Historical Indian Treaties

View this map

Numbered Treaties (1867 to 1923)

In 1867, the British North American Act (now the Constitution Act, 1867) gave jurisdiction over the "Indians and Land reserved for Indians" to the Government of Canada. In the years following Confederation, the federal government undertook a process of clearing aboriginal title to facilitate the construction of a railroad to the west coast, and the expansion and consolidation of Canada through settlement.

In the resulting "numbered treaties", the Indians surrendered all title to the lands covered, and in return, received tracts of land for reserves. In addition to the provision of reserve lands, benefits, common to many of the western treaties, included annuities, gratuities, schools, hunting and fishing rights, gifts of agricultural implements and cattle, annual cash payments for ammunition and twine, and clothing, flags, and medals.

These "numbered treaties" encompassed most of the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the Mackenzie District of the Northwest Territories. Treaty Number 8 covered the northeast corner of British Columbia, while the two treaties signed in 1923 covered the area south and east of Georgian Bay.

[D]
Click for more information, 8 KB
Lower Fort Garry, the site of Treaty 1 negotiations

Please see the Historical Indian Treaties Timeline, which briefly describes these treaties. Many of the texts of the original treaties are found online – refer to Reference and Links.