NAN Launches Interactive Website to Promote Treaty Education and Awareness
THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler invites everyone to learn more about the sacred relationship between NAN First Nations and their Treaty partners with our new Treaty Education and Awareness website launched this week.
“Treaties are a crucial part of this country’s history. This interactive website is a great opportunity for people across Turtle Island to learn about Treaties from the First Nations’ perspective and gain a better understanding of the relationship between our communities and our Treaty partners,” said Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. “Our ancestors made Treaty with the Crown to share and prosper as partners. The resources on this website will help people understand the spirit and intent of the Treaties and what that means today.”
Launched during Treaties Recognition Week (Nov. 5-11), the website promotes education and awareness of the Ojibway, Oji-Cree, and Cree people of Nishnawbe Aski territory, and offers a historical narrative of Treaty No. 9 and the Ontario portion of Treaty No. 5. It also serves as a hub for oral history told by Elders complete with audio recordings on the history and significance of our Treaties.
First entered into in 1905-1906, Treaty No. 9 covers the watersheds of James Bay and Hudson Bay, approximately two-thirds of the landmass of the Ontario. Treaty No. 9 established the nationhood of Nishnawbe Aski Nation. It is the only Treaty signed by both Canada and Ontario. Treaty No. 5 was signed in 1875 with an adhesion signed in 1910 to include several NAN First Nations near the Manitoba border.
The website was developed by NAN’s Governance and Treaty Implementation Department and NAN’s Treaty Education Program with funding from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Ontario (IAO).
The website contains more than 20 pages of information around Treaty-making, pre-Treaty events, and the signing of Treaty No. 9 and Treaty No. 5. Visitors can access educational links, documents, and video on the Treaties through the website.
Visit the website: https://nantreaties.ca/
For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman,
Director of Communications
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca