Mi’kmaq Treaties

1. Mi’kmaq Treaties Information from http://mrc.uccb.ns.ca/treaties.html

2. The treaties • Around the room there are five stations with a treaty placed there. • You will have 20 minutes to read and complete a chart for each treaty • Chart • To be passed in

3. What is a treaty A treaty is a formal agreement between two or more nations which recognizes specific rights and obligations set out within the context of the treaty. Treaties are meant to define the relationship between the signatories. The SCC (supreme court of Canada) decision in sioui, finds that treaties are mutually binding obligations, and solemn undertakings. In interpreting the spirit and intent of treaties, oral history and collective memory are both valid tools

4. Can anyone sign a treaty? According to international law, the only treaties which are recognized are those signed between nations or nation-states. The definitions for a nation-state involve having a territory, language, culture.

5. When did the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet enter into treaties? A. The Mi'kmaq and Maliseet have a history of treaty making with other Aboriginal nations which pre-dates European arrival in North America.

6. When did the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet enter into treaties with the British Crown? From the information that has been gathered to date, the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet first entered into a treaty with the British Crown with the Treaty of 1725, signed at Boston.

7. What was the nature of the treaty relationship between the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet and the British Crown? The treaty signed at Boston in 1725 and all subsequent treaties were "Treaties of Peace and Friendship". The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi'kmaq and Maliseet title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship.

8. Treaty Summaries • Mr. Stacey’s notes • http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/maps/historical/indiantreaties/historicaltreaties • Homework • What are some issues that are in the newspaper /on the news today that relate to treaties? • Bring in an article or a summary of a news story of one of these issues

9. Project • One half of the class is Mi’kmaq and one half is European • In groups of three decide what are the main issues you feel are important to your everyday way of life. • Get together with the big group and decide which rights/responsibilities you will argue for. • Decide who will speak for your group - signatories • As a class we will draft a copy of this treaty

10. You are responsible to create a genuine copy of the agreed upon treaty that the class comes up with. • Your treaty must include all the information agreed upon by the Mi’kmaq and the Europeans groups • Must include the signatures of the people who are speaking for each group - signatories

11. Authenticity • You are to make this assignment as authentic as possible • Old style writing • Burning the edges of the paper • A wax seal, feathers, birch bark or something you think would be authentic for these groups • Aging the paper with tea bags • Remember no staples nothing modern – no computer printing • Be creative

12. Due Date • Due • Value: 20%