Treaties: Home
Find information to learn about treaties between Indigenous nations and Canada, with a focus on Winnipeg and Manitoba.
On Treaty land
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."
- 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.
- From the Library catalogue | Books related to the topic of treaties in CanadaPlace requests online when you log in with your Library account number, or by phoning 204-986-6450.
About Treaties
- What is a Treaty?SOURCE: Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
- 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)
- TreatiesSOURCE: Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. author: Jocelyn Joe-Strack
- 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
Treaty medal cast to commemorate Treaty 1. Medal circa 1873.
Image source: Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
SOURCE: City of Winnipeg Indigenous Relations Division
SUMMARY: "The Indigenous Relations Division had the privilege to sit down with Elder Ruth Norton (Sagkeeng First Nation) to get her perspective on Treaty No. 1 and the Treaty relationship."
- 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
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 Aime 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.
- The Sesquicentennial of Treaty 1
SOURCE: Active History. Author: Paul Burrows
Treaty Rights
- "Aboriginal and Treaty Rights" - Chapter 5, Report of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of ManitobaA basic overview of Aboriginal and Treaty rights. See, especially, these sections:
*The Evolving Law on Aboriginal and Treaty Rights
-Introduction
-The Legal Authority to Enter into Treaties
-The Manitoba Treaties
-The Relationship of Treaties to the Indian Act
-Problems with the Validity and Text of Treaties
Treaty organizations in Manitoba
- 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."
- 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."
- 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."
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.
A First Nations Perspective on Treaties with Elder Harry Bone
SOURCE: Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
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.
"Our Treaty Relatives" Sylvia McAdam
Part of Sylvia McAdam's Cree Teachings series of videos. 2014.
An Elder's Perspective with Elder Florence Paynter
SOURCE: Canada's History Society. Created in collaboration with the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
"The Gift of the Treaties" Nigaanwewidam James Sinclair
Delivered at Circle of Life Thunderbird House, Winnipeg. 2014.
Maps
- Map of the Numbered Treaties [in Manitoba]SOURCE: Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
- Maps of Treaty-Making in CanadaSOURCE: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
- 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.
For more in-depth research
- 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."
- 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."
- 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."