''Treaty No. 9'' (also known as ''The James Bay Treaty'') is a numbered treaty first signed in 1905-1906 between

Anishinaabe The Anishinaabeg (adjectival: Anishinaabe) are a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples present in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. They include the Ojibwe (including Saulteaux and Oji-Cree), Odawa, Potawatomi, ...

(

Algonquin Algonquin or Algonquian—and the variation Algonki(a)n—may refer to: Languages and peoples *Algonquian languages, a large subfamily of Native American languages in a wide swath of eastern North America from Canada to Virginia **Algonquin la ...

and

Ojibway The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...

) and Omushkegowuk

Cree The Cree ( cr, néhinaw, script=Latn, , etc.; french: link=no, Cri) are a Indigenous peoples of the Americas, North American Indigenous people. They live primarily in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations in Canada ...

communities and the

Canadian Crown The monarchy of Canada is Canada's form of government embodied by the Canadian sovereign and head of state. It is at the core of Canada's constitutional federal structure and Westminster-style parliamentary democracy. The monarchy is the founda ...

, which includes both the government of

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

and the government of the province of

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

. It is commonly known as the "James Bay Treaty," since the eastern edge of the treaty territory is the shore of

James Bay James Bay (french: Baie James; cr, ᐐᓂᐯᒄ, Wînipekw, dirty water) is a large body of water located on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean, of which James Bay is the southernmost par ...

Northern Ontario Northern Ontario is a primary geographic and quasi-administrative region of the Canadian province of Ontario, the other primary region being Southern Ontario. Most of the core geographic region is located on part of the Superior Geological Pro ...

. By the early 1900s, both federal and provincial governments were interested in taking control of lands around the

Hudson Hudson may refer to: People * Hudson (given name) * Hudson (surname) * Henry Hudson, English explorer * Hudson (footballer, born 1986), Hudson Fernando Tobias de Carvalho, Brazilian football right-back * Hudson (footballer, born 1988), Hudso ...

and

watersheds in northern Ontario - traditionally home to

Oji-Cree The Oji-Cree are a First Nation in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, residing in a narrow band extending from the Missinaibi River region in Northeastern Ontario at the east to Lake Winnipeg at the west. The Oji-Cree people are des ...

, and

peoples. After nearly a year of delay from Ontario, in May 1905 both governments began negotiating in the terms of the treaty's written document. Although ratification of the treaty required the agreement of Indigenous peoples living in the territory, none of the Omushkegowuk and the

communities expected to sign were involved in creating the terms of the written document, nor were the terms permitted to change during the treaty expedition. One First Nations community in the bordering Abitibi region of northwestern

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

is included in this treaty. Further adhesions involving

and

Swampy Cree The Swampy Cree people, also known by their autonyms ''Néhinaw'', ''Maskiki Wi Iniwak'', ''Mushkekowuk,'' ''Maškékowak'' or ''Maskekon'' (and therefore also ''Muskegon'' and ''Muskegoes'') or by exonyms including ''West Main Cree,'' ''Lowlan ...

communities were signed in 1929 and 1937.

Timeline

* 29 June 1905: Duncan C. Scott and Samuel Stewart are appointed as treaty commissioners by the Government of Canada. Daniel G. MacMartin is appointed as commissioner by the province of Ontario. They would jointly conduct signing ceremonies with First Nations communities on a set route through the proposed treaty territory. * 3 July 1905: Agreement between province of Ontario and the federal Canadian government in support of ''Treaty 9''. * 12 July 1905: Osnaburgh (Mishkeegogamang First Nation) signing * 19 July 1905: Fort Hope (Eabametoong First Nation) signing * 25 July 1905: Marten Falls (Marten Falls First Nation) signing * 3 August 1905: Fort Albany (Fort Albany First Nation) signing * 9 August 1905:

Moose Factory Moose Factory is a community in the Cochrane District, Ontario, Canada. It is located on Moose Factory Island, near the mouth of the Moose River, which is at the southern end of James Bay. It was the first English-speaking settlement in lands n ...

signing * 21 August 1905: New Post (

Taykwa Tagamou Nation Taykwa Tagamou Nation ( cr, ᑕᐟᑾ ᑕᑲᒪᐤ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ tatkwa takamaw ininiwak, formerly known as New Post First Nation, is a Cree First Nations band government whose reserve community is located in the Cochrane District in Ontario, Ca ...

