guide shares information to help begin to learn about treaties between Indigenous nations and Canada. It also shares resources that can be helpful for doing more in-depth research.
Winnipeg is located within the boundaries of Treaty 1, signed August 3, 1871 at Lower Fort Garry. Treaty 1 is also known as "the Stone Fort Treaty."
This guide is reviewed regularly. Check back for additions and updates. Upcoming sections of the Guide include treaty rights, treaty land entitlement and modern day treaties.
/ February, 2021
image: Treaty medal cast to commemorate Treaty 1. Medal circa 1873.
image credit: Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
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Catalogue search
Search our main catalogue for items in our library branches across the city. Place requests online when you log in with your Library account number, or by calling us at 204-986-6450.
Treaty-related organizations in Manitoba
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Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba"The Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba is a neutral body with a mandate to strengthen, rebuild and enhance the treaty relationship with mutual respect between First Nations and Manitobans."
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Treaty Land Entitlement Committee of Manitoba Inc."The Treaty Land Entitlement Committee of Manitoba represents Manitoba First Nations who have signed the Manitoba Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement (1997) to settle treaty-based debts owed by the Government of Canada."
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Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba Inc."Established by the National Indian Brotherhood in 1982 as a non-profit research organization, the T.A.R.R. Centre specializes in research related to Treaty Rights, Aboriginal Rights, Treaty Land Entitlement, Claims Policy Reform, First Nation History, Indian Trust Funds and land claims."
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Treaty One Development Corporation"The mission of Treaty One Development Corporation is to advance the economic and social well-being of the citizens of Treaty One."
"Treaty One Development Corporation was registered as a corporation on July 12, 2018. Directors of the corporation are the Chiefs of the seven First Nations signatory to Treaty One:
Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation
Long Plain First Nation
Peguis First Nation
Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation
Sagkeeng First Nation
Sandy Bay First Nation
Swan Lake First Nation"
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What is a Treaty?SOURCE: Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
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The Numbered Treaties Western Canada’s Treaties were intended to provide frameworks for respectful coexistence.SOURCE: Canada's History [magazine]. author: Wabi Benais Mistatim Equay (Cynthia Bird)
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TreatiesSOURCE: Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. author: Jocelyn Joe-Strack
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Historic Treaties, Aboriginal Affairs and North Development CanadaSOURCE: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Government of Canada.
SUMMARY: Information about more than 70 historical treaties negotiated with First Nations between 1701 and 1923, including original texts, archival images of signing ceremonies, a timeline of treaty-making in Canada, and guides to specific treaties.
About Treaty Number One
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Breathing Life into the Stone Fort Treaty by Publication Date: 2013In order to interpret and implement a treaty between the Crown and Canada's First Nations, we must look to its spirit and intent, and consider what was contemplated by the parties at the time the treaty was negotiated, argues Aim#65533;e Craft. Using a detailed analysis of Treaty One - today covering what is southern Manitoba - she illustrates how negotiations were defined by Anishinabe laws (inaakonigewin), which included the relationship to the land, the attendance of all jurisdictions' participants, and the rooting of the treaty relationship in kinship. While the focus of this book is on Treaty One, Anishinabe laws (inaakonigewin) defined the settler-Anishinabe relationship well before this, and the principles of interpretation apply equally to all treaties with First Nations.
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Treaty Texts - Treaties No. 1 and No. 2SOURCE: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Government of Canada.
SUMMARY: The complete texts of Treaties 1 and 2. -
Treaty Research Report Treaty One and Treaty Two (1871)SOURCE: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Government of Canada. Report by Wayne E. Daugherty, Treaties and Historical Research Centre Research Branch, Corporate Policy, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 1983
Maps
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Map of the Numbered Treaties [in Manitoba]SOURCE: Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
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Maps of Treaty-Making in CanadaSOURCE: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
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Historical Indian Treaties, Natural Resources CanadaSOURCE: Open Government portal, Government of Canada. Maps produced by the National Research Council, National Atlas of Canada 6th edition.
What are treaties and why are treaties still relevant?
SOURCE: University of Manitoba
featuring: Elder Harry Bone, Dr. Jean Friesen, Jamie Wilson, (now former) Treaty Relations Commissioner of Manitoba, and Ovide Mercredi
running time: approximately 2 hours, including question and answer period
"The Gift of the Treaties" Nigaanwewidam James Sinclair
Delivered at Circle of Life Thunderbird House, Winnipeg. 2014.
running time: approximately 48 minutes
A First Nations Perspective on Treaties with Elder Harry Bone
SOURCE: Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
running time: approximately 36 minutes
An Elder's Perspective with Elder Florence Paynter
SOURCE: Canada's History Society. Created in collaboration with the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
running time: approximately 44 minutes
A Geographical Perspective on the Numbered Treaties in Canada
SOURCE: Canada's History Society. Presented by Connie Wyatt Anderson. Created in collaboration with the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
running time: approximately 54 minutes
"Our Treaty Relatives" Sylvia McAdam
Part of Sylvia McAdam's Cree Teachings series of videos. 2014.
running time: approximately 8 minutes
For more in-depth research
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Treaty Research Reports, Aboriginal Affairs and North Development CanadaSOURCE: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
SUMMARY: ..."ead historical interpretations of treaties the Crown has signed with Aboriginal peoples since the 18th century."
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Aboriginal and Treaty Rights Information SystemSOURCE: Government of Canada
SUMMARY: "ATRIS is a Web-based information system intended to map out the location of Aboriginal communities and display information pertaining to their potential or established Aboriginal or treaty rights."
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Treaties, Surrenders and Agreements - Library and Archives CanadaSOURCE: Library and Archives Canada
SUMMARY: "About the Database: Library and Archives Canada (LAC) holds an extensive, but not a complete, collection of historic Canadian Indian treaties, land surrenders, and related agreements. The collection contains documents that span more than 275 years, including a May 1680 seigneurial grant to the Jesuits in New France and a 1956 adhesion to western Treaty 6 (1876).
This series of documents is part of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development fonds and consists of various treaties, surrenders and agreements." -
National Treaties 1-11 Gathering – Reports [2005-2012]SOURCE: Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
SUMMARY: "The Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba (TRCM) in partnership with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC), collaborated with Elder Marion Meadmore to compile a history of presentations, speaking notes, agendas and background material on the Treaties 1-11 Gathering from 2005 – 2012."