 | In 1973 the First Nations of Treaty No. 9 formed the political organization known as Grand Council Treaty No. 9 to advocate on the issues that were common to them. Treaty No. 5 First Nations also joined and the name was changed to Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Click here for larger view of map. |
Two Different Understandings of the Treaty
There is very little agreement between the treaty partners, (NAN First Nations, Canada, and Ontario) as to what the Treaties mean today.
The Cree and Ojibway firmly believed that they signed treaties that afforded them protection and assistance from a benevolent king as well as a land sharing and resource sharing arrangement. The First Nations assert that they never gave up their land or their right to govern themselves. Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) leaders assert that the act of entering treaty represented recognition of their nationhood. The NAN First Nations state that they agreed to oral promises when they signed their treaties, may of which do not find expression in the Treaty text. This treaty understanding is passed down through the Elders in the oral transmission and tradition.
The Crown, on the other hand, saw the Treaty as a necessary step towards completely removing Indian title. The Dominion of Canada wanted to fulfill an ambitious political vision to expand its transportation, settlement and industrial networks and needed to sign treaties with the remaining Aboriginal nations who had not yet entered into these arrangements. The crown governments (Ontario and Canada) rely solely on the textual version of the treaty terms, the main feature of which is the surrender of a landmass in Northern Ontario encompassing 250,000 square miles.
These and other disagreements on what the treaty means is the legacy that has endured and which has yet to be sorted out amongst the parties. Over a century later, the treaty partners are still struggling with the two polarized perspectives on the treaty. These two different understandings of the treaties is impacting First Nations and their treaty partners in many areas, but especially in the area of lands and resources. The Crown believes that it has jurisdiction on the land, whereas First Nations believe that the creator made them stewards of the land, water animals and resources on their homelands and traditional territories.
During the James Bay Treaty No. 9 100 year commemoration ceremonies, the Province of Ontario indicated that it wished to develop a new relationship with NAN First Nations and all First Nations in Ontario. The NAN Chiefs were also seeking a better relationship with Ontario and Canada. Oski-Machiitawin (New Beginning) process evolved out of the mutual desire for a better relationship and new forum for dialogue between NAN and Ontario.
