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Treaty 1
The first post-Confederation treaty, Treaty One, is concluded in August 1871 and covers Manitoba as it existed then -
Treaty 2
Treaty Two is concluded a few weeks later than Treaty One and covers areas needed for expansion and settlement in the west and north of the Province. -
Treaty Three
After three years of negotiations, the Dominion of Canada and the Saulteaux tribe of Ojibway Indians entered into treaty at the North-West Angle of the Lake of the Woods. With the Saulteaux surrendering title to an area of 14,245,000 hectares, Canada acquired land for agriculture, settlement and mineral discovery. More importantly, Canada secured communications with the North-West Territories, including the route of the future Canadian Pacific Railway. -
Treaty Four
Initiated by Indians and Métis concerned about the declining numbers of animals which provided them with a living. Treaty 4 covers present-day southern Saskatchewan. -
Treaty Five
This treaty originated in two historical processes. The southern part, negotiated in 1875, was one of the southern Prairie treaties, and was in large part a result of the insistence of the Native people of that region that their aboriginal rights be recognized by the Canadian government, which had recently acquired title to their lands. The northern part of Treaty 5 was negotiated in 1908. -
Memorandum
Despite the fact the Aboriginals were to surrender their right to the land "forever," the first and second Numbered Treaties were renegotiated and changed in 1875. The Chipewans who had signed these early treaties were, by this time, upset that oral promises made by government representatives in 1871 had not been included in the written treaties. They began to approach other Aboriginals in the region in an attempt to discourage them from singing similar treaties. -
Treaty Six
The negotiation of this treaty took place during a difficult period for the Plains Cree, who were suffering from the rapid decline of the buffalo. The documents indicate that their concerns included medical care and relief in case of need. -
The Indian Act
Once a majority of Aboriginals living on the Prairies had signed the Numbered Treaties, the federal government introduced and passed an act to amend and consolidate previous laws concerning the Aboriginals. Notably, this act turned the Aboriginals into legal wards of the state. -
1951 Amendment
In 1951, the Indian Act was changed so that many of the most oppressive laws banning key customs - including potlatches, pow-wows or other cultural ceremonies - were no longer effective. Aboriginals were also now allowed to possess and drink alcohol for the first time, but only on their own reserves. Just as significant were changes made to the act allowing Aboriginals to sue the government over land claims. -
Constitution Act
Section 25 of the modern charter of rights and freedoms guaranteed the rights and freedoms of all Aboriginals, Métis and Inuit. -
Bill C-31
This bill was introduced as an amendment to the Indian Act. When passed in 1985, it officially provided Indian Status to: * The Métis * All enfranchised Aboriginals living off reserve land * All Aboriginal women who had lost their status by marrying a non-Aboriginal man -
Nunavut Act
A new territory was created in the eastern Arctic in 1999 as a result of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in 1993. The federal government gave some of this land to the Inuit specifically for living, hunting and controlling sub-surface resources. The government is also now paying the territory almost $1.2 billion for the sole purpose of retaining non-Inuit property during a 15-year period.