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Toronto!Indigenous!Context!Brief!!
February!2018!
Commissioned by the Toronto Biennial of Art

Prepared!by!Ange!Loft!!
Project!Lead!and!Director!of!Talking!Treaties!(2015!–!2018)!
Produced!by!Jumblies!Theatre!
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Mapping!by!Trevor!Gardner!
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Introduction*
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This!brief,!compiled!for!the!Toronto!Biennial!of!Art’s!(TBA)!Curatorial! The!second!layer!(1660s!to!1780s)!moves!through!the!Royal!
Framework,!includes!source!texts,!interview!excerpts!and!oral! proclamation!of!King!George!III!in!1763!to!the!Treaty!of!Niagara,!a!
knowledge!collected!through!the!process!of!research!and! show!of!wampum!diplomacy!by!the!English!to!extend!an!oral!
development!of!Talking(Treaties,!a!community!engaged!project!taking! interpretation!of!the!Proclamation!to!24!regional!native!Nations.!This!
place!from!2015!to!2018.!Much!of!the!original!research!was! act!is!significant!in!that!it!showed!a!moment!in!time!when!the!British!
conducted!by!Victoria!Freeman,!coKwriter!of!Talking(Treaties( were!willing!to!use!Indigenous!modes!of!agreement!making.!Though!
Spectacle,!produced!at!Fort!York!in!2017.!Additional!sources!are! flawed!in!process!and!delivery,!the!agreement!was!intended!to!
available!upon!request.!The!views!and!opinions!expressed!in!this! regulate!how!all!subsequent!treaties!and!land!transfers!would!
article!are!those!of!Ange!Loft!and!do!not!necessarily!reflect!the!official! proceed.!!
policy!or!position!of!Jumblies!Theatre.!! !
! The!third!layer!involves!the!complicated!narrative!of!Treaty!13,!the!
This!research!is!presented!in!4!layers:!the!first!3!are!composed!of! soKcalled!Toronto!Purchase,!and!ranges!from!the!1780s!to!1813.!
background!information!and!symbolism,!as!well!as!mapped! Letters!between!officials!reveal!the!disputed!boundaries!of!the!
corresponding!notable!sites!mainly!concentrated!along!today’s! original!survey!attempt,!the!urgent!need!for!confirmation!of!the!land!
shoreline,!and!moving!from!west!to!east.!The!first!layer!covers!a! exchange,!and!the!subsequent!reKdrawing!of!Toronto’s!borders.!
period!from!approximately!1000CE!to!1660,!including!stories!of!found! Contemporary!comments!from!Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit!
footprints,!vast!Wendat!settlements,!and!the!coming!of!the! historians!are!presented!alongside!historical!speeches!and!petition!
Haudenosaunee!into!the!area.!Introducing!the!Anishinaabe,!who! letters!of!Mississauga!chiefs!stating!their!dissatisfaction!with!the!
were!not!yet!in!the!area!at!the!beginning!of!this!period,!provides!a! encroachment!of!the!burgeoning!city.!!
general!understanding!of!their!migration!and!clan!based!governance! !
structures.!The!inclusion!of!Indigenous!governance!points!to!the! The!last!layer!is!a!conclusion!presenting!contemporary!narratives!
ability!of!each!nation!to!maintain!distinct,!sovereign!status!in!relation! around!land!ownership,!with!stress!on!the!significance!of!the!Dish!
to!each!other.!This!mutual!respect!for!autonomy!and!for!their!shared! with!One!Spoon!as!a!guiding!agreement!for!the!territory,!and!a!call!to!
environment!laid!the!grounds!for!the!emerging!foundational! return!to!talk,!to!polish!the!chain,!to!remember,!repeat,!and!reKlearn!
agreement!for!this!territory,!The!Dish!with!One!Spoon.!! these!arrangements!for!mutual!benefit.!It!includes!a!final!map!
! containing!all!sites!referenced!in!the!first!three!layers,!and!
! additionally!includes!possible!locations!for!TBA!events!and!
! exhibitions.!!
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LAYER*I*–*Approximately*1000CE*to*1660! !
