Treaty teaching and learning resources

Lesson plans and guides

• The TRW Curriculum guide (PDF) helps educators identify treaty education opportunities and connect them to Ontario’s elementary school curriculum   
• Historica Canada’s Treaties in Canada Education Guide (PDF) has discussion topics, including Indigenous oral traditions, a historical timeline of treaties and case studies
• The Canadian Encyclopedia has information on the Williams Treaties, the Toronto Purchase and many more
• Archives of Ontario James Bay Treaty
  • Online exhibit
  • Lesson kits for Grade 6 (PDF) and Grade 9 (PDF) students and map of Treaty No. 9 signing locations (PDF)

First Nations partner resources

The following resources were developed by First Nations partners. They are available in English only unless indicated.

• Anishinabek Nation's teachers resource order form (PDF)
• Anishinabek Nation's Ezhi-nawending: How we are related treaty education resource
• Anishinabek Nation’s Gdoo-Sastamookii Mi treaty-related curriculum resources
• Anishinabek Nation’s Gdoo-Sastamookii Mi teacher’s guide and resources (includes English and French lesson plans and educational videos) 

Gdoo-Sastamoo Kii Mi — This is our Understanding

Learn more about Anishinabek Nation's secondary school online resource for secondary students with videos, activities, and accompanying slide decks for teacher use.

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Printable resources for students

Treaty resources that you can print to help students learn about treaties in a fun and interactive way:

• word-search (PDF) 
• crossword puzzle (PDF) | crossword puzzle answer key (PDF)
• treaties map colouring page (PDF)

Supporting materials

• Videos: Indigenous voices on treaties. Listen to Elders and Knowledge Keepers on the importance of treaties, treaty relationships and treaty rights in Ontario
• French educational videos available through Idéllo, including (in French only):
  • Le vivre ensemble : Les territoires, les traités et les alliances
• The Indigenous Relations Project is a French resource with guides and videos to support the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum. Videos include (in French only):
  • Les traités : promesses brisées
  • Le wampum
  • Les traités : deux perspectives divergentes
  • La proclamation Haldimand (1784)
  • La rente annuelle issue des traités
• Canadian Encyclopedia’s Treaties with Indigenous Peoples in Canada
• Historic treaties and treaty First Nations in Canada infographic

Maps

• Ontario treaties and reserves allows you to search for a city, address or postal code to find nearby treaties and reserves in Ontario
• Ontario First Nations and treaties map shows treaty locations in Ontario. Order a copy for the classroom for free from Publications Ontario. A downloadable version (Publication #: 301069) and a printed double-sided English and French version (Publication #: 301068) are available.
• Maps of Treaty-Making in Canada shows the Pre-1975 treaties of Canada, covering most of Ontario and negotiated between 1725 and 1923
• Algonquins of Ontario settlement area boundary map (PDF) shows the largest land claim currently being negotiated and the province’s first modern-day treaty
• A map of Indigenous Trail Markers shows 25 educational markers honouring the culture and history of Indigenous peoples along the TransCanada Trail

Children and youth books

• Craft, Aimée. Treaty Words: For As Long As the Rivers Flow (FNCR 2022). Illustrated by Luke Swinson. Annick Press, 2021.
• Crawford, Kelly. Alex Shares His Wampum Belt. Illustrated by Don Chretien. North Bay: Union of Ontario Indians, 2017.
• Crawford, Kelly. Dakota Talks About Treaties. Illustrated by Don Chretien. North Bay: Union of Ontario Indians, 2017.
• Lynxleg, Betty. Treaty Tales (Set of 3). Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, 2015.
• Robertson, David Alexander. Tales from Big Spirit: The Peacemaker, Thanadelthur. Highwater press, 2014. 
• Willett, Mindy, Zoe, Philip and Zoe, Therese. The Land is our Storybook: Living Stories: Godi Weghaa Ets eeda -hc. Fifth House Publishers, 2009.
• Rose, Simon. Indigenous Life in Canada: Governance. Beech Street Books, 2018.
• Rose, Simon. Indigenous Life in Canada: Treaties. Beech Street Books, 2018.
• Switzer, Maurice. We are all Treaty People. Illustrated by Charley Hebert. North Bay: Union of Ontario Indians, 2011.

Adult and academic books

• Vowel, Chelsea. Indigenous Writes. Portage & Main Press, 2016.
• Elijah, Mary Joy, Lickers, Keith and Reed, Kevin. Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Pearson Education, 2011.
  • Teacher Resource. Pearson Education, 2012.
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Final Report, Volume One: Summary, Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future. James Lorimer & Company Ltd, 2015.
• Switzer, Maurice. Nation to Nation, A Resource on Treaties in Ontario. North Bay: Union of Ontario Indians, 2013.
• The Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. Kids Can Press, 2018.
• Dickason, Olive and McNab, David T. Canada’s First Nations: A History of Founding Peoples from Earliest Times. Oxford University Press, 2009.
• Dickason, Olive. The Myth of the Savage and the Beginnings of French Colonialism in the Americas. University of Alberta Press, 1997.
• Coulthard, Glen Sean. Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition. University of Minnesota Press, 2014.
• Saul, John Ralston. The Comeback. Random House, 2015.
• Filion, Barbara, McLeod, Neal and O’Brien, Shay-Lea. Aboriginal Beliefs, Values, and Aspirations. Pearson Education, 2011.
• Treaties Matter: Understanding Ipperwash. Union of Ontario Indians, 2011.
• King, Thomas. The Inconvenient Indian. Random House, 2017.