NATIVE TREATIES

Two Different Perspectives on Native Treaties

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Two Different Perspectives on Native Treaties

Introduction

Two treaties were signed in 1850 for the north shores of Lakes Superior and Huron. Part of the ancient northern extension of what became Ontario; the Robinson treaties made ways for initial search and exploitation in the land of natural resources to exploration. In Western Canada, the Robinson treaties also turn out to be loose model for future treaties.

In the history of Canada, the Canadian Government of the Northwest Territories as the representative of the Inuit people of the central and eastern Artic signed the largest aboriginal land claim. The treaty was negotiated for more than 20 years, provided Nunavut Inuit title greater than 350,000 sq. km eastern Artic land. It formulated clear ownership rules and authority over resources and land. After passing the act of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in 1993, the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) was brought into force.

Discussion

Huron Robinson Superior Treaty

In 1850, the rule that an agreement could create secure native reserves tenure was preceded, when William Benjamin Robinson the representative of Crown secured treaty from indigenous leaders to grant, abandon and conveys Her Majesty about 129,500 km (50,000 sq. miles) the north side of the upper Great Lakes. These dealings were known as the Robinson Superior treaty and Robinson Huron treaty comprised provision for the creation of twenty-one new Native reserves; and held by the Crown for the respective Aboriginal groups use and benefit, as well as the names and marks of their leaders were listed on the treaties (Morris, 1971).

As, a part of the overall deal worth £4000, plus £1100 initial payment of all contracts and perpetual annuities respectively, to be divided between the tribal people covered by the treaty. The officials of that time the Province of Canada had been pressurized to authorize the negotiation of the treaty by the Governor General Lord Elgin; on the contrary, also pressurized by Chief Shinguakouce and his admirers. On a minor argument, resulted in Michipicoten war, and in 1849 it was confirmed that indigenous would not compromise their interest in Precambrian Shield territories; on the other hand, the entrepreneur of Canada had already started mining operations (Surtees, 1984).

The treaties of Robinson that resulted in a commitment of the Crown to the Indigenous people provided them authority to hunt and fish in the ceded territory, as ...