) signing * 7 June 1906: Abitibi (Wahgoshig First Nation) signing * 20 June 1906:

Matachewan Matachewan is a township in Timiskaming, Northeastern Ontario, Canada, located at the end of Ontario Highway 66 along the Montreal River. The name is derived from the Cree word for "meeting of the currents". The town's main economy is based o ...

signing * 7 July 1906: Mattagami (Mattagami First Nation) signing * 16 July 1906: Flying Post (

Flying Post First Nation Flying Post First Nation is an Ojibway and Cree First Nation band government in Nipigon, Ontario. It has a reserve called Flying Post 73. History Reserves were first established between the government and First Nations in Northern Ontario thro ...

) signing * 19 July 1906: Fort Hope (Eabametoong First Nation) signing * 25 July 1906: Brunswick House (Brunswick House First Nation) signing * 9 August 1906: Long Lake (Long Lake 58 First Nation) signing * 5 July 1929:

Big Trout Lake Big Trout Lake is a large lake in Northern Ontario. The Fawn River flows into it from the west and drains it from the east. The reserve of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation, also known as Big Trout Lake, is located on Post Island on ...

(Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation) signing * 18 July 1930: Windigo River signing * 25 July 1930:

Fort Severn Fort Severn, in present-day Annapolis, Maryland, was built in 1808 on the same site as an earlier American Revolutionary War fort of 1776. Although intended to guard Annapolis harbor from British attack during the War of 1812, it never saw ac ...

(Fort Severn First Nation) signing * 28 July 1930: Winisk (

Weenusk First Nation Weenusk First Nation ( cr, ᐐᓈᐢᑯ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ, italic=no (); unpointed: ᐧᐃᓇᐢᑯ ᐃᓂᓂᐧᐊᐠ) is a Cree First Nation band government in the Canadian province of Ontario. In September, 2007, its total registered population w ...

) signing * 1995: Diaries kept by Daniel G. MacMartin, treaty commissioner for the Government of Ontario when the agreement was signed in 1905, are discovered as mislabelled by researchers at Queen's University Archives.

List of the ''Treaty 9'' First Nations

;Osnaburgh signing * Osnaburgh Band of

(historical) **

Cat Lake First Nation Cat Lake First Nation ( oj, Bizhiw-zaaga'igan, ᐱᔕᐤ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) is an Ojibway First Nation reserve approximately 180 kilometres northwest of Sioux Lookout in northwestern Ontario, Canada, located on the central north shore of Cat ...

Mishkeegogamang First Nation Mishkeegogamang First Nation is an Ojibway band government ( First Nation) in the Canadian province of Ontario. Until 1993, the band was called the Osnaburgh First Nation, with various settlements at times being called New Osnaburgh, Osnaburgh Hou ...

(formerly known as ''New Osnaburgh First Nation'') **

Slate Falls First Nation Slate Falls First Nation ( oj, Shakopaatikoong) is an Ojibwe First Nation band government in Ontario. It has a settlement at Slate Falls in Kenora District Kenora District is a district and census division in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Th ...

;First Fort Hope signing * Fort Hope Band of Oj-Cree (historical) **

Eabametoong First Nation Eabametoong, also known as Fort Hope or Eabamet Lake by Canada Post, is an Ojibwe First Nations band government in Kenora District, Ontario, Canada. Located on the shore of Eabamet Lake in the Albany River system, the community is located approx ...

