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Quick, what are your treaty rights and obligations?
Despite common misconceptions, all Canadians—indigenous or not—have obligations and rights under Canada’s treaties. Solidarity Halifax says it’s high time we all recognize that.
As such, this evening the public is invited to a free event at the Halifax Central Library which will explore the responsibilities and challenges of all people in upholding the Peace and Friendship treaties. Between Nations: We Are All Treaty People will encourage a dialogue about how Canada’s land and people are governed by treaties.
Sébastien Labelle, a member of Solidarity Halifax’s anti-racism committee and an organizer of tonight’s event, says recent movements like Idle No More have ignited a surge of awareness regarding the infringement of treaty rights.
“Since then, we’ve wanted to offer an opportunity to follow up on that questioning and give people an opportunity to understand better what that means,” says Labelle.
Treaties between indigenous Canadian governments and the British Crown were first set down in 1701. The British later agreed to a series of “Peace and Friendship” treaties with the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet peoples between 1725 and 1779. Since then, many other treaties respecting governance, land use and resources have been signed from coast to coast both before and after Confederation. All historic treaties made between 1701 and 1923 as well as more modern land claim settlements were reaffirmed and upheld in Canada’s Constitution during repatriation in the 1980s. As stated by Aboriginal Affairs, “the Government of Canada and the courts understand treaties between the Crown and aboriginal people to be solemn agreements that set out promises, obligations and benefits for both parties.”
But those solemn agreements aren’t always respected. As an example, says Labelle, simply look at the chasmic discrepancy in the quality of life between most First Nations communities and other Canadian citizens.
Indigenous Canadians are disproportionately affected by environmental damage, health concerns, lack of clean water, higher rates of criminalization and incarceration, lack of access to education, a crisis of missing and murdered women, high risk of suicides, a genocidal eradication of culture and a history of being ignored unless something valuable is found under their land.
“In looking at the human suffering that exists within communities that surround us, or that we may be part of, we really have an obligation to examine what’s going on, in Canada and First Nations communities,” says Labelle.
No contract is unilateral, he adds. As such, the Solidarity Halifax organizer wants all Canadians—especially non-indigenous citizens—to recognize their moral and legal obligations.
“A treaty is an agreement between two parties,” Labelle says. “If they concern First Nations, then necessarily they concern other Canadians as well; the descendants of European settlers and anyone who’s a Canadian citizen or living on this land. There needs to be an understanding of that. If there are treaties in place, then everyone who lives here is a treaty person.”
In an effort to encourage such examination, the organizers behind tonight’s event will be passing out “treaty cards.” Printed with the treaty rights and obligations for non-indigenous Canadians, the cards are a way to move towards meaningful action and change the way people think about their relationship to Canada’s treaties. They’ll act as a symbolic and literal reminder of a non-aboriginal Canadians’ obligations under the Peace and Friendship treaties, and also as a spin on the indigenous Status cards issued by the Canadian government.
“There’s no mirroring card for people who are not First Nations to signify or recognize that as descendants of European settlers or non-native Canadians, we also have rights and responsibilities towards the land that we live on,” Labelle says. “This was to hit home that we are all treaty people.”
TREATY RIGHTS
Non-indigenous residents of Mi’kma’ki are entitled to:
Live in peace and share the land with its owners and original inhabitants, the Mi’kmaq
—Participate in economic activity in order to earn a living
—Self-governance and law enforcement
—Moderate use of natural resources
—Freedom of language, religion and creed
—Education that reflects their language and cultureTREATY OBLIGATIONS
Non-indigenous residents of Mi’kma’ki are obligated to:
Protect and preserve the land and natural resources for all future generations
—Respect Mi’kmaq title to and sovereignty over the land
—Ensure the health, well-being and dignity of their indigenous neighbours
—Help preserve and strengthen the language and cultural heritage of the Mi’kmaq people
—Stand for justice and restitution for historic and current wrongs committed against Mi’kmaq people
—Educate other settlers, including their children, about their government’s treaty obligations and the history of relations between indigenous people and non-indigenous Canadians; and ensure that treaty obligations are met now and in the future
It’s a small gesture, but not insignificant. Especially now, as Mi’kmaq History Month begins and a federal election looms. Given the crises faced by so many First Nations communities, it’s all the more important for every Canadian to remember that these treaties are an agreement from both sides to share land and resources, and live in peace and friendship with each other.
“Of course, when we really look at the power dynamics that exist, ‘sharing’ is a pretty generous term to use,” Labelle says. “We can’t honestly in good faith say that we are living in peace and friendship with First Nations people.”
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Between Nations: We are ALL Treaty People
Monday, October 5, 6pm
Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Road
Free
Facebook event page
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This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2015.
REOPENING TREATIES, both; ‘DOMESTIC’ (First Nations) & ‘FOREIGN’ (Global Corporate), to Add Provisions of W.A.D. Accord & its Compensation Protects the Rights of Unborn Native Canadians, et al.
Native Economic Development; MINING, LNG, OIL, FISHERIES, LOGGING, Natural Resources; NATIVE ‘ECONOMIC’ DEVELOPMENT
Corporate Canada’s Traditional, BIG 3 Parties, NDR, LIBs, CONs, Desperate for Superseding Global Corporate Treaties/’Arrangements’ to Wipe Out Native Canadian, et al, ‘Gains’; Only GREEN Party Standing Up Against Global Corporate Economy’s Insider Trading & SECRET ‘Death-Star-Chamber’ ISDS Tribunal?
