Map of the Area of the 1923 October/November Treaties- Williams Treaties

Historical Background: The William Treaties are a series of treaties, covering a huge land area in central Ontario from the Quebec border along the Ottawa River to the Lake Ontario shoreline. Signatories to the treaties were the Mississauga Indians of Rice Lake, Mud Lake, Lake Scugog and Alderville; and the Chippewa Indians of Christian Island, Georgina Island and Rama. The William Treaties negotiations involved both the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. The Williams Treaties were different in many respects from other treaties in that they did not secure hunting and fishing rights nor did they guarantee possession of reserves. This has led to serious problems. For example, areas covered by the Williams Treaties overlapped with the Rice Lake Purchase (in which these rights were guaranteed).

Source: Canada. Report on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Vol. 1: Looking Forward, Looking Back. Ministry of Supply Services, 1996.