(also known as ''Fort Hope First Nation'') **

Neskantaga First Nation Neskantaga First Nation (formerly known as Lansdowne House Indian Band) is a remote Oji-Cree First Nation band government in the northern reaches of the Canadian province of Ontario, situated along the shore of Attawapiskat Lake in the Distr ...

(also known as ''Lansdowne House First Nation'') **

Nibinamik First Nation Nibinamik First Nation (Ojibway language: ᓃᐱᓇᒥᐦᐠ (''Niibinamik'', "Summerbeaver"); unpointed: ᓂᐱᓇᒥᐠ), also known as Summer Beaver Band, is a small Oji-Cree First Nation reserve in Northern Ontario, located on the Summer B ...

(also known as ''Summer Beaver First Nation'') **

Webequie First Nation Webequie First Nation is located on the northern peninsula of Eastwood Island on Winisk Lake, 540 km (336 mi) north of Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada. Webequie is a fly-in community with no summer road access. The primary way into the c ...

;Marten Falls signing *

Marten Falls First Nation Marten Falls First Nation is an Anishinaabe First Nation reserve located in northern Ontario. The First Nation occupies communities on both sides of the Albany River in Northern Ontario, including Ogoki Post (Ojibwe: ''Ogookiing'') in the Cochran ...

(formerly ''Marten Falls Band of Oji-Cree'') *

Constance Lake First Nation Constance Lake First Nation ( ojs, ᑾᐣᐢᑕᐣᐢ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) is an Oji-Cree First Nations band government located on the shores of Constance Lake near Hearst, Cochrane District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is directly north of ...

(formerly ''English River Band of Oji-Cree'') ;Fort Albany signing *

Fort Albany First Nation Fort Albany First Nation ( cr, ᐲᐦᑖᐯᒄ ᐃᓕᓕᐗᒃ pîhtâpek ililiwak, "lagoon Cree") is a Cree First Nation in Cochrane District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, within the territory covered by Treaty 9. Situated on the southern ...

(formerly ''Fort Albany Band of Cree'') ;Moose Factory signing *

Moose Cree First Nation The Moose Cree First Nation (formerly known as Moose Factory Band of Indians) ( cr, ᒨᓱᓂᔨ ᐃᓕᓕᐗᒃ, môsoniyi ililiwak) is a Cree First Nation band government in northern Ontario, Canada. Their traditional territory is on the west s ...

(formerly ''Moose Factory Band of Cree'') ;New Post signing *

(formerly ''New Post Band of Cree'') ;Abitibi signing * Abitibi Indians (historical) **

Abitibiwinni First Nation The Abitibiwinni First Nation (french: Première Nation Abitibiwinni) is an Algonquian First Nation in the Canadian province of Quebec, residing primarily in the community of Pikogan in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. The First Nation had a ...

(formerly ''Abitibi-Dominion Band of Abitibi Indians'') **

Wahgoshig First Nation Apitipi Anicinapek Nation, formerly known as Wahgoshig First Nation, is an Algonquin Anicinape community, located near Matheson in Cochrane District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. In January 2008, the First Nation had 270 people registered wit ...

(formerly ''Abitibi-Ontario Band of Abitibi Indians'') ;Matachewan signing *

Matachewan First Nation Matachewan First Nation is an Ojibway and Cree First Nation reserve located in the Timiskaming District of Ontario, Canada. As of March, 2012, they had a total registered population of 642 people, of which 40 people lived on their own reserves. ...

(formerly ''Matchewan Indians'') ;Mattagami signing *

Mattagami First Nation The Mattagami First Nation is an Anishnaabe First Nation band government - mainly Ojibwe, Oji-Cree and some Odawa - in the Canadian province of Ontario situated along the Mattagami River. The First Nation members of the community primarily l ...

