Treaties Recognition Week
Treaties Recognition Week honours the importance of treaties and helps Ontario students and residents understand the significance of treaty rights, treaty relationships and their relevance today.
Treaties Recognition Week
In 2016, Ontario passed the first legislation of its kind in Canada declaring the first full week of November as Treaties Recognition Week.
This year, Treaties Recognition Week is November 5-11, 2023.
This annual event honours the importance of treaties and helps students and residents of Ontario learn more about treaty rights and relationships. By learning more about our collective treaty rights and obligations, we can create greater understanding and nurture relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Treaties Recognition Week represents one of many steps on Ontario’s journey of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The week was launched in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (PDF) to increase treaty awareness and provide students and the public with an important opportunity to learn why treaties matter.
Treaty teaching and learning resources
- Learn about the role treaties play in all our lives and relationships with each other.
- Don’t forget to check out the treaty teaching and learning resources.
- Find out about Anishinabek Nation’s learning resources.
Listen to what students say they learn from Treaties Recognition Week.
Videos: Indigenous voices on treaties
Watch videos of Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers highlighting the importance of treaties, treaty relationships and treaty rights in Ontario. Use the videos to promote learning about treaties in your organization or classroom.
Maurice Switzer on reconciliation and treaty recognition
Maurice Switzer delivers presentations on treaty recognition as a key element of the reconciliation process and talks about issues related to the Williams Treaty.
Find a Treaties Recognition Week event offered by partners from the list below. Events are offered in English only.
To have an event featured here and on our social media channels, please submit a request online.
For an event or activity to be listed, it must:
- support treaties education and awareness
- be open to the public (either in-person or virtually)
Please note: The topics and content presented during the external partner events below do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the ministry of Indigenous Affairs or the Government of Ontario.
2023 Treaties Recognition Week events in Ontario | |||||
Date | Time (EST) | Event description | Event type | Location | Host organization |
2023-11-05 | 1:00 - p.m. | Valour and Victory | In-person | 14184 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0 | Niagara Parks |
2023-11-06 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Cross-Cultural Stories on Treaties and Futurities | In-person and virtual | Agora | Lakehead University |
2023-11-06 | 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Learning for Life - What is a Treaty | In-person and virtual | Corunna Library | Lambton County Library |
2023-11-06 | 11:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Drop in at Bagwaatiing Indigenous Student Centre | In-person | 151 Athol Street, Bagwaating Indigenous Student Centre | Ontario Tech University |
2023-11-07 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Algonquin College Film Series: | In-person | Mamidosewin Centre | Algonquin College |
2023-11-07 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Learning for Life - What is a Treaty | In-person and virtual | Forest Library | Lambton County Library |
2023-11-07 | 5:30 – 7:00 p.m | Treaties Recognition Week/International Inuit Day | Virtual | Online | Law Society of Ontario |
2023-11-07 to 2023-11-09 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | In-Person and virtual | University of Sudbury Canisius Hall, Laurentian | Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin | |
| 2023-11-08 | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Archives of Ontario displays the James Bay Treaty Visit the Archives of Ontario on Wednesday, November 8th from 10 am-4 pm for a rare opportunity to see the original written document of Treaty No. 9 — the James Bay Treaty from 1905-1906 that covers roughly two-thirds of Ontario. | In-person | 134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard Toronto, ON M7A 2C5 | Archives of Ontario |
2023-11-08 | 11:30 a.m. - | Nourish and learn with guest speaker Kelly Crawford | In-person and virtual | Shawenjigewining Hall, Room 024 | Ontario Tech University |
2023-11-08 | 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. | Learning for Life - What is a Treaty | In-person and virtual | 124 Christina Street South, Sarnia, ON, N7T 8E1 | Lambton County Library |
2023-11-08 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Algonquin College Film Series: Forgotten Warriors | In-person | Mamidosewin Centre | Algonquin College |
2023-11-09 | 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Algonquin College Film Series: The Inconvenient Indian | In-person | Mamidosewin Centre | Algonquin College |
2023-11-08 TO 2023-08-12 | N/A | Changing the Narrative at Black Creek Pioneer Village | In-person | 1000 Murray Ross Parkway | Black Creek Pioneer Village |
| 2023-11-08 | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Treaty Talks with Elder Sam Achneepineskum The Matawa Health Co-operative is hosting this Treaty Talk as part of Treaties Recognition Week in Ontario which takes place from Nov 5 - 11, 2023. Everyone is welcome. | In-person | 233 Court St. S. Thunder Bay, Ontario | Matawa Health Co-operative |
2023-11-09 | 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Learning for Life - What is a Treaty | In-person and virtual | Bright Grove’s library | Lambton County Library |
2023-11-09 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. | In-person and virtual | North Oshawa Library, Fireside Reading Room | Ontario Tech University | |
| 2023-11-09 | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Myeengun Henry: Spirit of the Treaties In this presentation, Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Myeengun Henry guides attendees on an interactive journey back in time. He discusses how treaties and agreements were spiritually significant, emphasizing the intent and meaning Indigenous folks carried into these agreements. | In person and virtual | East Campus 5 - University of Waterloo - 1111 305 Phillip Street Waterloo, ON N2L 5Z5 CA | University of Waterloo |
| 2023-11-09 | 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. | George Brown College presents: A Discussion with Frances Sanderson Join GBC Indigenous Initiatives in welcoming GBC Indigenous Education Council Chair, Frances Sanderson as we discuss the importance of treaty relationships, territorial acknowledgments, and how these treaties have shaped our past, present and future. | Virtual | Zoom | George Brown College |
| 2023-11-10 | 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. | George Brown college presents, A Reflection on Treaty Education Week with Indigenous Initiatives Join Indigenous Initiatives on Friday Nov. 10th for its final installment of Treaty Education Week activities as we reflect towards the education that was gained, and the actions that can be completed to move forward into a better tomorrow. | Virtual | Zoom | George Brown College |