1a n. — Law, Aboriginal, especially First Nations
an agreement between the federal government and Aboriginal peoples regarding land and resources.
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — The term treaty refers to agreements made between Aboriginal peoples and the Crown that "set out promises, obligations and benefits for both parties" (see AANDC reference). Treaty policy was outlined in the Royal Proclamation of 1763, which "prohibited the purchase of First Nation lands by any party other than the Crown" (see AANDC reference) and stated the main principles for treaty making (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference). Aboriginal peoples agreed to share their land and resources in return for "benefit[s] from the Crown's resources, such as medicine and education" (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference; see the 2011 quotation), monetary compensation (see treaty money), and reserves. Land and resources are central to these agreements; within the constraints of treaties, Aboriginal peoples often maintained certain rights, such as hunting and gathering rights (see CBC reference).
Treaties made between incomers and peoples with very different levels of power (see the 1959 quotation) and concepts of land ownership, usually speaking through interpreters, have often subsequently been found lacking. Sometimes, promises made in the oral negotiations were not accurately recorded in a treaty's written text. Aboriginal peoples often viewed treaties as the beginning of a relationship or alliance between themselves and the Canadian government and not as ceding land and rights (see Canadian Encyclopedia, s.v. "Indigenous Peoples: Treaties"; see the 2014 quotation). In recent years, efforts have been taken to ensure dealings on a more equal footing between Canada's Aboriginal nations and the Canadian government. Note that modern day treaties are legally referred to as comprehensive land claim settlements (see AANDC reference).
See also: Indian treaty (def. 1) reserve (meaning 1) treaty Indian treaty money adhesion comprehensive land claim specific land claim numbered treaty
1b n. — Aboriginal, especially First Nations, obsolete, historical
take (the) treaty, of Aboriginal bands: receive treaty money (see meaning 1a).
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — Today, the phrase take treaty is hardly found in Canadian print, though it was used until the mid-20th century (see the 1963 quotation). The more common phrases of "paying the treaty money" or "handing out treaty money" are used today.
See also: treaty money
2 n. — Aboriginal, especially First Nations, obsolete, informal
the day on which treaty, meaning 1a was originally agreed upon by an Aboriginal band; later, any day on which treaty money is paid.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — A semantic specialization of the term treaty to refer only to the day of payment.
See also: Treaty Day treaty money
3 n. — Aboriginal, especially First Nations, rare, informal
the annual cash payment received by Aboriginal peoples whose names are entered in the Indian Register.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — A semantic specialization of the term treaty to refer only to the annual payment.
See also: Indian Register treaty annuity treaty money
4 n. — Aboriginal, especially First Nations, dated
an Aboriginal person who is in receipt of treaty money or who adheres to a treaty, meaning 1a.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — A semantic specialization of the term treaty to refer to a person receiving treaty money. Today, the compound noun treaty Indian or status Indian is overwhelmingly used instead.