Treaty teaching and learning resources

Lesson plans and guides

• Historica Canada’s Treaties in Canada Education Guide (PDF) has discussion topics, including Indigenous oral traditions, a historical timeline of treaties and case studies
• Archives of Ontario James Bay Treaty lesson kits for grade 6 and grade 9 students and map of Treaty No. 9 signing locations

Printable resources for students

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

• word-search
• crossword puzzle | crossword puzzle answer key
• infographic
• treaties map colouring page

Indigenous partner resources

• Anishinabek Nation's teachers resource order form
• Anishinabek Nation's Ezhi-nawending: How we are related treaty education resource
• Anishinabek Nation’s Gdoo-Sastamoo Kii Mi treaty-related curriculum resources

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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Supporting materials

• Videos: Indigenous voices on treaties. Listen to Indigenous 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 
  • Naskumituwin (traité)
  • La ceinture wampum
  • La proclamation royale
• 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
• Treaties in Ontario infographic (PDF) shows the number of treaties in Ontario, the regions they cover and the populations within treaty areas
• Canadian Encyclopedia’s Treaties with Indigenous Peoples in Canada
• Historic treaties and treaty First Nations in Canada infographic
• Archives of Ontario James Bay Treaty virtual exhibit

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 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’s 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.
• General, Sara and General, Alyssa M. Treaty Baby. Spirit & Intent, 2016.
• Lynxleg, Betty. Treaty Tales (Set of 3). Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, 2015.
• Misiak, Zig. Wampum: The Story of Shaylyn the Clam. Illustrated by Jennifer Bettio. Brantford: Real Peoples History, 2015.
• Robertson, Robbie. Hiawatha and the Peacemaker. Illustrated by David Shannon. New York: Abrams Books, 2015.
• 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.
• Rose, Simon. Understanding Canadian Government and Citizenship. Beech Street Books, 2020.
• Switzer, Maurice. We are all Treaty People. Illustrated by Charley Hebert. North Bay: Union of Ontario Indians, 2011.

Youth books

• Gilio-Whitaker Dina. As Long As the Grass Grows. Beacon Books, 2020.
• Joseph, Bob and Joseph, Cynthia. Indigenous Relations. Indigenous Relations Press, 2020.
• 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.
• Miller, J.R. Compact, Contract, Covenant: Aboriginal Treaty-Making in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009.
• Poetzer, Greg and Ken S. Coates. From Treaty Peoples to Treaty Nation: A Road Map for All Canadians. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2016.

Academic books

• Angus, Charlie (2015) Children of the Broken Treaty: Canada’s Lost Promise and One Girl’s Dream. University of Regina Press, 2015.
• Asch, Michael. On Being Here to Stay: Treaties and Aboriginal Rights in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2014.
• Blair, Peggy. Lament for a First Nation: The Williams Treaties of Southern Ontario. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2008.
• Bohaker, Heidi. Doodem and Council Fire: Anishinaabe Governance Through Alliance. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2020.
• Borrows, John and Michael Coyle, eds. The Right Relationship: Reimagining the Implementation of Historical Treaties. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2017
• Calverley, David. Who Controls the Hunt? First Nations, Treaty Rights, and Wildlife Conservation in Ontario, 1783-1939. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2018.
• Fenge, Terry and Jim Aldrige, eds. Keeping Promises: The Royal Proclamation of 1763, Aboriginal Rights, and Treaties in Canada. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2015.
• Long, John S. Treaty No. 9: Making the Agreement to Share the Land in Far Northern Ontario in 1905. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2010.
• Luby, Brittany. Dammed: The Politics of Loss and Survival in Anishinaabe Territory. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 2020.
• Macklem, Patrick and Douglas Sanderson, eds. From Recognition to Reconciliation: Essays on the Constitutional Entrenchment of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2015.
• Morin, Jean-Pierre. Solemn Words and Foundational Documents: An Annotated Discussion of Indigenous-Crown Treaties in Canada, 1752-1923. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2018.
• Morris, Alexander (1880-1991). The Treaties of Canada with the Indians of Manitoba and the North-West Territories including the Negotiations on which they were based. Belfords, Clarke & Co, Toronto.
• Tidridge, Nathan. The Queen at the Council Fire: The Treaty of Niagara, Reconciliation, and the Dignified Crown in Canada. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2015.