The Journey of Reconciliation: Understanding our Treaty Past, Present and Future

* Julie Jai is an Associate Fellow of the Caledon Institute and has held senior positions in the field of Aboriginal law in the Ontario and Yukon governments and the Government of Canada.

All Canadians are parties to the treaties between the Crown and Aboriginal peoples. Understanding this treaty relationship is an important step towards reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

This paper is a primer on Canada’s treaties.  These include historic treaties signed in the 19th and early 20th centuries as well as modern treaties covering almost half of Canada, mainly in the North.  Why did governments enter into treaties, how have they been interpreted and implemented, and what are the potential benefits that treaties can bring if they are respected? What is the legal status of treaty rights?

Treaties are constitutionally protected, legally enforceable agreements.  They are not frozen in time but operate on an ongoing basis.  Understanding and acknowledging our treaty past, present and future will help us work towards a new relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, with long-term benefits for everyone.