Dr Miller Treaties Analysis

Treaties have long been at the centre of relations between newcomers and Indigenous peoples. During his lecture, Dr. Miller discussed the historical development of treaties in Canada and highlighted each party’s intention behind treaty-making. While Indigenous peoples saw treaties as covenants, negotiated between two nations to extend and strengthen their kinship bonds, Dr. Miller contends the Canadian government simply saw the Numbered Treaties as contracts for acquiring territory.
The first incarnation of treaties Dr. Miller described were commercial compacts. Dating back to first contact, these were necessary for the survival of early Europeans. The treaties relied on ceremonies such as pipe smoking to develop and renew kinship relations with the newcomers. The second phase of treaty development was peace and friendship treaties. Once again, ceremonies solidified these treaties. For Indigenous people, these treaties represented another extension of family bonds, but for Europeans, they were only formal alliance …show more content…
They had secured enough land for satiate settlement and did not want any more Indigenous wards. This proved devastating for bands being crushed by starvation and disease. These bands desperately treaties to acquire the protection and relief they thought entering a kin relationship with Canada could offer. It was not until the early 20th century, however, that more Numbered Treaties were signed. These new treaties were not signed to help First Nations, but rather to secure the government land needed for resource development.
Canada has a long history of treaty-making. However, the purpose and intent behind treaties has not always been the same for First Nations and Canada. As Dr. Miller effectively argued the Indigenous peoples viewed treaties as agreements to build bonds of kinship and family, while the Canadian approach to treaties has been about securing land when it is advantageous for