Treaty Basics
What is a treaty?
An agreement between Nations that establishes promises, relationships, rights and responsibilities.
What does “traditional territory” mean?
Land that an Indigenous Nation has historically lived on, cared for and maintained relationships with.
Treaties only affect Indigenous peoples.
False. Treaties involve relationships and responsibilities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
What week is Treaty Recognition Week in Ontario?
The First week of November
According to Thomas King, what is the main issue throughout Indigenous history?
Land
Name two groups involved in making historic treaties in Canada.
Indigenous Nations and the Crown/government.
Why is it important to know whose traditional territory you live on?
It helps us understand the history of the land and recognize the Indigenous Nations with longstanding relationships to it.
All Indigenous Nations have the same traditions, histories and relationships with land.
False First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities are diverse, and individual Nations have distinct histories, cultures and relationships with land.
In what year did Ontario establish Treaties Recognition Week?
2016
What three things does King say land contains?
What does the phrase “We are all Treaty people” mean?
Treaties create ongoing relationships and responsibilities that involve both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
What is a land acknowledgement intended to recognize?
To recognize the Indigenous peoples and Nations who have longstanding relationships with the land and our responsibilities within those relationships.
Treaties are only historical documents and have no importance today.
False. Treaty rights, promises and relationships continue to have significance today.
Were all treaties in Canada created at the same time?
No. Treaties were negotiated during different periods of Canadian history.
Why does King criticize the question “What do Indians want?”
Because the question treats Indigenous peoples as one single group instead of recognizing distinct Nations with different wants, needs and histories.
Name one responsibility people have when learning about treaties.
Answers may include learning treaty history, respecting treaty rights, listening to Indigenous perspectives, understanding responsibilities, or honouring treaty relationships.
Why should we learn the specific Nation connected to a territory instead of only saying “Indigenous peoples”?
Because Indigenous peoples are distinct Nations with different languages, cultures, histories, territories and treaty relationships.
Indigenous peoples always willingly gave up their land when treaties were signed.
False. Treaty-making involved complex circumstances, including differing understandings, pressures and power imbalances.
Why is it important to study treaties today rather than only as events from Canada's past?
Because treaty rights, responsibilities and relationships continue today and influence contemporary issues involving land, resources and Indigenous rights.
According to King, why did European settlers and governments continually want Indigenous land?
King argues that settlers wanted land and its resources, including opportunities for settlement, development and economic gain.
Explain one way treaties continue to affect relationships in Canada today.
Answers will vary. Students could discuss land use, Indigenous rights, resource development, education, government responsibilities, or relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
How could learning about the treaty connected to your own community change how you think about where you live?
Answers will vary but should demonstrate that knowing local treaty and territorial history can change how we understand our relationship and responsibilities to the place where we live.
Everyone living on treaty lands has responsibilities connected to those treaty relationships.
True
Why do you think Ontario created Treaty Recognition Week?
To increase awareness and understanding of treaties, treaty relationships and their continuing importance in Ontario.
Explain what Thomas King means when he says, “Land is home.”
Answers will vary. Students should recognize that King sees land as much more than property. Land is connected to culture, language, history, food, water, shelter, identity and belonging.