Laurentian University co-hosts educational sessions as part of Treaty Recognition Week

Educational sessions kicked off Tuesday at Laurentian University in Sudbury to mark Treaty Recognition Week.

In the opening ceremony, elders offered water and strawberries to those in attendance, a traditional protocol when negotiating treaties.

Educational sessions kicked off Tuesday at Laurentian University in Sudbury to mark Treaty Recognition Week. In the opening ceremony, elders offered water and strawberries to those in attendance, a traditional protocol when negotiating treaties. (Photo from video)

LU is co-hosting the event with the Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin (RHW) group.

"Lots of students, graduate students, Elders, community members here, as well as First Nations leaders, First Nations, Metis and Inuit leaders," said Dominic Beaudry, associate vice-president of academic and Indigenous programs.

"It’s a great teachable moment."

Guest speakers spoke of the historical significance and current relevance of treaties while reminding partners about what they promised.

"Treaties are living documents -- they’re meaningful in terms of the modern context," Beaudry said.

"Treaties are not something from the past that belong in a museum ... Treaties are actually living documents that can be interpreted at any given time. And the treaties are extremely meaningful to First Nations in 2024."

The Robinson Huron Treaty was negotiated in 1850. The 21 First Nations agreed to share their land in exchange for payment based on wealth produced by the land. But the Crown capped that amount at $4 per person.

Last year, RHW reached a $10 billion settlement with Canada and Ontario for retroactive annuities. Now they're working on negotiating new annuities.

"It involves setting agreements with the federal government, with the provincial government," said RHW executive director Earl Commanda.

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"But also to keep municipalities in tune as to what’s happening with all of our discussions with both of those two levels of government."

Commanda said RHW wants to redefine treaty governance so that First Nations are more than just rights holders, but also have a hand in managing resources within their territory.

The province created Treaty Recognition Week eight years ago as one of the steps toward healing and reconciliation.

It’s part of the response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, a report led by the late Senator Murray Sinclair.