(formerly ''Mattagami Indians'') ;Flying Post signing *

(formerly ''Flying Post Indians'') ;Second Fort Hope signing * Chapleau Ojibway First Nation (formerly ''Chapleau Band of Ojibway'') *

Chapleau Cree First Nation Chapleau Cree First Nation ( cr, ᔕᑊᓗ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ, ''šaplo ininiwak'') is a Mushkegowuk Cree First Nation located by Chapleau Township, Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada. The First Nation have reserved for themselves the Chapleau 75 I ...

(formerly ''Chapleau Community of Moose Factory Band of Cree'') ;New Brunswick House signing *

Brunswick House First Nation Brunswick House First Nation is an Ojibway-Cree First Nations in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Sudbury District, northeast of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. The First Nation have reserved for themselves the Mountbatten 76A Indian Re ...

(formerly ''New Brunswick House Band of Ojibway'') ;Long Lake signing *

Ginoogaming First Nation Ginoogaming First Nation (formerly the Long Lake 77 First Nation) is a small Anishinaabe (Ojibway) First Nation reserve located in Northern Ontario, located approximately 40 km east of Geraldton, Ontario, Canada, on the northern shore of ...

(formerly ''Long Lake Band of Ojibway'') ;Big Trout Lake signing * Big Trout Lake Band of Oji-cree (historical) ** Bearskin Lake First Nation **

Kasabonika Lake First Nation Kasabonika Lake First Nation (Oji-Cree: ᑳᐦᓴᐹᓇᐦᑳ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ; unpointed: ᑲᓴᐸᓇᑲ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) or Kasabonika First Nation (Oji-Cree: ᑳᐦᓴᐹᓇᐦᑳ ᓂᐣᑕᒻ ᐊᓂᐦᕈᓂᓂᐧᐗᐠ (''Gaasabaanakaa ...

Kingfisher First Nation Kingfisher First Nation (Oji-Cree language: ᑮᐡᑭᒪᓂᐦᓰᐋᐧᐴᕽ (''Giishkimanisiiwaaboong'', "At Kingfisher-waters"); unpointed: ᑭᐡᑭᒪᓂᓯᐊᐧᐳᐠ) is an Oji-Cree First Nation reserve located north of Sioux Lookout, ...

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug ( Oji-Cree: ᑭᐦᒋᓇᒣᑯᐦᓯᑊ ᐃᓂᓂᐧᐊᐠ (''Gichi-namegosib ininiwag''); unpointed: ᑭᒋᓇᒣᑯᓯᑊ ᐃᓂᓂᐧᐊᐠ or ᑭᐦᒋᓇᒣᑯᐦᓯᐱᐎᓂᓂᐗᐠ (''Gichi-namegosibiwininiwag ...

Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation The Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation ( ojs, ᐗᒐᐡᑾᓂᒥᐠ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) is an Oji-Cree First Nation band government in Northern Ontario. They reside on the Muskrat Dam Lake reserve, located on Muskrat Dam Lake in the Kenora District. ...

Sachigo Lake First Nation Sachigo Lake First Nation ( ojs, ᓴᒋᑯ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) is an Oji-Cree First Nation band government in Unorganized Kenora District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located on Sachigo Lake, part of the Sachigo River system and Hud ...

Wapekeka First Nation Wapekeka First Nation ( ojs, ᐗᐱᑭᑲ, formerly known as Angling Lake First Nation) is a First Nation band government in the Canadian province of Ontario. An Oji-Cree community in the Kenora District, the community is located approximately 450 ...

** Wawakapewin First Nation **

Wunnumin Lake First Nation Wunnumin Lake First Nation (Oji-Cree language: ᐊᐧᓇᒪᐣ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓃᕽ (''Wanaman-zaaga'iganiing'', "At Wunnumin Lake"); unpointed: ᐊᐧᓇᒪᐣ ᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ) is an Oji-Cree First Nation band government who inhabit territo ...

