Williams Treaty

Williams Treaty is a 1923 treaty.

In Anishinabek News

• June 2017: The agreement denied harvesting rights to signatories in exchange for small one-time payments. The treaty has been the subject of Federal Court hearings and is undergoing re-negotiation. Alderville First Nation was one of the communities impacted by the terms of this agreement.
• November 2018: A recent settlement regarding this treaty was highlighted by Maurice Switzer at the Harris Learning Library in 2018.
• May 2019: The treaty has been described by academics as one of the worst in the history of Canada for providing insufficient compensation and land. A formal resolution and apology for the treaty claim were announced by the federal government in November 2018. The agreement failed to protect the hunting, fishing, and trapping rights that commissioners had promised to Alderville First Nation and other signatories.
• October 2019: Resources regarding this treaty include information specific to Chippewa and Mississauga signatories.
• May 2020: The treaty came into effect in 1923 and a settlement regarding it was negotiated in 2018. Ruby Marsden Hicks was the only member of the signatory nations alive for both the 1923 implementation and the 2018 settlement.
• June 2023: Communities under this treaty are among those impacted by the funding crisis facing the Anishinabek Police Service.
• December 2023: The 100-year anniversary of this treaty was commemorated at Chippewas of Rama First Nation on October 30, 2023.
• March 2025: The Anishinabek Nation identified this as one of the agreements involving its member First Nations. The organization asserted that treaties are living agreements that recognize its sovereignty and stewardship.
• September 2026: The Mnoominkewin Gathering was created with the goal of undoing the harms caused by the 1923 Williams Treaty. James Whetung noted that treaties restricted Indigenous people from year-round hunting and gathering, which negatively impacted community health.