Treaty Rights

Treaty rights refer to Aboriginal rights set out in a treaty. Starting in 1701, in what was to eventually become Canada, the British Crown entered into treaties to encourage peaceful relations with First Nations. Some early treaties, like the Peace and Friendship Treaties in the Atlantic region, were strategic alliances. Other later treaties, such as the Numbered Treaties in Ontario, Prairies, as well as parts of the Northwest Territories (1871 to 1921), involved First Nations ceding or surrendering rights to the land in exchange for treaty rights. While no two treaties are identical, examples of treaty rights across Canada included such things as reserve lands, farming equipment and animals, annual payments, ammunition, clothing and certain rights to hunt & fish, Treaty rights are protected under S.35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.