Treaty+Question

=__TREATY QUESTION__=

** How are treaty negotiations now-days different from how they were when the first treaty was signed? **   ** By: Frances Stoneham ** In 1871, the first ever treaty between the Europeans and the First Nations people was established. This event helped to create more treaties through-out Saskatchewan and helped to ease the contact between the two peoples. But this does not necessarily mean that every one was happy about these negotiations. At the time, sure, everyone seemed happy enough – the Europeans were acquiring land and resources, and the First Nations people were trying to build for the future by getting help with diseases, food, and also fur trading. But after the treaties were signed, the First Nations people realized that what they had had wanted for the treaties had not been put into affect. They had believed that the treaties stated the essence of their talks – that they would accept the monarch, but simply as a kin figure; a sort of protector on the sidelines. In reality, what the treaties stated was what the Europeans wanted – to recognize First Nations people as equal nations, to be recognized as rulers themselves and to be given increasing amounts of land by the First Nations for settlement and safety reasons. These wrongly made laws angered the First Nations people. This anger is what began the change in negotiations. In 1763, before the treaties were signed, there was a royal proclamation made that stated that First Nations people are to be treated equally, and that any land had to be bought from the First Nations themselves. These rules had not been followed to the extent that they should have been. Even today, many First Nations are not treated fairly or equally by the government. The OTC (office of the treaty commissioner) is trying to change this. To bring more respect into the picture, and to help all people be treated as equals, as they should be.