Module 3 - Belanger Ch 4 - Treaties Flashcards
What dual symbolism do treaties represent in the Indigenous-Crown relationship?
Treaties symbolize both a purposeful dialogue for resolving cross-cultural issues and the ongoing colonial relationship stemming from political and economic imbalances.
How do Indigenous and Canadian perspectives on treaties differ?
Indigenous perspectives view treaties as sacred covenants requiring renewal and ongoing relationships, while Canadian perspectives often treat them as legal documents or historic relics.
What does the phrase “We are all treaty people” signify?
It reflects the reality that treaties are collective agreements between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, emphasizing shared responsibilities and benefits.
What differentiates historic treaties from modern-day treaties?
Modern-day treaties are rigorously negotiated and legally ratified, while historic treaties were often hastily negotiated, lacking precise documentation of oral agreements.
What role did Indigenous treaties historically play in regional balance?
They fostered peaceful relationships, enabled trade and resource sharing, and avoided costly conflicts among Indigenous nations.
What was the significance of wampum in Indigenous treaty-making?
Wampum symbolized the binding nature of treaty agreements and was exchanged alongside gifts to finalize treaties.
How were grievances addressed in Indigenous treaty councils?
Delegates aired grievances, presented thoughtful responses, and assessed each other’s diplomatic skills to negotiate binding agreements.
Why are treaties considered foundational to reconciliation in Canada?
They are key to ensuring equality of opportunity for Indigenous peoples through respect for cultures, political reform, and improved economic opportunities.
What historical precedent existed for treaty diplomacy among Indigenous peoples?
By the sixteenth century, Indigenous peoples already had a long history of treaty diplomacy, predating European systems of international treaty-making.
What was the role of the “doctrine of discovery” in European land claims?
The doctrine of discovery allowed Europeans to claim “terra nullius” (unoccupied land) but required extinguishing Indigenous title through abandonment, war, or treaties.
How did European competition influence treaty diplomacy in North America?
The British, French, and Dutch adapted to Indigenous treaty-making practices to secure alliances and economic advantages, merging Indigenous and European approaches.
What unique treaty-making traditions were established in North America?
A hybrid system combining Indigenous diplomatic customs with European treaty norms evolved, emphasizing mutual respect, cultural values, and shared goals.
How did the balance of power shift affect treaty interpretation?
As Indigenous societies lost their economic and military advantages, European leaders increasingly prioritized written treaty texts over oral agreements.
What is the significance of treaties in Canada’s constitutional framework?
Treaties are integral to Canada’s constitutional DNA, embodying nation-to-nation agreements that have evolved but remain legally and politically significant.
How did early treaties acknowledge Indigenous sovereignty?
The practice of treaty-making recognized Indigenous nations as sovereign political entities with the right to negotiate land use and alliances.
What tensions exist in treaty interpretation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders?
Indigenous leaders emphasize oral promises and holistic agreements, while non-Indigenous leaders often prioritize written treaty documents.
What characterized the early North American treaty order?
It was based on diplomatic negotiations between sovereign Indigenous nations and European powers to establish mutual agreements classified as treaties.
How did European attitudes towards treaties change over time?
Europeans began framing treaties in binary terms, treating Indigenous peoples as a singular political entity and focusing on territorial cessions rather than nation-to-nation agreements.
What are the four eras of treaty-making in Canada, according to Indigenous leaders?
First contact to the Royal Proclamation (1763) – Compacts
Post–Royal Proclamation to Confederation (1867) – Contracts
Post-Confederation to Natural Resources Transfer Agreements (1930) – Covenants
Modern treaty period (1975–present) – Undefined but embracing earlier principles.
What was the significance of the Royal Proclamation of 1763?
It declared lands west of the Appalachians as British territory reserved for Indigenous use, emphasizing the need for treaties to legitimize land transactions.
What was the Treaty of Niagara (1764)?
A framework for Indigenous–Crown relations where over 2,000 Indigenous leaders clarified the Royal Proclamation’s provisions and renewed political relationships.
How did the “contract phase” negatively impact Indigenous peoples?
Colonial officials pushed for imprecise land-sale treaties that disregarded Indigenous understanding of treaties as sacred, mutually beneficial agreements.
How did the British policy shift after the War of 1812?
Indigenous peoples were no longer seen as allies or trade partners but as wards of the Crown, undermining their sovereignty and promoting integration into colonial society.
What impact did the 1830 British policy change have on Indigenous autonomy?
It disempowered Indigenous nations by making them wards of the Crown and shifted the treaty order towards policies of assimilation.
