(Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

Bringing awareness to Indigenous land

Jun 5, 2022 | 10:56 PM

You’ve heard about them lots and likely sat through an event where they were acknowledged. But how much do you actually know about the Treaties that exist in Saskatchewan?

To start this journey through the importance of Treaties, let’s ask the first question: What are they?

According to the Ministry for Crown-Indigenous Relations, Treaties are agreements made between the Government of Canada, Indigenous groups and often provinces and territories that define ongoing rights and obligations on all sides.

In the 1800s the Canadian government negotiated six Treaties with the Cree, Saulteaux, Assiniboine and Dene people in the territory now known as Saskatchewan: Treaties Two, Four, Five, Six, Eight, and Ten. While Treaty 2 extends into Saskatchewan from Manitoba, there are no First Nations in the Treaty in Saskatchewan.

(Office of the Treaty Commissioner)

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What exactly is meant by Indigenous rights in these treaties?

As per the Canadian Constitution, “Indigenous rights are collective rights of distinctive Indigenous societies flowing from their status as the original peoples of Canada”. This can include ownership rights to land, rights to occupy and use lands and resources like hunting and fishing, self-governance, and cultural rights.

When it comes to Treaty rights, these allow First Nations to occupy land only for their members, and for money or annuities to be allocated to First Nations on a yearly basis.

Other Treaty rights include hunting and fishing on unoccupied Crown land and that schools and teachers on reserves will be paid for by the government.

While these territories have been around for hundreds of years, some may pose the question, do they still matter and why should people in Saskatchewan learn about their significance?

Another question that may come to your mind is whether treaties still happen today. The answer is in fact, yes.

The modern treaty era began in 1973 after a Supreme Court of Canada decision recognized Aboriginal rights for the first time.

Since 1975, Canada has signed 25 additional treaties and comprehensive land claim agreements with Indigenous groups in Canada.

Settlements have also become a huge part of the treaty system in Saskatchewan and across Canada.

One example of this happened last June on Clearwater River Dene Nation, which reached a $122 million settlement with the federal government, known as the “cows and plows” settlement.

Every member of Clearwater River Dene Nation was entitled to $44,000 of that money. At that time, Chief Teddy Clark said none of the settlement was kept for public works or projects, noting everything was distributed.

“I have to say, a lot of people were kind of worrying, but hey, the members really managed their money,” Clark said. “There were some extra dollars paid through the negotiators and the lawyers and whatnot, but not too much of that went to them. The majority of the money went to members. “Clark added.

Another example of a modern-day settlement took place in April 2022 between Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation and the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan. The Cree Nation submitted the land entitlement claim in July 2001 and it was accepted for negotiations in May 2010. First Nation members overwhelmingly approved the settlement in a vote in October 2021.

As a result of the settlement, the First Nation received compensation of $43.3 million from the federal and provincial governments.

Want to learn more about treaties in Canada and Saskatchewan? You can visit the links below for more details.

https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100028574/1529354437231

http://www.otc.ca/pages/about_the_treaties.html

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/parks-culture-heritage-and-sport/hunting-trapping-and-angling/treaty-and-aboriginal-rights-for-hunting-and-fishing

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/first-nations-citizens/treaty-land-and-entitlements

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