Corporate Canada & executives of their Big 3 political parties ‘forgot’ to tell its Global Corporate associates; promoters of TPP, CETA, C-CIT, et al, that they can not & will not be able to supersede Native Human rights, consultations, et al. Proof of Good intentions in Prior, During & Follow-up Discussions Needed for ‘Foreign’ Treaties/’Arrangements’ with Vast Modifications prior to Implementation, or, Rejection. Anything besides Schedule of Tariff Reductions needs Native Approval.
How much Money (Shares & Dividends) are the Most Vulnerable Band Members going to Get vs. Continued High Salaries for ‘Leaders’?
• Global Corporate Associates have been ‘Passing’ Lobbied Legislation in Anticipation of Suing Once Ratified. ‘Trickle’ Up Economics.
• Reconciliation between Native & non Native Canadians And the Political Parties of Canada, Corporate Canada (& its Assocs.) & the Potential Shareholders, et al; need to Reopening Treaties to Live up to Terms of WAD Accord. Remorseless P.M. Harper Continuing to Blame & Punish those that have been Deliberately Deprived of the Relevant Info. creates ‘difficulties’ for an apology from Pope Francis & other Religious leaders.
• Corp. Canada Continues to Create Unrealistic Expectations for Global Treaty Signatories via Deprivation of Due Diligence Info. Re; WAD Accord’s 2X+ Direct Cash Dividends, Compensation, etc.
• Eco. Dev. Contracts VOIDED at Shareholders’ Expense for Trampling over ‘Consultation’ with the Most Vulnerable Band Members (95% – 99% of the Band Members) & Desecrating The W.A.D. Accord & its Compensation?
• Still NO MONEY for Sharing, Discussing & Improving The WAD Accord & its COMPENSATION in SAFE Forums; TPP, CETA corporations & SHAREHOLDERS brace for “You Should have Known’ Routine?
• Will Native & non Native Leaders Continue to Deprive the Most Vulnerable Community Members of the Info re; Businesses, Industries, Enterprises that Can Provide Factor 2X+ Cash Dividends. Poverty is the Only ‘Guarantee’?
• Corporate Canada, Bay St., Parliament Insist upon Deluding; the most vulnerable Canadians, both Native & non Native (95% – 99% of all Canadians) and Global Corporate Assocs. ‘Ignoramus at Ignorambimus’?
(CAN) But, how much of the direct cash dividends are the most vulnerable band members obtaining from their share of ‘their’ economic development as per The W.A.D. Accord & its Compensation? Are the most vulnerables receiving a factor of two (2+) of the amount that can be obtained from all of the present sources of social assistance? Or, are the band managers claiming that the most vulnerables are obtaining “more benefits(?) than any other Native community”, or, are the rights of the most vulnerable First Nations members (ie. 95% – 99% of the members of the communities) once again being traded for future considerations that only benefit the families of the 1% – 5% of the communities?
And, how anxious is corporate Canada to make ‘arrangements’ with Native leaders that would avoid the time consuming process of re-opening existing treaties to include the provisions of The WAD Accord & its Compensation, and/or, of including the provisions in the treaties that are presently being negotiated in order that corporate Canada can ‘guarantee’ its global corporate associates that they will not be further encumbered by the development of Indigenous (human) rights & thus, be able to access, finance, develop, extract, trade, etc. the natural resources that are continuing to be found in Canada for the manufacturing profits, etc. of corporate Canada’s global (foreign) associates by way of the flurry of superseding treaties with foreigners, such as; The TPPartnership, The EU – Canada CETAgreement, NAFTAgreement, China – Canada ITreaty, et al?
And, what are some of the other areas of information that corporate Canada is continuing not to share with its foreign associates, Native leaders, the most vulnerable community members, both; Native & non Native, et al, that are in the process of raising unrealistic expectations & greatly destabilizing the geo-political world while passing the costs on to the non shareholders?
Besides the aforementioned factor of 2X+ direct cash dividends in The W.A.D. Accord, what do you think is a good criteria for ascertaining the health &robustness of your communities economy & how does it compare to the federal government’s criteria?
***
Also see;
‘The Submission’ to The SUPREME COURT of CANADA:
‘The SHAREHOLDERS & Corporations of AMERICA, China, Canada, the EU, the Trans Pacific nations, et al
v.
the (harmless) Canadian NON shareholders, both; Native & non Native, et al’
including
‘The MERKEL (Chancellor of Germany) Letter; To Sue, or, Be Sued?’
(see; davidehsmith.wordpress.com)
*** The W.A.D. Accord (Less Comprehensive version) see; davidehsmith.wordpress.com or, Google *** FULL Article, see; davidehsmith.wordpress.com *** Please consider sharing the enclosed information & questions with 10 friends who will share it with 10 others…
I love it! I have been saying for months that non-Indigenous Canadians go on and on about how much it costs the ‘tax payer’ to have Indigenous people continue to collect treaty entitlements. Not once have they asked themselves what the collection of treaty entitlements by non-Indigenous Canadians costs Indigenous people. I hear people saying the treaties are old and not valid anymore – tear them up! My response, “are you ready to give up the land and resources?” – stunned looks, always.
Are there no copy editors at NSCAD? The card on the bottom has a couple of spelling errors. I’m afraid I can’t participate until they are corrected.