For Indigenous peoples across Canada, Treaty Day honours the nation-to-nation relationship formed between the federal government and various Indigenous nations, as enshrined in historic treaties.

While there are different Treaty Days and celebrations across Canada, Treaty Days are annual celebrations where the descendants of Indigenous signatories honour these historic commitments. Aside from Nova Scotia, most provinces and territories do not have a specific day on which to celebrate the signing of historic treaties. In many parts of Canada, historic treaties are celebrated as part of National Aboriginal Day on June 21st every year.

While October 1st is officially recognized as Treaty Day in Nova Scotia and October is Mi’kmaq History Month, some Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) communities in Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador also celebrate Treaty Day – an annual celebration that recognizes the connection between the Crown and the Mi’kmaq and commemorates the Peace and Friendship Treaties of the 1700s. These treaties brought an end to years of warfare between the Mi’kmaq and the British.

Although many treaty promises have remained unfulfilled, Indigenous communities still believe in the importance of commemorating the historic relationship between treaty peoples and the federal government.

The Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador extends its best wishes to Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) communities celebrating Treaty Day and Mi’kmaq History Month across Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.

To learn more about the rich history of the Mi’kmaq communities, please visit:

https://mikmaqhistorymonth.ca/

and

https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/aboriginal/mikmaq-history.php.