All My Relations

'Since 1701 governments have been making treaties in Canada with Native people; they continue to negotiate these treaties today. The original intentions of these treaties were co-existence. Native people wanted to protect their existence through these treaties because settlers were encroaching on their land. The promises made within these treaties have been broken and continue to be. Treaties are the premise of Canadian heritage. It defined how history would play itself out and helped determine the future of Native People living in Canada and the future of all Canadians.  Most Canadians are unaware of the treaty territory that they live within.  As a young Canadian and a Teme-Augama Anishnabe I request that the government of today honour the agreements made by governments of the past, make retribution for wrong doings and continue to participate with First Nations leadership in shaping an inclusive country.  We are all treaty people.'

All My Relations

Jessica Frappier

Grade 10

St Benedict Catholic Secondary School
Lively, Ontario

‘the government of today [must] honour the agreements made by governments of the past [and] make retribution for wrong doings’

Related Essays

  • Too Late For Africville

    Too Late For Africville

    Sierra Sparks

    Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

    ‘The government was responsible for taking their land, affecting their health, and for not providing basic services to the community.’

  • Japanese Internment: A Canadian Responsibility

    Japanese Internment: A Canadian Responsibility

    Kian Shahangyan

    Vancouver, British Columbia

    ‘G]overnments have the responsibility of redressing wrong decisions […] if the actions taken were illegal, unethical or racist in any way’

 
View all essays