Page 2 of the Williams Treaty with the Mississauga Indians of Rice, Mud and Scugog Lakes and Alderville, November 15, 1923. Image: Library and Archives Canada
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Resource ID
8105
Access
Open
Credit Line
Library and Archives Canada
Date of Creation
15 November 1923
Keywords
Program Category
Rights
Government of Canada
Caption
Page 2 of the Williams Treaty with the Mississauga Indians of Rice, Mud and Scugog Lakes and Alderville, November 15, 1923. Image: Library and Archives Canada
Description
The Williams Treaties were signed on October 31 and November 15, 1923, by seven Anishinaabe First Nations and representatives of the governments of Canada and Ontario. Participating First Nations included the Mississaugas of Alderville, Curve Lake, Hiawatha, and Scugog Island.
In 1923, the governments of Ontario and Canada appointed a three-man commission — known as the Williams Commission — to address lands that had not been surrendered via treaty. The territory covered by both Williams Treaties stretched from the northern shore of Lake Ontario to Lake Nipissing, and together cover approximately 52,000 km².
Terms were dictated by the government. In exchange for the land, the First Nations received $233,425, or approximately $3 million today, plus a one-time stipend of $25 to individual band members.
In 1992, the seven Williams Treaties First Nations filed a lawsuit seeking financial compensation and harvesting rights. In 2018, a negotiated settlement was reached providing $1.11 billion in financial compensation, recognition of treaty harvesting rights, an entitlement for each First Nation to add up to 11,000 acres to their reserve land base, and federal and provincial apologies.