The Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs is hosting a virtual series in honour of the sixth annual Treaties Recognition week.
Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux spoke to a digital audience about Canada’s history of treaties and communication with Indigenous communities.
She provided an overview of what treaties are and how they need to be upheld and defined by modern terms.
Further, she provides practical steps towards addressing reconciliation, especially on trauma and settlements regarding Canada's residential school system and their impacts on survivors and multiple generations.
Other examples of ongoing disputes that require modern definitions include the Mi'kmaq lobster fisheries dispute in Nova Scotia.
The dispute is rooted in a 1999 Supreme Court ruling that gives Indigenous lobster fishers the right to fish during off-seasons, however Wesley-Esquimaux said it does not outline specific numbers or details on sales of the lobster. The ruling is part of the Halifax Treaties, which date back to 1760.
She concludes her presentation by stating that for each example she provided, a concrete first step to each one involves finding solutions for reconciliation. This can be achieved through the acknowledgement that "something along the way went wrong between settlers and the Indigenous nations," and that both parties to a treaty need to be willing to work together.
Ontario minister of Indigenous affairs, Greg Rickford, issued a statement for Treaties and Recognition week:
"This week, Ontario is marking the sixth annual Treaties Recognition Week by encouraging students and the public to learn about treaties from diverse Indigenous perspectives and supporting greater understanding of the importance of treaties in Ontario."
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