Treaty-Making in Canada - Essay Example

Treaty Making in Canada- The Analysis Introduction History has a lot to say about the relationship of British Crown and the First Canadian Nations. Canada, which was a disputed region at the start, left significant events of transcendence and human conflict. At some point, Colonists were at the rise and at the other, indigenous were at the point for making out the difference. For Colonists it was about power and greed to rule, and for aboriginals it was about maintaining the integrity of their identity and culture. Focusing on lives of aboriginals and their relationships with the predominant Colonists, this essay will investigate the treaties of the Upper and Lower Canada. Thus, how the treaties formed and replicated in different periods of time is the question to investigate. The objective of this critical analysis is to weight and understand the approaches taken by both parties in the formation and approval of treaties. The Era of Early Treaties After the first American Revolution, both British Crown and First Nations’ leadership reviewed their position and relationship with each other. The First Nations which became refugees as a result of American War of Independence looked forward to make favorable decisions in the land treaties. Similarly, British Crown knew the importance of First Nations’ Indigenous Soldiers and recounted on its decision for signing the treaties of their lands. After giving major sacrifice by fighting the American revolutionists, and becoming refugees in the war, the First Nations’ people knew that the Crown will reward them in some manner and at some point of time. It was just the matter of correct time to ask for the reward and some gain in return of their loyalties (Miller 93). 1812 was the year when British Colonists saw the American Revolutionists coming back once again to fight the war. This time the invaders were invading with more force and coming to reclaim their lost possessions, lost in the first conflict. It was about readjusting the geographical possession. To fight or to resist the revolutionists once again British Colonists needed support from the First Nations, who were in a better control than Colonists to resist the Revolutionists. First Nations had much effective military and they had a good authority over the land position during the times of war. This time the First Nations’ set major expectations from the Crown. They decided to show support if Crown is to adjust treaties, which will reserve them some lands alongside the Great Lakes. However, one of significant implications of the land treaties was the adjustment of Canadian colonists alongside the Great Lakes. After the treaties implied, the First Nations’ shared the land with Canadian colonists, who were greater in number and were in a better political position to take charge of the region. It was the Indian Department, which actually made such land treaties possible between Crown and First Nations. The Indian Department played a role of negotiator. The department projected importance of First Nations to the Colonists, bringing the Crown to realize that without securing indigenous rights, the Colonists cannot sustain rule in the region. The department actually strengthened position of First Nations in alliance with the Crown and with Canadian settlers (Miller 95). Events after the Second Conflict After affirmation of treaties settled in between 1812 to 1815, the Crown was more in a dominant position than indigenous segment (Miller 94). Although the Indian Department tried at best to decide equal distinctions, but still the Crown was successful in taking charge and control over Upper Canada. As they were larger in number so they controlled the indigenous groups and segments. Again the First Nations had to surrender their rightful lands as the influence of Canadian settlers was much on the Crown and the settlers were actually the emblem of Crown in Upper Canada. They were a representation of British Colonist Rule in the region against any of indigenous segment or movement. Yes, the First Nations were allies, but only in sense of trade, agriculture or military. The basic strategy which Colonists implied to keep their dominance in the region was the ownership of the indigenous lands. Time and again with money and power Colonist traders started to settle down and own indigenous lands in the Upper Canada. They augmented treaties which gained them more lands, and more trade from the indigenous segment. All of this pushed the First Nations to revisit their position in relation with Crown and its conventional segment like “the Canadian Colonists”. They had to do something significant to come if not in equal, in a good position against the Colonist rule. With some institutional and legal battle, the First Nations fought for about a century or more, they were successful to occupy the lands near Central Ontario. Central Ontario was in the possession of First Nations since 1923, as a result of “William Treaties”, treaties that bolted the impression of First Nations in the region. But this was all achieved by First Nations after a major struggle and an extremely painstaking journey in time. In between they kept themselves satisfied with temporary or short term acquisitions, like exchange of goods and trade dealings with Colonist traders for some wage or compensation. Similarly, the First Nations were always successful in gaining arms and military resources from Colonists. The Colonists knew that the indigenous are good fighters so they provided them with apt military baseline and composition. The First Nations used this military richness for maintaining their presence in the region. However, this was all less comparable than what the Colonists and the Crown gained in their relation with First Nations (Germain 27). The conflict between Colonists and American Revolutionists in 1812 ended with a peace settlement, leaving behind some critical impacts on relations of Colonists with First Nations. As peace was established, so the role of First Nations groups in military became a little less insignificant and the Colonists minimized their need of military from First Nations’ groups. From there onwards, all what they needed was to inspire First Nation tribes through British culture and tradition. Thus, many representatives of Indian origin stepped forward to establish British culture in their society as an inspiration and acceptable culture of the new world. They took initiatives to encourage and bring the indigenous tribes closer to British culture. After all, British rulers wanted their culture to prevail in Canada so they picked and installed Indian agents to make this happen. To motivate First Nations’ tribes, Indian agents assured Christianity in both Upper and Lower Canada, which was actually part of indigenous culture, the culture of Ojibway tribe in Canada. The