Mi’kmaw History Month, Treaty Day, Indian Act, & Mi’kmaq Educational Information

Land Acknowledgment

We would like to begin by acknowledging that the STFX Students’ Union and the experiences within it are located in Mi’kma’ki (MEEG-MA-GEE), the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. 

This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship, which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources but in fact, recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik titles and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations. 


Treaty Day
& Mi’kmaw History Month 

Treaty Day – October 1st

Overview: Treaty Day, celebrated annually on October 1st, marks the beginning of Mi’kmaq History Month in Nova Scotia. This day commemorates the signing of the Peace and Friendship Treaties in the 1700s between the Mi’kmaq Nation and the British Crown. It is a day to honor the unique relationship that has existed for centuries and to promote public awareness of Mi’kmaq culture and heritage.

Historical Significance

  • 1752 Treaty: The Treaty of 1752 was signed between Jean Baptiste Cope, Chief Sachem of the Mi’kmaq, and Peregrine Thomas Hopson, Governor of Nova Scotia. The Treaty was meant to establish peace, provide trading posts, and protect the Mi’kmaq way of life. It also designated October 1st as the day for the Mi’kmaq to receive gifts from the Crown, renewing their friendship and commitments. 

  • Supreme Court Ruling (1985): In 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the validity of the 1752 Treaty, confirming the continuing relationship between the Mi’kmaq and the Crown. 

  • Proclamation of Treaty Day (1986): The following year, Grand Chief Donald Marshall Sr. proclaimed October 1st as Treaty Day, a time to commemorate the special relationship between the Mi’kmaq and the Crown. Since then, this day has been celebrated annually.

 

Cultural Importance

Treaty Day is a time for the Mi’kmaq community and all Nova Scotians to come together and reflect on the significance of the treaties. It is not only a day of commemoration but also a day of celebration, featuring cultural events, gatherings, and ceremonies that highlight Mi’kmaq traditions, history, and heritage. 

Mi’kmaw History Month

October is Mi’kmaq History Month in Nova Scotia, a time dedicated to building awareness of Mi’kmaq history and heritage. Established in 1993 by Premier John Savage and Mi’kmaq Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy, the month aims to increase understanding of the province’s rich Mi’kmaq culture. 

Each year, the Mi’kmaw History Month (MHM) Committee creates a poster as a resource for teaching about Mi’kmaq history and culture. This year’s theme (2024) focuses on the importance of food in Mi’kmaw culture, from sharing pɨteway (tea) at kitchen tables to harvesting and preserving traditional foods. Mi’kmaw History Month is a time to educate, celebrate, and honor the deep cultural roots of the Mi’kmaq people.

Community Involvement

Each year, people gather in Halifax and other locations across Nova Scotia to participate in Treaty Day celebrations. These events bring families and communities together, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Mi’kmaq Nation’s history, culture, and contributions. It is a reunion for many Mi’kmaq and a time for people to learn a part of Nova Scotia’s 12,000-year-old history. 

Legacy

Although many treaty promises remain unfulfilled, Treaty Day serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring relationship between the Mi’kmaq Nation and the Crown. It is a day to honor the commitments made in the treaties and to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Mi’kmaq people. 

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Indian Act 

Introduction

The Indian Act, established on April 12, 1876, is the principal law used by the Canadian federal government to administer Indian status, local First Nations governments, and the management of reserve lands and communal monies. Although it has undergone numerous amendments to address its restrictive and oppressive measures, the Act has had significant and lasting impacts on First Nations cultures, economies, and communities. This Act does not include Métis or Inuit peoples, focusing solely on those recognized as "Indians" under the Act. 

Historical Background

The Indian Act consolidated earlier colonial laws that aimed to assimilate Indigenous peoples into Euro-Canadian society. These laws sought to control nearly every aspect of Indigenous life, from identity and political structures to cultural practices and education. Through the Department of Indian Affairs and its Indian agents, the Act granted the government sweeping powers, including determining Indigenous rights and benefits based on subjective judgments of “good moral character.” 

Key Provisions and Amendments

  • Assimilation Policies: The Indian Act was designed to assimilate Indigenous peoples by suppressing their cultural identities and replacing traditional governance structures with band councils. The Act also forbade religious ceremonies and cultural gatherings, such as the potlatch and the sun dance, effectively criminalizing key aspects of Indigenous life. 

  • Residential Schools: Amendments to the Indian Act required First Nations children to attend residential or industrial schools, a policy that has caused deep intergenerational trauma within Indigenous communities. 

