In 1871, Canada’s first post-confederation treaty was signed in Fort Garry, Manitoba. This treaty set the tone for future treaties between the Crown and the First Nations. Although the treaties were written documents signed by both parties, they held vastly different understandings for the Crown and the First Nation people.
The First Nation people’s understanding of what these treaties meant was different from what the Crown had intended. To First Nation’s people these treaties were agreements or promises to protect their land from newcomers, to secure a new relationship with the British Crown, and to gain a new trading partner. Further, they considered these treaties as being sacred agreements that meant God and the Creator were watching. From their peoples’ perspective, they saw these treaties as promises to receive items from the Crown, such as coats, farm equipment, tools, and livestock. Most importantly, the treaty agreement ensured that the First Nations would not lose power over themselves and to continue to control their institutions, government, laws, and ways of life.
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The treaties were impediments to colonial settlement and conformed with the Royal Proclamation of 1763. To the Crown these treaties would reduce the possibility of future conflicts with the First Nation people, while ensuring a more peaceful western expansion for new settlers. One of the Crown’s main goals of the treaty signing was to get access and control of the resources, land, and everyone or everything inhabiting Western Canada. Defensively, the Crown initiated these treaties to establish a powerful military alliance with the First Nations people to help protect the lands from any American