Indigenous Life in Canada Treaties

Indigenous Life in Canada: Past, Present, Future is a set of 32-page books written by Simon Rose for Beech Street Books. Designed for elementary students from grades 4 to 7 the books offer introductions to the history of Indigenous Peoples in the story of Canada. One volume is Treaties that explores early agreements or treaties between First Nations such as the Five Nations Confederacy.  When foreign governments arrived in Turtle Island they made promises to Indigenous Nations about keeping the peace. The British government wanted Indigenous lands for their citizens. They made treaties with the Plains Nations and these are known as the Numbered Treaties.  Modern treaties such as the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act established with the Canadian government, the government of Northwest Territories and the Tunngavik of Nunavut was a land rights treaty. In the future land rights and royalty payments remain outstanding issues for First Nations in addition the international Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples must be honoured by the government of Canada.  The book contains simply written text illustrated with maps, charts, contemporary photographs and paintings. Each book has brief sidebars of additional details about a topic as well as suggested framing questions that assist students in using the historical inquiry method. Topics include Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Great Law of Peace, The Indian Act, and The Robinson Treaties. Cultural content advisor is Agnes Pawlowska-Mainville, Assistant Professor, First Nations Studies, University of Northern British Columbia. Levelled Guided Reading: V. Recommended.