The seven Anishinaabe nations that signed the Williams Treaties (named for provincial negotiator Angus S. Williams) with Ontario in 1923 believed they were sharing resources and rights to some 52,000 square kilometres of land. The province, however, viewed the treaties as a ceding of the land. In 1992, the Williams Treaties nations sought justice and fair compensation, with a settlement finally reached in 2018.

Photo/video credits:

• Pre-1975 Treaties of Canada. Government of Canada. Indigenous Services Canada, Geomatics Services.
• Williams Treaty - Mississauga Indians of Rice, Mud and Scugog Lakes and Alderville. 1923. Library and Archives Canada (RG10, Vol: 1853/IT488, Microfilm reel no: T-9941. Page 17 of 29).
• Buckingham Palace seen from the base of the Victoria Memorial. Wikimedia Commons/Julian Herzog.
• Queen’s Park, Toronto. Wikimedia Commons/Archives of Ontario (M.O. Hammond fonds).
• Angus Seymour Williams portrait. Courtesy of Osgoode Hall Law School. Our special thanks go to John Schofield.
• GTA Weekly news article entitled “Canada, Ontario and Williams Treaties First Nations Take First Step Towards a Negotiated Resolution of Alderville Litigation”, March 27, 2017. Courtesy of GTA Weekly. A special thank you goes to Alwin Squire.
• Williams Treaties Settlement Agreement Signing Ceremony, Nov 17, 2018. Videographer Dean St. Germain. Courtesy of Rama First Nation. Miigwech to Cathy Edney.

This project is made possible in part by the Government of Canada.