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The!Wendat!(or!Huron)!Confederacy!was!initiated!by!the! clashes,!which!resulted!in!the!loss!of!about!half!the!postKepidemic!
Attignawantans!("People!of!the!Bear")!and!the!Attigneenongnahacs! Wendat!population.!!
("People!of!the!Cord"),!in!a!15th!century!alliance.!They!were!joined!by! !
the!Arendarhonons!("People!of!the!Rock")!and!the!Tahontaenrats! By!the!mid!1660’s,!Toronto!became!home!to!the!Seneca!
("People!of!the!Deer")!in!the!late!15th!century.!A!fifth!group,!the! (Onondowagah)!and!the!Mohawk!(Kanienkeha:ka),!who!shared!
Ataronchronons!("People!of!the!Marshes!or!Bog"),!might!not!have! villages!in!the!area.!The!Seneca!were!the!"Great!Hill!People"!in!the!
had!full!membership!in!the!confederacy,!but!are!considered!a!part!of! role!of!"Keeper!of!the!Western!Door."!The!Mohawk!were!the!“People!
the!Confederacy.!The!Tionontate,!or!Petun!(Tobacco),!lived!further! of!the!Flint”!and!held!the!role!of!“Keepers!of!the!Eastern!Door.”!These!
south!and!were!divided!into!two!groups:!the!Deer!and!the!Wolves,! two!nations,!despite!their!geographically!informed!roles,!came!
who!later!were!known!as!Wyandot;!they!too!may!have!called! together!on!the!North!Shore!of!Lake!Ontario,!with!large!villages!along!
themselves!Wendat.!These!groups!inhabited!the!Toronto!area,!and! the!Humber!and!Don.!!
had!a!population!estimated!at!40,000,!with!a!typical!village!housing! !
between!900!to!1,600!people!organized!into!30!or!40!longhouses.!!
Villages!were!moved!about!every!ten!years!as!the!soil!became!less!
fertile.!
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Like!other!Iroquoian!nations,!they!structured!themselves!through!
matrilinealKextended!family,!made!up!of!nuclear!families!with!a!
mother!or!grandmother!who!was!in!charge!of!daily!operations.!The!
village!affairs!were!governed!by!two!councils,!one!focused!on!civil!
jurisdiction,!and!the!other!on!war.!Decisions!were!made!by!
consensus,!but!often!were!dominated!by!old!men!and!elected!chiefs!
of!large!families!because!of!their!powers!of!oratory.!Wendat!women!
had!little!or!no!say!in!councils,!despite!the!matrilineal!lineage!of!their!
clans.!!
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From!1634!to!1640,!the!Huron!were!devastated!by!incoming!
infectious!diseases,!such!as!measles!and!smallpox.!Many!Huron! !
villages!and!areas!were!abandoned.!Compounding!these!losses!were!! !
the!ongoing!disputes!with!the!neighbouring!Haudenosaunee.!In!1648! Logo!of!the!HuronKWendat!Nation,!2018
and!1649,!armed!with!Dutch!firearms,!they!had!a!series!of!substantial!!
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The!visible!presence!of!Toronto’s!Aboriginal!people!is!minimal.!There!
are!few!public!markers!that!speak!to!the!wampum!enshrined!systems!
of!alliance!and!kin!maintenance!that!governed!this!territory!before!
European!arrival.!Today,!these!symbols!make!their!way!into!graffiti!
and!murals!more!than!permanent!public!display.!One!of!the!most!
popular!Haudenosaunee!images!is!the!Hiawatha!Belt,!which!marks!
the!physical!location!of!each!founding!Nation,!from!West!to!East:!
Seneca,!Cayuga,!Onondaga,!Oneida,!and!the!Kanien'keha:ka!
(Mohawk).!The!square!“mats”!on!the!outer!edges!are!smaller,!
because!the!perspective!is!intended!to!be!viewed!from!the!top!of!the!
central!tree,!looking!at!the!territories!further!away.!The!“mat”!
defined!territory,!but!was!also!used!in!speech!as!an!analogy!for!
hospitality!and!willing!diplomacy.!
