The Power of Unity, The Dignity of Difference
Treaties within Matawa
A Treaty is a formal agreement between sovereign Nations that defines how they will co-exist and share lands and resources. For Indigenous Nations, Treaties are not only legal documents but also sacred agreements that affirm Nationhood and the inherent right to self-determination.
Within Matawa territory, both pre- and post-Confederation Treaties exist:
-
The Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850 (Pre-Confederation). Long Lake #58 First Nation falls within Robinson-Superior Treaty territory but asserts it is not a signatory to the treaty.
-
The 1905 James Bay Treaty No. 9 (Post-Confederation) was one of the last treaties to be made in Canada and the only treaty signed by the province, and covers the territories of Aroland, Constance Lake, Eabametoong, Ginoogaming, Marten Falls, Neskantaga, Nibinamik, and Webequie First Nations.
Treaty-making was both oral and written, conducted at a time when Indigenous Nations did not speak or write English. These living, international agreements remain valid today and continue to affirm our sovereign relationships.
Treaties are recognized in Section 35 of the Constitution Act (1982) and in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP, 2007), which calls for free, prior, and informed consent in all dealings with First Nations lands and resources.
The Indigenous Nations within Matawa existed long before the Treaties, guided by our own laws and governance systems. These laws define responsibilities to future generations, ancestral homelands, and natural resources, and continue to affirm our inherent and pre-existing jurisdiction today.
Eight of the nine Matawa First Nations are members of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), joining 41 other First Nations in political advocacy and shared priorities. The majority of NAN members are Treaty No. 9 beneficiaries. Learn more at NAN Treaties. Long Lake #58 First Nation is a member of the Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 First Nations across Ontario. Their membership is without prejudice to their position regarding Treaty status.
A Note on Interpretation
While Canadian courts have ruled on Aboriginal and Treaty rights for more than a century, First Nations often disagree with how those rights are interpreted. From the First Nations’ perspective, rights are not granted by Canadian law but rooted in pre-existing sovereignty. The existence of Treaties themselves affirms this sovereignty and the Nation-to-Nation relationship that continues today.
