The History of

Treaty 2 was entered in to on 21 August 1871 at House, North-West Territories (Rupertsland), with representatives of the Queen of England and Ireland. The original Anishinaabe (Chippewa and Cree), who were present, constitute Treaty 2 today. It is known that many of the chiefs and leaders within the territory were at the early gathering and after the treaty was agreed to. Those who were not present were represented through Mekis until they indicated where they wished their fertile farming reserved lands to be located.

Treaty 2 Territory has the original five (5) in 1871 plus four (4) local Nations who made Treaty 2 with fifteen (15) other local Nations who also reside in the Territory: two (2) of them entered into Treaty 1, three (3) Dakota local Nations, eight (8) Treaty 4 local Nations and two (2) Treaty 5. Additionally, five (5) sit on the border on the Eastside of Lake Winnipeg.

The Treaty 2 Territory extends north from the mouth of the Winnipeg River up the east shore of Lake Winnipeg, west across that lake to Lake Manitoba and following its north shore across the centre and southwest of Manitoba, at Waterhen Lake further west across Lake and then south along the Shell River to the Assiniboine, to the Moose Mountains in southeastern Saskatchewan.

From there it goes south to the U.S./Canada border and then back east over to the beginning of Treaty 1 Territory. Treaty 2 Territory lies to the west and north of Treaty 1. Treaty 2 territory includes 8,676,828 hectares of land (21,440,908 million acres). Included within are Riding Mountain, Duck Mountain, Turtle Mountain, Hecla/ Grindstone, and Moose Mountain.

Historical Facts Anishinaabe Agowidiiwinan stem well before the Royal Proclamation of 1763, Treaty of Niagara 1764 and most recent 1871 of Treaty 2. A meeting of the Anishinaabe from Treaty 2 territory led to the birth of Anishinaabe Agowidiiwinan, the Ojibway or Chippewa local Nations who were present at in 1871 to meet with Queen Victoria’s Treaty Commissioners.

Treaty 2 itself notes that there were several groups part of the Nation who were not represented at Manitoba House, and in the Treaty, it provides that Mekis, a son of Okanese, would represent those groups in the Treaty 2 process. Note also that persons who became Chiefs of the local Nations and who after the Manitoba House Treaty Gathering received hay land reserves in Treaty 2 Territory appear on the paylists of what was then “Dauphin Lake/Riding Mountain Band”,

Treaty 2 Territory – 150 Year Commemoration

Anishinabe Sharing Lodge - Wasagaming, Treaty 2 Territory Friday, August 20, 2021 – Outdoor Tent

8:00am Lighting of the Sacred Fire – Robert Maytwayashing North Wolf Ojibway Drum Group

8:30am Water Ceremony – Mary Maytwayashing Pipe Ceremony & Small Boy Drum – Peter Atkinson Anishinaabek Clan Teachings – Peter Atkinson

10:30am Welcoming Remarks - Grand Chief Eugene Eastman - Chief Norman Bone, Keeseekoowenin

10:45am Peacemaking Onankonehkawinin – Chantell Barker

12:00pm Feast

1:15pm Anishinaabek History (Time Line) - Allen Sutherland

2:00pm Treaty 2 and Riding Mountain – James Plewak, ARM

2:30pm Believing in Sovereign ways of Governing - Dr Harry Bone, KOFN

3:00pm Elder Florence Paynter, TRCM

3:30pm Elder Dennis Whitebird, TRCM

4:00pm Closing Remarks – Allen Sutherland

5:00pm Feast

6:00pm Jingle Dress Healing Dance for Health & Wellbeing of our Nations North Wolf Ojibway Drum Group

5:30pm Kinikinik – A Treaty Play by Ian Ross

6:00pm Gospel Tent – Julie Ann Letandre & Guests

Saturday, August 21, 2021 – Outdoor Tent

9:00am Opening Song (North Wolf Ojibway Drum Group)

9:15am Welcoming Remarks • Chief Norman Bone Keeseekoowenin Ojibway Nation • Parks Canada

9:20am Opening Prayer • Knowledge Keeper, Warren Bone • Minister Robert McLean, Pinaymootang

9:30am Flag Raising Ceremony – Flags carried in by the Northern Lights Riders of Treaty 2 Horseback

9:45am Presentation of Treaty No.2 Medals to Treaty 2 Chiefs/Headmen - TRCM Lorretta Ross and Dr Harry Bone

