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The Impact of Treaties with First Nations on Prairie Settlement in Canada

Between 1870 and 1899, the Canadian government negotiated treaties with First Nations to obtain access to fertile prairie lands. With all land in the Northwest held by Indigenous peoples, the government sought to resolve the question of Aboriginal title. Promises were made for farming equipment and training in return for land. However, many First Nations signed away their traditional homelands, often uninformed about the Indian Act of 1876, which confined them to tiny reserves and mandated residential schooling. This treaty process significantly altered the course of Canadian history.

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The Impact of Treaties with First Nations on Prairie Settlement in Canada

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  1. Treaties with First Nations The Prairies

  2. Canadian g’ment wanted to open the prairies to settlers • Only possible once the question of aboriginal title had been settled • By 1870: all land in NW (except Selkirk settlement) held by FN’s • FN’s wanted to make the best deal for their future • 1870: Canadian g’ment began negotiating treaties with FN’s • Department of Indian Affairs • Indian Commissioner W. Simpson

  3. By 1877: Can. G’ment had gained access to all the suitable land for agriculture • G’ment wanted to concluded treaty process ASAP • G’ment promised to give FN’s farm equipment and training in exchange for land/ signing treaties • FN peoples welcomed prospect of becoming farmers • Trad. lifestyle threatened due to decreasing bison herds • Can. G’ment blamed the FN as justification for not holding up their end of the deal • Can. G’ment thought process had gone well

  4. Simpson sent to MB to begin talks with the Cree and Saulteaux peoples • Little room for negotiation • FN’s signed away their claims to their traditional homelands • Reserves set aside for FN peoples were tiny • Can. G’ment had no intention of living up to promises

  5. The Indian Act • 1876 • Confirmed FN would be required to live on reserves • Stipulated that FN children would have to attend residential shools • During treaty process, FN not informed about the Indian Act

  6. Missionaries • G’ment used Catholic missionaries as translators • Encouraged FN to sign treaties • Didn’t want FN to starve • Wanted FN to become productive members of society • Neither g’ment nor missionaries considered the cultural destruction that accompanied plan • NWMP summoned to escort FN to reserves • Course of Can. History altered forever

  7. The treaties • Treaty 1: August 3, 1871 • Treaty 2: August 21, 1871 • Treaty 3: 1873 • Treaty 4: September 25, 1874 • Treaty 5: September 20-4, 1875 • Treaty 6: August-September, 1876-1899 • Treaty 7: September 22, 1877

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