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) offers discussion topics, including Indigenous oral traditions, a historical timeline of treaties and case studies
• The Canadian Encyclopedia provides 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

Explore these resources developed by First Nations partners. Resources are in English, with additional languages noted where available.

• Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s website on Treaty No. 9 and No. 5
• Anishinabek Nation's teachers resource order form (PDF)
• Anishinabek Nation's Ezhi-nawending: How we are related
• Anishinabek Nation’s Gdoo-Sastamookii Mi – This is our Understanding, an online learning tool for secondary school students with videos and activities
• Anishinabek Nation’s Gdoo Sastamookii Mi teacher’s guide and resources, which includes English and French lesson plans and educational videos

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 First Nations and Treaties map shows Treaty locations in Ontario.
  • The updated edition includes revised First Nation community names and reserve boundaries where addition to reserve processes have occurred, and clearer information to support learning and understanding across Ontario.
• Order a copy for the classroom for free from Publications Ontario. A downloadable version (An accessible version of the PDF will be posted within the next week) and a printed double-sided English and French version (Publication #: 302067) are available.
• Ontario Treaties and reserves allows you to search for a city, address or postal code to find nearby Treaties and reserves in Ontario
• 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 Trans Canada Trail

Children and youth books

• Craft, Aimée. Treaty Words: For As Long As the Rivers Flow. Illustrated by Luke Swinson. Annick Press, 2021.
• Crawford, Kelly. Alex Shares His Wampum Belt. Illustrated by Don Chretien. Union of Ontario Indians, 2017.
• Crawford, Kelly. Dakota Talks About Treaties. Illustrated by Don Chretien. Union of Ontario Indians, 2017.
• Crawford, Kelly and Becking, Marci. This is My Treaty. Photography by Sara Cornthwaite and Charles Fiado. Union of Ontario Indians, 2025.
• 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. 
• 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. Union of Ontario Indians, 2011.
• Willett, Mindy, Zoe, Philip and Zoe, Therese. The Land is our Storybook: Living Stories: Godi Weghàà Ets' eèda. Fifth House Publishers, 2009.

Adult and academic books

• Coulthard, Glen Sean. Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition. University of Minnesota Press, 2014.
• 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.
• Elijah, Mary Joy, Lickers, Keith and Reed, Kevin. Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Pearson Education, 2011.
  • Teacher Resource. Pearson Education, 2012.
• Filion, Barbara, McLeod, Neal and O’Brien, Shay-Lea. Aboriginal Beliefs, Values, and Aspirations. Pearson Education, 2011.
• The Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. Kids Can Press, 2018.
• Saul, John Ralston. The Comeback. Random House, 2015.
• Switzer, Maurice. Nation to Nation, A Resource on Treaties in Ontario. Union of Ontario Indians, 2013.
• Treaties Matter: Understanding Ipperwash. Union of Ontario Indians, 2011.
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Final Report, Volume One: Summary, Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future. James Lorimer & Company Ltd, 2015.
• Vowel, Chelsea. Indigenous Writes. Portage & Main Press, 2016.