we are all
treaty people
Turning Tides: Sustainable Ocean Conference 2023 is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq People—the past, present, and future caretakers of this land.
Turning Tides: Sustainable Ocean Conference 2023 is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaw People—the past, present, and future caretakers of this land.
Mi’kmaw People thrived on and cared for this land long before John Cabot arrived on the shores of Mi’kma’ki in 1497 and occupied what we now know as the Atlantic provinces. Today, Mi’kma’ki is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1725. Notably, these treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) title, establishing rules for what was to be an ongoing nation to nation relationship.
Despite continuous rights violations by the British Crown and the Government of Canada, the Mi’kmaq Nation continues to fight for rights recognition. Today, Mi’kmaw leaders across five bands in Mi’kma’ki advocate for the protection of Aboriginal and Treaty rights whilst pursuing a prosperous future for Mi’kmaw peoples that is rooted in Indigenous sovereignty and culture.
At the Sustainable Ocean Conference, we look to respect and promote the role Mi’kmaw researchers, practitioners, and community members within our programming and will continue to create and hold space for conversations regarding truth and reconciliation within the field of marine management. We are all Treaty people.
We are All Treaty People
Treaties are a meaningful part of the past, present and future between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous people, representing nation-to-nation agreements to share resources, power and land.
As agreements pertaining to two parties—the Crown and the Mi’kmaq Nation (in the case of the Peace and Friendship Treaties) Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are all treaty people who continue to be impacted by them today. However, while European settlers and governments in Canada have failed to honour and implement the true nature of these agreements throughout history, Indigenous peoples have continuously fought to have the sacredness of these treaties recognized.
As we move forward, we must understand that whilst colonizers continue to reap the benefits of these Treaties, the inherent rights of Mi’kmaw peoples (of which should be protected by Treaties) continue to be tread upon. As Treaty people, non-Indigenous people in Canada must support and amplify the voices of Indigenous peoples as they continue to forge forward in the pursuit of self autonomy and rights recognition.”