  • Gender Discrimination: The Act defined who was considered an "Indian" under the law, privileging male lines of descent and excluding women who married non-status individuals. This gender-based discrimination persisted until amendments were made in 1985. 

  • Bill C-31 (1985): This amendment removed the enfranchisement clauses, allowing those who had lost status through marriage to regain it. However, it also introduced new complexities, such as the “Second-Generation Cut-Off” rule, which limits the transfer of status to future generations.

 

Legacy and Significance

Despite its many amendments, the Indian Act continues to outline the terms of Indian status, rules around reserves, and other aspects of life for First Nations people. The Act has been widely criticized for its role in perpetuating trauma and human rights violations against Indigenous peoples. Its legacy includes the ongoing impact of residential schools and other policies that have disrupted Indigenous cultures, economies, and communities. 

Things You Didn't Know About the Indian Act

As noted by Bob Joseph, the Indian Act has imposed various restrictions on First Nations people over its 140-year existence, many of which have had devastating effects on Indigenous communities. Here are some of the restrictions that were imposed at some point by the Indian Act that you may not know: 

  • Denied women status. 

  • Introduced residential schools. 

  • Created reserves and renamed individuals with European names. 

  • Restricted First Nations movement off reserves without permission from an “Indian agent”. 

  • Enforced enfranchisement (loss of status rights) of any First Nation admitted to university 

  • Declared potlatch and other cultural ceremonies illegal  

  • Forbade western First Nations from appearing in any public dance, show, exhibition, stampede or pageant wearing traditional regalia 

  • Forbade First Nations from forming political organizations and denied them the right to vote. 

  • Forbade First Nations from speaking their native language and from practicing their traditional religion 

  • Prohibited the sale of alcohol and ammunition to First Nations people. 

  • Imposed the "band council" system and forbade traditional governance.

 

Significant changes to the Indian Act were made in 1951 and 1985. The 1951 amendments removed some of the more overtly discriminatory practices, such as banning dances and ceremonies. The 1985 amendments, introduced through Bill C-31, sought to address gender discrimination but also introduced new challenges related to the transfer of status. 

Since the amendments to the Indian Act in 1985 were put in place, the number of registered Indians has more than doubled, from approximately 360,000 in 1985 to more than 778,000 in 2007. 

The Indian Act remains a controversial and complex piece of legislation, emblematic of Canada's troubled history with its Indigenous peoples. Its impacts continue to be felt across generations, making it a crucial subject of ongoing discussion and reform.   

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Peace and Friendship Treaties
& Truth and Reconciliation Day 

Peace and Friendship Treaties

The Peace and Friendship Treaties were signed on the East Coast with the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy nations before 1779. These treaties are solemn agreements that outline mutual promises, obligations, and benefits for both parties. The British Crown initiated these treaties to end hostilities and foster cooperation between the British and First Nations. In the context of the British and French rivalry for control over North America, these treaties also served as strategic alliances, crucial for the success or failure of European powers. 

Significance in Canadian Law

Since 1982, Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution recognizes and affirms existing Aboriginal and treaty rights, including those enshrined in the Peace and Friendship Treaties. This constitutional protection ensures that these treaties remain a vital part of Canadian law. 

Distinctiveness of the Peace and Friendship Treaties

Unlike many other historic treaties in Canada, such as the Upper Canada Treaties and the Numbered Treaties, the Peace and Friendship Treaties did not require First Nations to cede or surrender their land rights. Instead, these treaties focused on ending conflicts and fostering cooperation, while guaranteeing the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy peoples the continued right to use and occupy their traditional lands and resources.

Historical Context

Between 1725 and 1779, Britain signed a series of Peace and Friendship Treaties with various Indigenous nations, including the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), Abenaki, Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy peoples. These treaties were primarily designed to prevent war and facilitate trade. Importantly, they guaranteed hunting, fishing, and land-use rights for the descendants of the Indigenous signatories, and these rights remain in effect today.  

Treaty Day

Every year on October 1st, Treaty Day is celebrated to officially recognize the historic Peace and Friendship Treaties between the Mi’kmaq and the Crown. This day reaffirms the rights guaranteed by these treaties, such as the right to hunt, fish, gather, and earn a reasonable living. It's a day to reflect on the ongoing significance of these treaties and the fact that Mi’kma’ki remains unceded Mi'kmaq territory.  

Our Role as Treaty People

These treaties establish the foundation for coexistence in this part of the country. They are not just about rights for the Mi'kmaq people but also about obligations for the government and the broader public. As residents of this land, we are all treaty people, with rights and responsibilities to uphold the spirit and terms of these historic agreements.  

