"We Are All Treaty People" is a slide presentation by the London District Chiefs Council which provides a visual timeline of our history and illustration of our relationship with the Crown as represented by the Government of Canada.

1. We are all Treaty People
Welcome
To Our Territory

2. We are the Original People of this Land.

3. Before contact in 1492, we were free to live
our lives, with our own governance structures,
economies, languages and belief systems.

4. 1492 Contact

5. Christopher Columbus believes he’s in India when
he lands in the Caribbean, begins ‘Indian’ misnomer.

6. Doctrine of Discovery, a decree from the Church
gives explorers the right to take non-catholic lands.

7. Today, churches denounce the
‘Doctrine of Discovery’

8. A preliminary study by the UN finds the Doctrine of
Discovery to be the root of human rights violations
against Indigenous Peoples around the world.

9. The 1763 Royal Proclamation gave King
George III ownership to over North America.

10. To make peace, the King of England initiated the Treaty process,
where First Nations and the Crown agreed to serve and
protect the other. The 1764 Niagara Treaty was such a peace
treaty and is represented by a Wampum Belt.

11. The Royal Proclamation confirmed Aboriginal title
before and after 1763, and declared all lands would
remain Aboriginal land until ceded by treaty.

12. 19 treaties were entered into between First Nations and the
Crown within southwestern Ontario. Every treaty ever made
has been violated in some way, often within days and months of
being signed.

13. Treaties are internationally
recognized agreements,
between sovereign Nations.
Nation to NationNation to Nation

14. The War of 1812 saw many Indigenous Nations stand
and fall with the British to prevent American
expansion northward.
expansion northward.

15. Treaties are mutually beneficial agreements
to all people of Canada.
to all people of Canada.

16. Settlers and their descendants benefit from the
wealth generated from the land and the
foundational rights provided in the treaties.

17. We are All Treaty People!

18. A treaty called the London Purchase in 1796, allowed
London to be established within Indigenous Territory.

19. Parliament passes the Indian Act, with the
goal of treating Indigenous Peoples as
wards or children of the state.

20. Canada adopted an assimilationist policy based
on elements of social Darwinism, which viewed
Indigenous peoples as an inferior race, unfit to
live. Social Darwinism was also embraced by
both Nazism and Apartheid regimes.

21. Less than 100 years ago, Indigenous farmers out-
produced settlers. But without land ownership, we
couldn't get bank loans to keep pace with agricultural
advancements and buy combines, tractors and other
equipment.

22. The first Indian residential schools
open in the 1850’s.

23. Residential Schools were created to
take the Indian out of the man.

24. Many residential schools taught First Nations students
how to be hired farm hands and household servants.

25. Children were severely punished for speaking their
languages and practicing their beliefs
in residential schools.

26. In 1874, Canada makes a critical decision to move away
from fostering First Nation autonomy and sought a path
of assimilation.

27. Before the 1940’s, First Nations were forced to
surrender Indian status, to attend college and university.

28. In the 1940’s, Canada’s reserve system inspires
elements of South Africa’s apartheid regime.

29. Between 1946 and 1948, Ottawa lifts bans on traditions
such as potlaches and powwows, in order to sign the
UN Declaration on Human Rights.

30. In 1951, First Nations are allowed to
hire lawyers for the first time.

31. First Nations are allowed to form political
groups for the first time, beginning in 1951.

32. In the 1960’s, Indigenous Peoples are
given the right to vote in Canada.

33. Later coined the 60’s Scoop, child apprehension
replaces residential schools as a new form
of ‘cultural genocide’.
of ‘cultural genocide’.

34. The 60’s Scoop saw Indigenous children apprehended
by government authorities, and fostered or adopted
out non-Indigenous families around the world.

35. Many children taken during the 60’s Scoop grew up
never knowing they were Indigenous, having been told
they were French or Italian.

36. Canada introduces the ‘White Paper’ in 1969 which
proposed to abolish Indian status in an effort to create
equality for all.

37. Canada’s ‘White Paper’ is dropped after a massive outcry
from Indigenous leaders who saw it as nothing more than an
attempt by Ottawa to walk away from treaty obligations.

38. Our Aboriginal & treaty rights are
recognized and affirmed in section 35
of the Canadian Constitution.
of the Canadian Constitution.

39. Our rights are recognized & affirmed
internationally by the United Nations.

40. We have won 175 court cases,
which affirm our rights!
which affirm our rights!

41. Through the passage of Bill C-45, Canada today is unilaterally
making changes to the Indian Act, which will expedite
surrenders of Indian lands.
Indians la
Indians la

42. Many First Nations live on reserves, yet we
cannot legally own our own land in Canada, as it
is held ‘in trust’ for our use by the Crown.
is held ‘in trust’ for our use by the Crown.

43. Thru Bill C-45, Canada violates its duty to consult First
Nations when it removes many fish habitat protections
and fails to recognize Aboriginal commercial fisheries.

44. Under Bill C-45 today, the new Navigation Protection
Act removes environmental assessments for all but 1%
of Canada’s waterways.

45. The new Navigation Protection Act paves the
way for development such as the Northern
Gateway pipeline.

46. Bill C-27 requires First Nation-owned businesses
to publicly report income and expenses,
undermining competitiveness. Non-First Nations
businesses are not held to the same standard.

47. There are more then 134 First Nation
communities in Ontario alone.
communities in Ontario alone.

48. Chiefs storm the House of Commons in an attempt to
speak with the Canadian government
over new legislation, such as Bill C-45.
over new legislation, such as Bill C-45.

49. The grassroots movement, Idle No More is born, to
raise awareness about Indigenous rights, and concerns
about dwindling environmental protections.

50. Attawapiskat Chief,Theresa Spence begins a hunger
strike in support of Idle No More, and to secure a
meeting with the Prime Minster and Governor General.

51. The London District Chiefs Council lends its support to
Idle No More and coordinates a massive Day of Action at
the Ambassador Bridge,Windsor Ontario, January 16.

52. There are almost 60 different Indigenous
languages in Canada. Of these only 3 are
considered safe from extinction.

53. The infant mortality rate for Indigenous
Peoples are between 2 and 4 times higher
than non-Indigenous people.

54. Indigenous people account for just 4%
of Canada’s population, yet we make up
23% of the prison population.
of Canada’s population, yet we make up
23% of the prison population.

55. First Nations’ rate of diabetes is
triple the national average.
triple the national average.

56. The high school drop out rate for
Indigenous students is 60%, compared to a
Canadian national average of 9.5%.

57. Despite a dark history, and current day
challenges ~ we remain proud Nations!
We have persevered!

58. We look forward to
working together to create a
better future for our children!

59. govern, and participate as full economic partners to
achieve a sustainable future for all.