Treaties with First Nations

1. Treaties with First Nations The Prairies

2. Canadian g’ment wanted to open the prairies to settlers • Only possible once the question of aboriginal title had been settled • By 1870: all land in NW (except Selkirk settlement) held by FN’s • FN’s wanted to make the best deal for their future • 1870: Canadian g’ment began negotiating treaties with FN’s • Department of Indian Affairs • Indian Commissioner W. Simpson

3. By 1877: Can. G’ment had gained access to all the suitable land for agriculture • G’ment wanted to concluded treaty process ASAP • G’ment promised to give FN’s farm equipment and training in exchange for land/ signing treaties • FN peoples welcomed prospect of becoming farmers • Trad. lifestyle threatened due to decreasing bison herds • Can. G’ment blamed the FN as justification for not holding up their end of the deal • Can. G’ment thought process had gone well

4. Simpson sent to MB to begin talks with the Cree and Saulteaux peoples • Little room for negotiation • FN’s signed away their claims to their traditional homelands • Reserves set aside for FN peoples were tiny • Can. G’ment had no intention of living up to promises

5. The Indian Act • 1876 • Confirmed FN would be required to live on reserves • Stipulated that FN children would have to attend residential shools • During treaty process, FN not informed about the Indian Act

6. Missionaries • G’ment used Catholic missionaries as translators • Encouraged FN to sign treaties • Didn’t want FN to starve • Wanted FN to become productive members of society • Neither g’ment nor missionaries considered the cultural destruction that accompanied plan • NWMP summoned to escort FN to reserves • Course of Can. History altered forever

7. The treaties • Treaty 1: August 3, 1871 • Treaty 2: August 21, 1871 • Treaty 3: 1873 • Treaty 4: September 25, 1874 • Treaty 5: September 20-4, 1875 • Treaty 6: August-September, 1876-1899 • Treaty 7: September 22, 1877