Many First Nations are preparing to mark significant anniversaries in their treaty relationships with the Crown in the coming years. But a document prepared by officials says Ottawa has no plan to commemorate the signing of those treaties.
The document indicates that between 2021 and 2027, nine of the eleven “numbered treaties” that the Crown has signed with First Nations leaders reach a significant milestone. “Treaties 1 to 7 were or will be 150 years old, Treaty 8 will be 125 years old (in 2024) and Treaty 11 was 100 years old,” the briefing notes.
The memo was prepared for a senior official in the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations, which is responsible for settling land negotiations. It was obtained in part by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.
The memo describes how the department has worked with Canadian Heritage over the past year, “given the high volume of upcoming treaty anniversaries” and the fact that it is receiving requests for funding. It is the Department of Heritage that is responsible for planning and funding historical and cultural events in the country.
Through these “numbered treaties”, negotiated between 1871 and 1921, the Canadian government gained access to large tracts of land for the settlement of the Northwest Territories and northern British Columbia, the Prairies and most of Ontario to the north.
In return, First Nations communities received “reserve lands” and the permanent right to hunt and fish on unoccupied Crown land. These communities were also to receive compensation and other rights which, according to many First Nations leaders and communities, were never fully honoured.
Aaron Mills, a McGill University professor specializing in Indigenous law and originally from Couchiching First Nation, Ontario, says it’s important to recognize that for Indigenous people, treaties are seen as ‘living relationships’ , and not just as contracts.
In the memo, government officials from the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations point out that commemorating the signing of these treaties would be “visible markers of reconciliation” in the country. “Furthermore, (these commemorations) have the potential to have a high impact in promoting reconciliation, at relatively low cost. »
Nunavut turns 25 in 2024
The briefing note, dated November 2021, says that in addition to these historic agreements, some modern treaties will also achieve significant milestones, including for Nunavut, a Canadian territory that will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2024.
The final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada urged Ottawa, among other things, to develop with “survivors, Indigenous organizations and members of the arts community a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and cultural activities. of commemoration,” the officials recall.
“Treaty First Nations have continually called on the federal government to better recognize and commemorate these treaties,” reads the ministerial memo. “Treaty commissioners from Saskatchewan and Manitoba have also called for a greater federal role in organizing and funding treaty commemoration. »
Officials say that to date, Ottawa’s role in helping to highlight such events has been limited, in part due to the fact that there is no dedicated funding source. The briefing note also suggests that there are problems with the programs offered by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
“Current funding levels are not sufficient to handle the potential number of treaty commemoration proposals, as there are over 150 treaty First Nations and Indigenous organizations that could potentially seek access to these programs. »
Officials added that, based on their meetings, they found that “no federal department currently has a plan for treaty commemorations or funding for upcoming treaty anniversaries,” with only limited support available. . They recommended that the ministries work to find an approach for the commemorations.
Educating Canadians
According to Professor Mills, Canadians in general do not know much about treaties. He thinks that marking important anniversaries, like the centenary of a treaty, could be done in a way that it becomes important to those who are not indigenous.
“What we could do is recognize the mistakes made so far and commit to correcting the situation […] and if aboriginal people could be present in this way — I would be there — I would find that to be a really honorable and worthwhile goal,” he says. Our federal government, in particular, should be the first to have this kind of dialogue with non-Aboriginal Canadians. »
In a statement Monday evening, a spokesperson for Canadian Heritage did not address the funding issues raised by government officials, but listed the programs under which money for treaty commemorations can be obtained.
Daniel Savoie said these programs provided funding for last year’s anniversaries of the signing of Treaties 1 and 2 in Manitoba, and Treaty 11 in the territories.
However, the briefing note singled out these events, saying they should not be taken as benchmarks, as the COVID-19 pandemic has limited their magnitude. Additionally, officials said the events received “limited funding” from Canadian Heritage and other agencies.
“The lack of clear financial authorities and a dedicated source of funds has limited the Government of Canada’s ability to more fully support the commemorations,” the document reads.