Truth and Reconciliation Day - Honoring Survivors and Remembering the Lost

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, a day to honor the children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as Survivors, their families, and communities. Public commemoration of the painful history and the ongoing impacts of residential schools is crucial to the reconciliation process.  

Residential Schools in Canada

Between 1867 and 1996, 140 federally run residential schools operated across Canada. These schools were part of a broader policy of cultural assimilation that caused deep and lasting harm to Indigenous communities. Survivors of residential schools have long advocated for recognition, reparations, and accountability for the intergenerational impacts of this system. 

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada was established in 2008 as part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. The TRC provided a platform for Survivors and others affected by residential schools to share their experiences. The Commission's work culminated in a six-volume final report, released in 2015, which characterized the residential school system as a form of cultural genocide and issued 94 Calls to Action.  

Call to Action 80

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation directly responds to Call to Action 80, which calls for the establishment of a federal statutory holiday to honor Survivors and ensure that the history and legacy of residential schools are publicly commemorated as a vital part of the reconciliation process.

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Mi’kmaq 

Mi’kmaq are Indigenous peoples who are among the original inhabitants in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. Alternative names for the Mi’kmaq appear in some historical sources and include Gaspesians, Souriquois and Tarrantines. Contemporary Mi’kmaq communities are located predominantly in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but with a significant presence in Quebec, Newfoundland, Maine and the Boston area.  

Interesting facts you may not know about the Mi'kmaq

  • In the 2021 census, 70,640 people claimed Mi’kmaw ancestry. 

  • In 2022, the Mi'kmaq language was recognized as the first language of Nova Scotia. 

  • On 7 April 2022, the Government of Nova Scotia introduced the Mi'kmaw Language Act. This legislation enshrines the Mi'kmaq language as the province’s first language. It also supports efforts to protect and revitalize the language. The Act is seen as a step toward reconciliation. 

  • Oral history and archeological evidence place the Mi’kmaq in Mi’kma’ki for more than 10,000 years. 

  • Music is an important element of Mi’kmaq culture. Many traditional songs and chants are still sung during spiritual rituals, feasts, mawiomi (gatherings), cultural ceremonies and powwows. In some cases, Mi’kmaq chants consisted of vocables (spoken syllables) as a means of expressing emotion, rather than words with meanings. 

  • Mi’kmaq spirituality is influenced by and closely connected to the natural world. The Mi’kmaq believe that living a good, balanced life means respecting and protecting the environment and living in harmony with the people and creatures that live on the earth.  

  • Analysis of the Mi’kmaq language enhances the fundamental importance of this worldview. Rather than a sequential, time-based verb tense structure (as in English), the Mi’kmaq language is experiential, relying on the evidence of the speaker to convey meaning. 

  • The Mi’kmaq, like most Indigenous groups, use stories to tell about the past and about their spirituality. Mi’kmaq oral tradition explains that the world was created in seven stages. The Creator made the sky, the sun, Mother Earth and then the first humans: Glooscap and his grandmother, nephew and mother. From sparks of fire that Glooscap commanded to come forth, came seven men and seven women — the founding families of the seven Mi’kma’ki districts. There are many other origin stories that describe how things came to be and how to live a good life. 

  • Due to their proximity to the Atlantic, the Mi’kmaq were among the first peoples in North America to interact with European explorers, fishermen and traders. As a result, they quickly suffered depopulation and socio-cultural disruption. Some historians estimate that European diseases resulted in a loss of up to half the Mi’kmaq population from about 1500 to 1600. 

  • Prolonged conflict between French and British colonial powers often pulled Mi’kmaq into the fray. The Mi’kmaq were largely allied with French colonial forces, which had established settlements across Acadia until the 18th century. During that time, and after conflicts with Britain, the Mi’kmaq signed treaties in 1726, 1749, 1752 and 1760–61, followed by two treaties to secure alliances during the American Revolution. These were known as the Peace and Friendship Treaties. The 1726 treaty was the foundation for the subsequent treaties. 

  • As of January 2024, there were 13 Mi’kmaq nations in Nova Scotia with a total registered population of 19,157.

 

Important Dates (Days of Significance)

  • September 17 – Anniversary of the Donald Marshall Jr 

  • September 30 – Truth and Reconciliation 

  • October 1 – Treaty Day and start of Mikmaw History Month 

  • October 4 – Sisters in Spirit (October 2nd on campus) 

  • June – National Indigenous History Month 

  • June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day 

  • January 4 – National Ribbon Skirt Day  

  • March 19 – 2 Spirit Awareness Day 

  • May 5 – Red Dress Day (on campus it is on a different day)

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