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 3-9, 2024.

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

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.

 

2024 Treaties Recognition Week events

To have an event featured here and on our social media channels, please email us.

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. 

DateTime (EST)Event descriptionEvent TypeLocationHost Organization
November 4, 202410 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Treaty 9 Viewing at the Toronto Reference Library
The Archives of Ontario and the Toronto Public Library, in collaboration with Mushkegowuk Council, would like to invite you to attend a viewing of an original copy of the James Bay Treaty (Treaty 9) at the Toronto Reference Library.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to:
Learn about the history of the Treaty from Mushkegowuk leadership

  • Read pages from the diary of Daniel MacMartin that outlines the oral promises made by the Treaty commissioners
    (Queen’s University Archives)
  • View an abbreviated version of the “People of the Watershed” exhibit (McMichael Canadian Art Collection).
     
In-personToronto Reference Library
789 Yonge Street, main floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 2G8		Archives of Ontario and the Toronto Public Library
November 4, 2024

10 a.m. to noon

&

1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Treaty awareness 101 workshop: Zine making
Join us for the opportunity to learn about treaties and create your own zine. Light refreshments will be provided.


Register by Wednesday, October 30.

In-personOntario Tech University 
Bagwaatiing Indigenous Student Centre
151 Athol Street
Oshawa, Ontario
L1N 3Z1		Ontario Tech University
November 4, 20249:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.Opening of Indigenous Education and Treaties Recognition Week with Dr. Pamela Palmater
At this event, Dr. Palmater will share teachings about how substantive reconciliation with First Nations in Canada requires a reconsideration of historic treaties, one that honours the original spirit and intent. Historic treaties between sovereign First Nations and the Crown are largely misunderstood as land surrender agreements. Despite what Canadian courts have said about historic treaties, the United Nations has been clear about the implications of trying to enforce negative treaty covenants without informed consent.

Register on TMU’s website. 		In-person and virtual

CUI-317, Centre for Urban Innovation (CUI) 44 Gerrard Street E.

Toronto, Ontario

M5B 1W7


Zoom details provided at registration.

Toronto Metro University 
November 4, 20241 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Indigenous Astronomy as told by the Haudenosaunee: Filling your spirit with stardust and astronomical knowledge
Presented with a portable planetarium, these four sessions will take you on an introspective journey through Haudenosaunee Cosmology - from creation to current innovations, perseverance, and the cycles of life and death that correlate with the stars.
 

Register on TMU’s website.

In-person

CUI-317, Centre for Urban Innovation (CUI) 44 Gerrard Street E.
Toronto, Ontario

M5B 1W7

Toronto Metro University 
November 4, 20241:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Saagajiwe’s Wampum Belt Unveiling with Clarence Roy
Join Saagajiwe on Monday, November 4 for the unveiling of the wampum belts that TMU has available through the TMU Libraries. Professor Michael Doxtater will share teachings about the One Dish Treaty and the Two Row Wampum alongside Clarence Roy, the artist who carved the boxes for the Wampum Belts.
 

Registration is encouraged on TMU’s website.

In-person

The Catalyst, Rogers Communications Centre 80 Gould Street

Toronto, Ontario
M5B 2M7

Toronto Metro University
November 5, 20241 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Artist Talk and Mural Presentation with Philip Cote
This event aims to increase awareness and understanding of the mural's visual acknowledgment that we are within the Toronto Purchase Treaty No.13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and that we are located on the traditional lands of the Ojibway, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron Wendat peoples.

Register on TMU’s website.		In-person

Ted Rogers School of Management,

CPA Lounge (7th floor),

55 Dundas St. West, Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2C3

Toronto Metro University
November 5, 20246:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

"Purchasing Toronto" - A Talking Treaties workshop
Join Ange Loft of the Talking Treaties Collective to learn about The Toronto Purchase, also known as Treaty 13. This workshop will feature a screening of the film, By These Presents: "Purchasing" Toronto, and activations from A Treaty Guide for Torontonians , an artful examination of the complex intercultural roots of treaty relationships in the place we now call Toronto.

Registration required. Please call the branch or email indigenousinitiatives@tpl.ca to register

In-personToronto Public Library, Lillian H. Smith branch
239 College Street,
Toronto, Ontario
M5T 1R5		Toronto Public Library
November 5, 202412 p.m. to 2:30 pm.Documentary film screening: Is the Crown at war with us
Join Ontario Tech University to learn about treaty fishing and hunting rights through Alanis Obomsawin's documentary. 		In-personOntario Tech University 
Dixon/Alger Fireside Reading Room, Library second floor
50 Founders Drive,
Oshawa, Ontario 
L1G 0C5		Ontario Tech University
November 6, 202411:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Robinson Huron Treaty 1850 with Mike Restoule
Lakehead University presents a look at the current status of the Robinson Huron Treaty annuity settlement with Mike Restoule of the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Management Committee.

Register on Lakehead University’s website.

 

VirtualVirtual

Lakehead University

Confederation College

November 6, 20241 p.m. to 2 p.m.Treaties as Foundations: The Legacy of the Mississauga's of the Credit First Nation
In this hybrid event by the University of Waterloo, Daniel Secord will be doing a presentation on the Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation and the community’s history with treaties. Daniel has extensive knowledge on the history of the Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation and will be giving a broad overview into the detailed history of the area.		In-person and virtual

In person:
EC5 - East Campus 5 | Room 1111
305 Phillip Street
Waterloo, Ontario 
N2L 5Z5

Virtual:
Details provided after registration. 

Office of Indigenous Relations, University of Waterloo
November 7, 202412 p.m. to 1 p.m. Inuit Treaties by Muckpaloo Ipeelie
Join TMU on Thursday, November 7, 2024 for a virtual discussion with Muckpaloo Ipeelie, Inuit cultural teacher and owner and operator of “The Urban Inuit Identity Project.” Ipeelie is on a mission to reshape how health care, social services and educational institutions understand and honour Inuit culture.

Register on TMU’s website. 		VirtualVirtualToronto Metro University
November 7, 20242 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Treaties Recognition Week with Dr. Aaron Mills

Please join the Seven Generations Education Institute for a virtual event with Dr. Aaron Mills, Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Constitutionalism and Philosophy at McGill University. The event will discuss treaty law and its meaning for our everyday lives.

VirtualVirtualSeven Generations Education Institute
November 7, 20245:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Treaties Recognition Week / International Inuit Day
Please join the Law Society of Ontario for its annual Treaties Recognition Week / International Inuit Day program.		VirtualOnlineLaw Society of Ontario
November 7, 20247 p.m.Honouring Treaties Recognition Week Presentation
In partnership with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Coordinator, Chatham-Kent Public Library is pleased to host Dean M. Jacobs at its Chatham Branch on Thursday, November 7 at 7 p.m.		In-personChatham-Kent Public Library
Chatham Branch
120 Queen Street
Chatham Ontario
N7M 2G6		Chatham-Kent Public Library
November 8, 20241 p.m. to 3 p.m.Wampum Belt and Cornhusk Doll workshop
Ontario Tech University is excited to offer an experiential workshop facilitated by Mohawk artist Elizabeth Doxtater from Six Nations, Grand River. This workshop provides a unique opportunity for participants to engage with treaty teachings through the Wampum Belt and Corn Husk teachings, offering a hands-on exploration of these important cultural traditions.		In-personFirst Peoples Indigenous Centre, Durham College.
Centre for Collaborative Education Building, Room 141
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario
L1G 0C5		Ontario Tech University