TREATIES

After 1700, British and Canadian authorities signed more than 500 separate treaties with Aboriginal peoples. Early agreements pledged peace and friendship and confirmed the Aboriginals' right to hunt and fish. In later treaties, the Aboriginals surrendered title to the land in exchange for reserves, lump sum payments, and annuities of $3. to $5. per person.

When Manitoba became a province in 1870, the Aboriginal peoples had yet to be dealt with. There was mounting pressure from both sides to settle. The Aboriginals felt the loss of wild game and increasing settlement on their lands. The Government wanted to open up land to accommodate increasing numbers of settlers.

On August 3, 1871 the first of the numbered treaties, Treaty Number One, was signed at Lower Fort Garry. This treaty dealt with the First Nations living in the southern part of the province. Treaty Number Two, signed later that month, involved First Nations in the Western part of Manitoba. Northern Manitoba was covered by Treaty Number Five and signed in 1875.

The text of the treaties stated that the First Nations had surrendered all rights, titles, and interest to vast tracts of land, including all of Manitoba. The First Nations however, came away with the understanding that the land and resources were to be shared with the European immigrants rather than a complete sell-out of land rights.

Today, as in the past, the treaties negotiated are still highly regarded by the First Nations who are still trying to achieve land entitlements which have not been fulfilled in a significant number of cases.