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 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
- 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.
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.
Date | Time (EST) | Event description | Event Type | Location | Host Organization |
November 4, 2024 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Treaty 9 Viewing at the Toronto Reference Library
| In-person | Toronto 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 | In-person | Ontario Tech University Bagwaatiing Indigenous Student Centre 151 Athol Street Oshawa, Ontario L1N 3Z1 | Ontario Tech University |
November 4, 2024 | 9:00 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
| Toronto Metro University |
November 4, 2024 | 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Indigenous Astronomy as told by the Haudenosaunee: Filling your spirit with stardust and astronomical knowledge | In-person | CUI-317, Centre for Urban Innovation (CUI) 44 Gerrard Street E. M5B 1W7 | Toronto Metro University |
November 4, 2024 | 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Saagajiwe’s Wampum Belt Unveiling with Clarence Roy | In-person | The Catalyst, Rogers Communications Centre 80 Gould Street Toronto, Ontario | Toronto Metro University |
November 5, 2024 | 1 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 | Toronto Metro University |
November 5, 2024 | 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. | "Purchasing Toronto" - A Talking Treaties workshop Registration required. Please call the branch or email indigenousinitiatives@tpl.ca to register | In-person | Toronto Public Library, Lillian H. Smith branch 239 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R5 | Toronto Public Library |
November 5, 2024 | 12 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-person | Ontario Tech University Dixon/Alger Fireside Reading Room, Library second floor 50 Founders Drive, Oshawa, Ontario L1G 0C5 | Ontario Tech University |
November 6, 2024 | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Robinson Huron Treaty 1850 with Mike Restoule
| Virtual | Virtual | Lakehead University Confederation College |
November 6, 2024 | 1 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: Virtual: | Office of Indigenous Relations, University of Waterloo |
November 7, 2024 | 12 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. | Virtual | Virtual | Toronto Metro University |
November 7, 2024 | 2 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. | Virtual | Virtual | Seven Generations Education Institute |
November 7, 2024 | 5:30 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. | Virtual | Online | Law Society of Ontario |
November 7, 2024 | 7 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-person | Chatham-Kent Public Library Chatham Branch 120 Queen Street Chatham Ontario N7M 2G6 | Chatham-Kent Public Library |
November 8, 2024 | 1 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-person | First Peoples Indigenous Centre, Durham College. Centre for Collaborative Education Building, Room 141 2000 Simcoe Street North Oshawa, Ontario L1G 0C5 | Ontario Tech University |