Treaty 2 Territory – We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty prior of Europeans arriving to Turtle Island. (Anishinaabe Clan System)
We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty when we made the 1701 Great Peace of Montreal. (Two Row Wampum Belt)
We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty when we made the 1764 Treaty of Niagara (The British Anishinaabe Treaty Alliance)
We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty when the settlers created 1867 Constitution Act (Dominion of Canada)
We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty when we made Treaty 2 in 1871 with Representatives of Queen Victoria of England and Ireland
We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty when the New Canadian Government assumed authority over Indians and lands of Indians under Section 91 (24) BNA and created the 1876 Indian Act
We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty when we defended our lands in the Great Wars
We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty when we formed in 1961 The National Indian Brotherhood
We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty when we formed in 1968 Manitoba Indian Brotherhood (MIB)
We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty when in 1971 Manitoba Indian Brotherhood produced “Wahbung: Our Tomorrows” in response to Prime Minister Trudeau’s “White Paper”
We had our Anishinaabe Sovereignty when in 1982 Constitution Act, the First Nations made every effort to enshrine effectively and appropriately the rights and title of First Nations and this day we have an empty promises, also known as “Empty Box”
So, tell me, where did we lose our Anishinaabe Sovereignty? Answer: We never did
The Golden thread of Continuity of Anishinaabek Sovereignty is still intact in spite of all these Canadian Acts, Laws and Statutes.
As the Life Long Learning Lodge Keeper, I am available to teach about our history, our treaty and the work that First Nations of Treaty 2 Territory are doing today.
Miigwech!
Allen Sutherland, Waabishki Mazinazoot Mishtaatim,
Keeper of the Circles
Last modified: March 25, 2020
