Welcome to this curriculum resource on Treaty Education. This initiative in Treaty Education was spearheaded by the Three Nations Education Group Inc. to address the recommendations in education of the Federal Government’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the New Brunswick Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s commitment to have Treaty Education taught throughout the curriculum.
This teaching resource has been created so young people throughout New Brunswick can better understand the treaties that were agreed to by the Indigenous people of New Brunswick with the British Crown. Originally, treaties were struck for the benefit of the British. Initially, they were renewed and ratified during times of British conflict with the French to secure Aboriginal neutrality. Indigenous people had supported the French during their wars with the British. These are called Peace and Friendship Treaties and were signed in the 18th century. Their purpose was to achieve peace between both sides. Unlike other treaties signed in Canada there was no mention, much less surrender of land at all in any of the treaties. These treaties have stood for a much longer time period than other treaties in Canada. Their intent was to preserve peace and friendship and to allow both English and Indigenous parties to maintain their ways of life. They were signed and sometimes renewed between government leaders of the British crown and Waponahkey (Wabanaki) Nations – Wolastoqewiyik, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy (Peskotomuhkati), Penobscot, and Abenaki. Treaties remain in force and effect today.
For more information on the initiative, please consult the following reference : « Handbook on Approaches to Teaching about Treaty Education Grades 3-5 ».