;Windigo River signing * Caribou Lake Band of Oji-cree (historical) **

McDowell Lake First Nation McDowell Lake First Nation (Oji-Cree: ''Mishi Sakahikaniing'') is a small Oji-Cree First Nation band government located in Northern Ontario, located approximately 155 km northeast of Red Lake, Ontario, Canada, on the central western shore ...

** North Caribou Lake First Nation * Deer Lake Band of Oji-cree (historical) **

Keewaywin First Nation Keewaywin (Oji-Cree:ᑮᐌᐎᐣ (''Giiwewin''), unpointed ᑭᐌᐎᐣ) is a small Oji-Cree First Nation band government in Northern Ontario, located north of Red Lake, Ontario. It is connected to Sandy Lake First Nation by Sandy Lake. It is pa ...

;Fort Severn signing *

Fort Severn First Nation Fort Severn First Nation ( [] in Swampy Cree language, Cree) is a Western Swampy Cree First Nations in Canada, First Nation band government located on Hudson Bay and is the most Extreme communities of Canada, northern community in Ontario, Canad ...

Winisk signing *

(formerly ''Winisk Band of Cree'') * Attawapiskat First Nation (formerly ''Attawapiskat Band of Cree'') ;Later Adhesions *

Aroland First Nation Aroland First Nation ( 2016 Population 366) is a Ojibwa, Oji-Cree and cree First Nation within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Territory and a signatory to Treaty 9, located in the Thunder Bay District approximately 20 kilometres west of Nakina. Arol ...

Missanabie Cree First Nation Missanabie Cree First Nation ( cr, masinâpôy ininiwak, ᒪᓯᓈᐴᔾ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ) is a "Treaty 9" Nation. The nation is named after Missinaibi River and Lake, around which the traditional territory of the nation is located. The name "Missa ...

''Treaty 9'' challenge

The personal diaries of Daniel G. MacMartin, treaty commissioner for the

Government of Ontario The government of Ontario (french: Gouvernement de l'Ontario) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Ontario. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown—represented in the province by the lieutenant governor� ...

, written more than 100 years ago but rediscovered by historians at Queen's University Archives, supported oral histories passed down by Indigenous Elders that the agreements spoken by commissioners at the treaty signings did not reflect the written document. The unearthing of this additional primary source evidence triggered a legal challenge for mining access on First Nations land. MacMartin's diary suggested "First Nation leaders may have been misled by government negotiators as they were signing Treaty No. 9, says Murray Klippenstein, legal representative for

Mushkegowuk Council Mushkegowuk Council (pointed: ᐅᒪᐡᑫᑯ ᐅᑭᒫᐎᐎᐣ (''omashkeko okimāwiwin''); unpointed: ᐅᒪᐡᑫᑯ ᐅᑭᒪᐎᐎᐣ), or officially as the Mushkegowuk Tribal Council, is a non-profit regional chiefs' council representing Cre ...

Documentary film

The James Bay Treaty is the subject of a 2014 documentary film by

Alanis Obomsawin Alanis Obomsawin, (born August 31, 1932) is an Abenaki American Canadian filmmaker, singer, artist, and activist primarily known for her documentary films. Born in New Hampshire, United States and raised primarily in Quebec, Canada, she has wri ...

, entitled ''

Trick or Treaty? ''Trick or Treaty?'' is a 2014 Canadian documentary feature film by Alanis Obomsawin about Treaty 9, a 1905 agreement in which First Nations peoples in northern Ontario surrendered their sovereign rights. The film is the first by an indigenous film ...

References

External links

Treaty 9
��Complete Treaty 9 Text Reprinted 1964.
Treaty Texts - Treaty No. 9
from the Government of Canada
Backgrounder on James Bay Treaty 9On the Path of the EldersThe James Bay Treaty (Treaty No. 9) Online Exhibit
{{DEFAULTSORT:Treaty 09 Numbered Treaties First Nations history in Ontario Treaties concluded in 1905 Treaties concluded in 1906