THE 1923 CANADA-ONTARIO AGREEMENT AND THE WILLIAMS TREATIES
ON CULTURAL HEGEMONY AND MAINSTREAM PRINT MEDIA TREATMENT OF TWO MOMENTOUS SUPREME COURT INDIGENOUS ENTITLEMENT DECISIONS*
Abstract
Abstract
This paper examines the joint agreement between Canada and Ontario
that authorized the negotiations of a treaty with the Mississauga and
Chippewa in 1923, known as the Williams Treaties. This agreement envisioned
surrender to an area of land not covered by any other treaty,
described as 10,719 square miles above the 45th parallel. This paper
draws from government archives to show the development of the claim
and the process that led to the joint agreement. The agreement also described
the land as bounded by existing treaties. The land described in
the treaty totals 20,100 square miles along with a clause including lands,
“… they ever had, now have, or now claim to have ...,.” The Supreme
Court of Canada indirectly interpreted this clause to include former surrenders.
References
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British North America Act, 1867, 30-31 Vict., c. 3 (U.K.)
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, file 1/1-11-15 vol. 1. Library and Archives Canada (LAC) RG 10, Reel C-11202,C-11203.
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