Page 74 - Moose Deer Point First Nation

4. Numbered Treaties
72 Moose Deer Point First Nation
ogemawahj_community_book6.indd
Historical Perspective
The Canadian government wished to finalize and consolidate
agreements between First Nations and the Crown in terms of
the ownership and land use in order to legally clear the way for
expansion and settlement of Canada. Many treaties were signed
with different First Nations covering the rich farming lands along
the North shore of Lake Ontario. Often these treaties were given
numbers and not names (e.g., Treaty 3). The “Indians” involved did
not initiate treaties nor did they greatly influence the terms.
Features
“Indians” agreed to release rights to land to the Crown. The
Crown agreed to provide cash settlements and/or annual
payments, certain educational rights, and reserves for the
exclusive use and occupation of traditional hunting and
fishing rights.
Implications for First Nations Peoples
Circumstances existing at the time of the signing of the treaties
and interpretations of the treaties have led to disagreement
between First Nations and the Government. For example, there
is a perception that in signing these treaties, First Nations
relinquished their sovereignty and status as a “nation.” First
Nations are working to change this perception, pointing out that
treaties, by definition, are agreements between nations. Treaties
were not always honoured by the Government in certain areas
(i.e., cash settlements/annual payments were not observed; the
wrongful taking of lands).
72 2019-02-27 11:44 AM