Indian agents assured First Nations more work opportunities from Colonists in the agriculture segment, and again it was to bring First Nations closer to British lifestyle and sedentary (Miller 97). Transgressions of the Colonial Rule between 1812 and 1850 The period between 1812 up till 1850 was much important in terms of treaties and agreements. Each side in this period was peculiarly conscious to earn maximum from any new treaty or before signing any revised agreement. However, the gains were much prominent on the side of the Crown, as it had more authority than aboriginals to rule out any treaty during the period. The Colonists who were primary settlers in Canada had power in both institutional and legal ends. They used this power to occupy indigenous lands in different areas of Canada. Again the period from 1812 up till 1850 was crucial in terms of land capturing from Colonists and land surrender from the indigenous tribes. The Robinson-Superior treaties were important in this period, which brought rights for Colonists to work on indigenous lands. In such settlements, the lands of Superior brought minerals and animal fur, which earned much profits and incomes for Colonist traders. For indigenous people, more opportunities of work developed with these signed treaties. Under the terms of Robinson-Superior treaties, right of land ownership was sustained by the Indigenous, and right of working was obtained by the Colonists. This way, the above mentioned treaties favored both parties; the Crown and First Nations altogether (Ray, Miller and Tough 6). The period of 1850s showed some significant events in the West of Canada. It was actually the West Coast where a different kind of relationship developed between Colonists and First Nations. Colonists relied and trusted Indigenous people for the fur trade, as they were the ones who assisted them in animal care and cattle farming. This period gave a second chance to both Indigenous and Colonists to work out their relationship, especially the work relationship, which favored them both in some significant manner. Vancouver was the next place for the arrival of Colonist traders after these settlements took place. The traders approached Vancouver aboriginals for assisting them in fur and agriculture business. They showed intent to develop long term diplomatic relationship with the aboriginals and this was to establish their business in a progressive and successive manner. Historians assert that at this period, Colonists utilized the resources of aboriginals quite sufficiently (Miller 125). They used their lands and their work capability to grow their business. After all, it was all to strengthen the British trade regime that was settling in the Western corners of North America at that point of time. Simultaneously, James Douglas treaties came out important as they allowed Colonists to work in important Vancouver territories like Vancouver Island. As result of such trade oriented treaties, aboriginals obtained healthy cash payments, allowing Colonial traders to go for hours on fish hunting. This was how treaties slightly favored both parties (Miller 98). Birth of Canada and the Indian Act Fifty years of dominance of the Colonists in Northern America resulted in a country called Canada on July 1 1867 (Miller 133). The journey was long and contained different shifts and transcending periods. There came the origin of Dominion of Canada, a body that represented Colonist rule in the region. The country’s government and its policies came all under the shade of this administrative body. After 1867, aboriginals were constrained to live under policies and conditions of National Colonists. With certain grievances on their policies, the aboriginals came with the Indian Act laid down by Indian Department in between 1867 to 1875 era (Miller 132). This Act was actually the consolidated version of policies proposed by aboriginals against the National government legislature. The Act gave gravity to living rights of aboriginal Indians, giving them a reason to become citizens of Northwest Territories. This was how the Indian Department once again came into public favor with forceful and powerful representation of Indigenous people in the region. Whether it came to promoting rights, resources, lands or any other political affirmation of Indigenous, the Department used Indian Act to make it all possible. Amendments in the Act were substantial in order to assure strong position of aboriginals in the country politics. The amendments were actually formed to make it possible for a new civilization to survive and develop, the civilization of aboriginals in the country to sustain and progress for long terms (Miller 140). Conclusion After the second American Invasion, there was a shift felt in relationship of Crown and the First Nations’ people. The indigenous tribes were not ready to join the British adventure this time around, at least not without gaining any significant advantage. This time they demanded and expected more from the Crown that is if the Crown assured security of their lands from invaders, they would join the cause of Colonists and would show powerful resistance to the invaders. However, things came out a slight different from the expectations of Indigenous people. After invaders departed, the Colonists strengthened their roots into the North, not allowing indigenous to take hold on any major distinction in the region. Actually, the plan for Colonists was much different from what the First Nations thought or ever understood. The Colonists went on with the complete movement of establishing their empire. To rule from the top is what eventually Colonists planned for after the invaders left forever. It was in 1860s, when Colonists confirmed their dominance in all, from North to the West and from Upper to the Lower Canada. They established successful trade regime and a government that brought every indigenous under its shade. From all the comprehensive analysis of the events of treaties, it would be no wrong to conclude that Crown was in a much better position than aboriginals. The Crown eventually turned up treaties for their long term goals, where as aboriginals earned temporary gains and benefits in most of the treaties. It is to conclude that treaties made prominent difference in the history of Crown than for aboriginals. Top of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Works Cited St, Germain, J. Broken Treaties: United States and Canadian Relations with the Lakotas and the Plains Cree, 1868-1885. Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 2009.Print. Miller, J. R. Compact, Contract, Covenant: Aboriginal Treaty-making in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009.Print. Ray, Arthur J., Jim R. Miller and Frank Tough. Bounty and Benevolence: A History of Saskatchewan Treaties. Kingston: McGill-Queens Press, 2002.Print. Read More