TREATIES

Treaties are formal agreements made between Indigenous Nations and the Crown, based on peace and friendship. They are binding legal contracts outlining mutual responsibilities …. and they exist today! The Crown entered these agreements recognizing Indigenous Nations as independent peoples; understanding treaties helps to understand the relationship between Indigenous Nations and the Crown.

• Treaties were agreements made to share the land.

• Establish peaceful alliances.

• Define rights and responsibilities by setting terms for harmonious co-existence.

Treaties remind us that this land was not uninhabited, Turtle Island has been home to many thriving Indigenous populations who had their own languages, laws and customs since time immemorial.