10:15am Opening Remarks • Grand Chief Eugene Eastman Treaty 2 Nation, Territory and Government • Chiefs of Treaty 2 Territory • Chiefs of Treaty 1 Territory • Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs • Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse Assembly of • Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, Southern Chiefs Organization

11:00am Remarks on behalf of Her Excellency The Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada

11:10am Invited Dignitaries • City of Brandon, Mayor Rick Chrest • Province of Manitoba

11:20am Special Recognition

11:30am North Wolf Ojibway Drum Group with Dancers “Remembering and Honouring the Children”

11:40am Giveaway to all in attendance (by Keepers, Helpers, Volunteers)

11:50am Closing Remarks - Emcees

12:00pm Media Interviews / Lunch

In his memory of Rarihokwats, and to honour his profound legacy, we have dedicated the ANISHINABE SHARING LODGE as a space to share his teachings, and the wonderful gifts that he left behind. Please take a minute to stop by and help us honour his memory.

The Rarihokwats Memorial Video will play in loop with the presence of Knowledge Keeper Louie Malcolm, Dr Harry Bone, honouring our past Chiefs.

Saturday, August 21, 2021 – Live Entertainment Stage

1:00pm - 11:00pm

1:00pm Pow Wow “As Long As We Dance” with North Wolf Ojibway Drum Group

1:30pm Introduce House Band Dean Malcolm with The Mosquitoz The Treaty 2 Jig – Ryan Richard & Felicia Morrisseau

2:00-2:40pm Frannie Klein with House Band

3:00pm-3:40pm Gator Beaulieu with House Band

3:45pm-4:30pm Leonard Sumner

5:00pm-5:45pm Mikey, Jacob, Cienna Harris Performance with Jason Lepine

5:45pm-6:15pm Jason Lepine with House Band

6:15pm SUPPER BREAK (Sound Check for Headliner)

7:15pm-8:15pm The Mosquitoz

8:30pm-9:15pm The Mousseau Brothers

9:45pm-10:45pm Surprise Headliner

From page one…and according to those paylists, received their Treaty payment as Treaty 2 persons, three years before Treaty 4 had been entered into.

Note that these same persons and current Local Nations subsequently had land reserved set apart for them in Treaty 2 Territory. However, the adhesion to Treaty they made happened to be with Treaty 4 1874/5. Peguis’ people entered into Treaty 1 but later after the theft of their lands by Canada officials, were provided with another piece of land in Treaty 2 Territory 1905. When Treaty 5 was entered into at Norway House, the people who today are at Fisher River stipulated they wanted farm lands. Lt. Gov. Alexander Morris granted their wish by giving them only 100 acres per family of five.

Nations on the shores of Lake Winnipeg were included in Treaty 2 Territory when the Chiefs/Headmen at Manitoba House drew the map of their territory including that section of Lake Winnipeg. Isolated and distant from the other Treaty 2 Local Nations, they eventually began to identify themselves with closer Treaty 5 Nations, even though the portion of the Lake they depend upon for their livelihood is in Treaty 2 Territory.

The boundaries of Treaty 2 had been set when Sandy Bay, part of the Treaty 1 collection of Nations, was forced to move from their prosperous lands in Treaty 1 territory to Township 18 in 1876. That township lies split half and half by the boundary between Treaty 1 and Treaty 2. Likely no one noticed at the time. As well, the Sandy Bay Anishinaabe, who had been in the area since at least 1808, had intermarried many times with the people at Duck Bay, Ebb and Flow and Dauphin Lake/Riding Mountain was a frequent location, as is indicated on their paylists, “Absent at Dauphin Lake/Riding Mountain.”

The Chiefs/Headmen at Manitoba House in 1871 insisted that their exclusive territory was to be determined by a line which went southwestward to the northwestern corner of Moose Mountain. In 1904 when the province of Saskatchewan was established, the line separating it from Manitoba placed three Local Nations in Treaty 2 Territory in Saskatchewan again without the consent of the original people.

When it was noted that the Anishinaabe community at Duck Bay who lived on the northern boundary of the Treaty 2 Territory, had entered Treaty 4 then later sent to another Local Nation in Saskatchewan and Treaty 4 Territory and entered into an adhesion there. They later moved into Pine Creek/River, deeper into Treaty 2 Territory. No other Treaty area in Canada has had this mixture of complicated historical circumstances.

Related: See the History of Treaty 2 Territory @ www.treaty2.com and Government of First Nations in Treaty Territory at www.fnt2t.com

137 Ta-Wa-Pit Drive Wasagaming, Treaty 2 Territory