Robinson Treaties and Indigenous Rights Quiz

Two treaties, the Robinson Superior Treaty and the Robinson Huron Treaty, signed in 1850 between Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) chiefs representing First Nations around Lake Superior and Lake Huron, and British representative William Benjamin Robinson.

The treaties aimed to address growing tensions between settlers and First Nations over access to resources, particularly mining opportunities in the territories around Lake Superior and Lake Huron.

In exchange for a large territory north of Lakes Superior and Huron, First Nations received annual payments, 24 designated reserves to live on, and continued hunting and fishing rights within the ceded territory.

These treaties were groundbreaking as they were the first agreements of their kind, establishing a precedent for future First Nations treaties.

The Act for the Better Protection of the Lands and Property of Indians in Lower Canada aimed to clarify land rights and ownership for First Nations in British North America, particularly in relation to reserve lands.

The Act aimed to ensure that reserve lands were held in trust by the government

The Act introduced the concept of "legal Indian", defining individuals as First Nations based on their lineage (blood) and cultural affiliation, or through marriage to a First Nations person.

This Act marked a significant step in government efforts to formalize and define Indigenous land rights and identities within British North America.

Encouraging First Nations people to abandon their identity and become assimilated into Canadian society.

The Métis Nation was formed by the intermarriage between European fur traders and First Nations women. They had both First Nations and European ancestry.

The Hudson's Bay Company, a powerful British corporation, controlled the fur trade in Rupert's Land, the territory that would later become Manitoba.

The Canadian government's desire to expand its territory westward led to the displacement and disruption of First Nations and Métis communities, who had inhabited the land for generations.

The Métis people's traditional lifestyle, which relied heavily on the buffalo hunt and fur trade, was disrupted by the arrival of European settlers and the changing economic landscape.

The Métis people, who numbered approximately 10,000 in 1870, had no representation in the government that was established after the transfer of Rupert's Land.

The Red River Resistance of 1869 was a rebellion led by Louis Riel and the Métis people in response to the unfair treatment they faced by the Canadian government.

The Manitoba Act of 1870 was signed after the Red River Resistance, providing Manitoba with provincial status. However, it failed to address the Métis land rights and concerns.

The Canadian government sent expeditions to the Arctic to claim it for Canada. Explorers marked the land by raising flags or placing plaques.

When the government sold Rupert's Land to Britain, then to Canada, they ignored the opinions and rights of the Indigenous people.

After Treaty 3 was signed, Indigenous reserve lands were created, causing tension between the federal and provincial governments over who had control over the land.

The St.Catharine's Milling Case was a legal dispute over who had the right to grant a logging license on Indigenous reserve lands. The decision established the federal government's authority to negotiate land use with Indigenous peoples.

The St.Catharine's Milling Case ruled that First Nations land rights depended on the government's 'goodwill'. This meant Indigenous people could only use their land if the government allowed it.

Canada's Indigenous peoples made treaties with the British, becoming especially important during times of war.

The period when Indigenous peoples were forced off their lands and moved onto reserves.

Indigenous people lost their traditional land and were moved to reserves during a certain period.

Treaty #4 was signed in 1874 by the Cree, Saulteaux (Ojibwa), and Assiniboine First Nations people, with promises from the Canadian government regarding land, resources, and financial support.

One of the treaty's promises was the government providing each family with a specific plot of land for their own use, with the goal of transitioning from traditional ways of life to agriculture.

As part of the treaty, Indigenous peoples were given the right to hunt, fish, and trap on their traditional lands, but only if the land wasn't being used for specific developments like agriculture, forestry, mining, or settlement.

Beyond land, the treaty promised each community member a monetary payment upon signing, with the intention to help them get a head start on their new way of life.

Treaty #4 promised annual monetary payments, to help the First Nations communities continue thriving despite the transition to agriculture.

The treaty promised to build schools on the reserves, with the objective of helping the First Nations people learn and preserve their culture while adapting.

Treaty #4 included an area called 'Treaty Ground' for holding official business, acting as a designated space for communication and interaction with the government.

Despite the treaty's promises, numerous disagreements arose between the First Nations and the government regarding the fulfillment of the treaty's promises.

The Manitoba Act of 1870 was a legal agreement between the Red River Métis and the British Crown, promising the Métis protection and land in exchange for joining Canada.

The Manitoba Act promised a large tract of land (1.4 million acres) to Métis children born before July 15, 1870, with each child receiving 240 acres.

Instead of giving the promised land directly, the Canadian government issued scrip to the Métis. This scrip could be exchanged for land or money, but in exchange, the Métis had to give up their Indigenous status.

The Indian Act of 1876 was a law designed to define and control First Nations people in Canada. It established a government-defined status of 'Indian' based on registration, living on reserves, and blood quantum.

The Indian Act of 1876 replaced two earlier laws (Gradualf Civilization Act and Gradual Enfranchisement Act) and aimed to assert Canadian government control over First Nations.

To be considered 'Indian' under the Act, First Nations people had to be registered, live on a reserve, and prove their blood connection to other Indigenous people.

The 'Indian' status granted by the Act was not permanent; it could be lost or revoked, highlighting the government's control over Indigenous identities.

The relationship between European settlers and Indigenous people changed over time. Initially, Europeans relied on Indigenous knowledge, but after the War of 1812, the need for alliances decreased, leading to the Indian Act.

Treaty 7, signed in 1877 between the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Stoney-Nakoda, Tsuutina, and the Government of Canada, ceded a vast amount of land in Alberta to the Canadian government. In exchange, the First Nations received reserves, annual payments, and rights to continue hunting, fishing, and trapping.

Before signing Treaty 7, these First Nations experienced hardships like smallpox outbreaks and a decline in buffalo herds, which were crucial to their traditional way of life.

The Government of Canada, aiming to build a railroad from sea to sea, needed access to land belonging to First Nations. Treaty 7 facilitated this, but the government was also obligated to protect Indigenous rights as stipulated by the Royal Proclamation of 1763.

Each family of five received 6.47 km² of land, and all communities were relocated to reserves. They also received a one-time payment of $12 per community member, annual payments of $5 (more for those with higher status), and gifts for chiefs.

Treaty 7 also promised schools on the reserves with government-funded teachers, tools, ammunition, and livestock to support farming. First Nations were granted the right to hunt and fish, but only in areas not needed by the government.

The government failed to fully fulfill its promises, such as helping First Nations transition from hunting and fishing to farming. Additionally, many Indigenous groups were unaware that they were signing over all rights to their land.

The government's actions, coupled with the lack of understanding about treaty implications, resulted in a situation where First Nations communities felt they were not adequately supported in transitioning to a new way of life.

Treaty 7, like many other treaties, highlights the complex historical relationship between First Nations and the Canadian government. It emphasizes the importance of understanding Indigenous perspectives and treaty obligations in seeking reconciliation and a fairer future.