European Treaties Vs First Nations Essay

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First Nations and European approaches in regards to historical events have differed in most cases. The Europeans have approached many events with policy in mind where as the First Nations people viewed many events with a spiritual lens. In regards to the treaties, First Nations people viewed them as a spiritual process and a sacred act. The treaties were supposed to be formed for both parties benefit. It is shown that the European people did what they could to ensure the First Nations lost more than they gained. The European people were after the land of First Nations people and in return offered fishing and hunting rights, education and much more.

The treaties were a means of obtaining more land in the governments favor from the First Nations. “In instructing the first Treaty Commissioner Weymss Simpson, Joseph Howe noted that “It should therefore be your endeavor to secure the cession of the lands upon terms as favorable as possible to the government, …show more content…

With the first treaties, there was a language barrier and this caused some miscommunication; however, there was a treaty revision in treaties one and two. “After much dispute, and after the discovery of notes regarding additional “outside promises,” Alexander Morris prepared a “Revision of Treaties One and Two” in 1875 that formally recognized some of those promises, including agricultural assistance” (Stonechild, 2017). Later on however, the Europeans felt resistance from the First Nations people as they felt they were being lied to or misled. The First Nations people sought new ways of negotiating treaties and decided to push back. They were refusing to be taken advantage of. “Treaty Number Six generated more controversy than Morris had anticipated. He had not expected the Cree to block survey crews and telegraph lines. Saulteaux from Treaty Four tried to disrupt the proceedings and discourage the signing of Treaty Six” (Stonechild,