Resource Guide

The following resources provide information about the local Indigenous communities in Durham, assist with understanding Treaties and highlight key dates of significance across Canada.

What Treaty Territory is Oshawa located on?

The City of Oshawa is located on the traditional and treaty territories of the Mississauga and Chippewa Anishinaabeg that is covered under the Williams Treaties.

There are seven First Nation Communities that are covered within the Williams Treaties
Michi Saagiig (Mississauga) Nations	Chippewa Nations
Scugog Island First Nation Alderville First Nation Hiawatha First Nation Curve Lake First Nation	Georgina Island First Nation Beausoleil Island First Nation Rama First Nation

History of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation

The history of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation in this territory begins around 1700 when they moved into southern Ontario from their former homeland north of Lake Huron. The Mississaugas are a branch of the greater Ojibwa Nation, one of the largest native groups in Canada.

The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation are signatories to the Williams Treaties. These treaties involved the surrender of the last large portion of the territory in the southern regions of Ontario that had not been given up to government. First Nation leaders and community members entered into these negotiations to address the issue of settlers encroaching on their traditional lands. Instead, the outcomes of these treaties were continued injustices against the First Nations including insufficient compensation, inadequate reserve lands, and the inability to freely exercise harvesting rights.

On October 29, 2012, in a case brought by the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nations, Canada and Ontario took the position at trial that harvesting rights associated with pre-confederation treaties signed by the First Nations were not intended to be surrendered in 1923 with the signing of the Williams Treaties. This position recognizes the Williams Treaties people’s constitutionally protected harvesting rights and means Williams Treaties harvesters are able to exercise rights in line with those of other treaty people in most of Ontario.

In June 2018, the Williams Treaties First Nations ratified the Williams Treaties Settlement Agreement with Canada and Ontario This agreement aims to reconcile some of the injustices of the Williams Treaties by recognizing pre-existing treaty harvesting rights for First Nations members, compensating the First Nations who were unfairly compensated in the original treaties, adding additional reserves lands. This settlement also involved formal apologies from the governments of Canada and Ontario for the harmful impacts of the Williams Treaties.

Resources

Treaties Recognition Week

In 2016, Ontario passed the first legislation of its kind in Canada declaring the first full week of November as Treaties Recognition Week.

This annual event honours the importance of treaties and helps students and residents of Ontario learn more about treaty rights and relationships. By learning more about our collective treaty rights and obligations, we can create greater understanding and nurture relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Treaties Recognition Week represents one of many steps on Ontario’s journey of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The week was launched in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action to increase treaty awareness and provide students and the public with an important opportunity to learn why treaties matter.

It is important for all Ontarians to understand the role treaties play in our lives and relationships with each other today as we move forward together to advance in our journey towards truth and reconciliation. By recognition of our history and gaining understanding, we are advancing reconciliation with Indigenous people to help create equitable and respectful relationships moving forward.

History of Treaties in Ontario

In 1763, King George III of Great Britain issued The Royal Proclamation, confirming the original occupancy of Indigenous peoples and paving the way for land agreements between the British Crown (government) and Indigenous peoples.

The proclamation:

established how the British would manage land in North America following the Seven Years War
proclaimed that settlers could not live on the land until the Crown had signed treaties with the First Nations who occupied the territories

To learn more about the History of Treaties in Ontario

What are Treaties?

Treaties provide a framework between Nations for living together and sharing the land traditionally occupied by Indigenous peoples. Legally binding agreements, treaties set out the rights, responsibilities and relationships of First Nations and the federal and provincial governments.

Although many treaties were signed more than a century ago, treaty commitments provide the foundation for ongoing co-operation and partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Historically, treaties originated between the British or the French and the Indigenous populations were peaceable agreements that represented mutual understanding, sharing, trading or aid. Later, treaties were signed with the purpose of Indigenous surrendering land to the Crown, however, the Indigenous people really did not have an understanding as to what they were giving away. Through miscommunication and the lack of land ownership as an Indigenous concept, most of the province had been ceded by a treaty by the time of the Canadian Confederation.

Treaty rights are protected by subsection 35(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982 and often address the creation of reserves for the exclusive use of First Nations, and their rights to hunt, fish and trap on provincial Crown lands.

Today in Canada there are approximately 70 treaties between 371 First Nations and the Crown. The treaties represent the rights of more than 500,000 Indigenous people. Ontario is covered by 46 historic and present-day treaties, which were signed between 1781 and 1930.

To learn more visit the Treaty Teaching and Learning Document

Bawaajigewin Aboriginal Community Circle (B.A.C.C)

Bawaajigewin Aboriginal Community Circle (B.A.C.C) is an Indigenous-led non-profit agency that responds to and advocates for all Indigenous people in Durham Region.

Bawaajigewin is an Ojibway word that means the action of taking something that is a dream and making it into something you can see in real life.

Métis Nation of Ontario, Oshawa and Durham Region Métis Council

In 1993, the Métis Nation of Ontario (M.N.O.) was established through the will of Métis people and Métis communities coming together throughout Ontario to create a Métis-specific governance structure. Prior to 1993, Métis had been involved in pan-Aboriginal lobby groups and organizations. The M.N.O. was not created to represent all individuals and communities that claim to be Métis, but those individuals and communities that are a part of the Métis Nation.

The Oshawa and Durham Region Métis Council is the Charter Community Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario in Durham Region.

Durham Community Heath Centre (D.C.H.C)

Durham Community Health Centre (D.C.H.C) is a registered charity that provides a range of free services and programs to community members across Durham Region. DCHC offers a variety of services to support Indigenous individuals and communities.

Visit the Indigenous Programming Page on the D.C.H.C website to stay up to date on upcoming events and ways to get involved.

Truth and Reconciliation