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Haudenosaunee!means!“People!of!the!Longhouse.”!The!foundation!of! !
the!Haudenosaunee!Confederacy!is!the!Kaianere’kó:wa;!more! Haudenosaunee!Confederacy!Logo,!2018!
commonly!known!in!English!as!the!Great!Law!of!Peace.!The! !
Confederacy!was!founded,!debatably,!either!in!1142!CE!or!in!1451!CE,! The!logo!of!the!Haudenosaunee!Confederacy!includes!icons!for!each!
both!important!solar!eclipse!moments!which!helped!solidify!this!new! clan!represented!across!the!Confederacy.!When!traveling!from!Nation!
vision!for!unity.!When!the!Peacemaker!(of!Wendat!origin)!brought! to!Nation,!people!would!search!out!members!of!their!same!clan!who!
the!Good!Tidings!of!Peace!and!Power,!he!used!the!concept!of!the! would!feed!and!shelter!them!as!family.!As!a!matrilineal!society,!each!
Longhouse!as!the!symbol!of!the!political!union!of!the!Confederacy.! clan!is!linked!by!a!common!female!ancestor.!In!this!way,!all!members!
When!longhouses!were!still!being!used!as!living!quarters,!there!was!at! of!a!clan!were!considered!related.!In!this!unique!form!of!direct!
least!one!lodge!in!the!village!that!was!used!as!their!Council!House,! democracy,!the!Iakoiá:ner!(Clan!Mother)!of!each!clan!subdivision!
where!political!and!social!gatherings!took!place.!! would!select!the!representative!Roía:ner!(Chief),!who!is!tasked!with!
! representing!their!constituents.!If!the!Chief!is!not!fulfilling!his!duties!
he!can!be!removed!by!the!Clan!Mothers.!!
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The!Eagle,!protector!of!peace,!sits!atop!the!Tree!of!Peace!and!alerts!
the!Confederacy!of!danger.!The!White!Pine!Tree!is!a!symbol!of!the!
unity!of!the!nations,!with!four!white!roots!growing!in!the!four!
directions,!extending!the!unity!to!other!nations!who!want!to!join!the!
Confederacy.!Below!the!tree,!the!war!clubs!and!arrows!are!buried,!
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Hiawatha!Belt,!1142!CE!or!1451!CE! preventing!internal!wars.!!
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! Dish!With!One!Spoon!Belt,!date!unknown!
Circle!Wampum,!1142!CE!or!1451!CE! !

The!circle!is!a!shared!symbol!across!many!regional!nations.!For!the!
Haudenosaunee,!it!represents!unity,!strength!and!the!cycles!of!life.!
Fifty!Chiefs!stand!in!a!circle,!arms!linked,!to!support!the!tree!and!
prevent!it!from!falling!over.!The!Circle!Belt!indicates!the!Grand!
Council!seating!for!each!Roia:ner!and!has!one!longer!string;!a!seat!for!
the!Peacemaker!or!for!the!People.!Together!they!are!tasked!with!
maintaining!the!Great!Law,!and!continue!to!meet!today.!
! belt!has!come!in!and!out!of!popular!memory!over!the!years,!and!
The!idea!of!sharing!from!one!dish!was!part!of!the!formation!of!the!
Haudenosaunee!Confederacy;!the!Peacemaker!exemplified!this!
principal!once!he!had!brought!together!the!previously!warring!Five!
Nations.!A!dish!of!beaver!tail!was!passed!around:!“As!the!leaders!sat!
in!this!circle!of!fifty,!the!Roianeson!(Chiefs)!took!only!what!they!
needed,!knowing!the!bowl!had!to!complete!its!circle.!The!One!Dish!
demonstrated!the!collective!responsibility!of!the!people!to!share!
equally.”!(Joyce!Tekahnawiiaks!King,!The!Value!of!Water!and!the!
the!center!of!the!bowl!represent!a!beaver’s!tail,!a!favourite!dish!of!
many!nations!around!Ontario.!It!extends!across!the!Great!Lakes!
Meaning!of!Water!Law!for!the!Native!Americans!Known!as!the!
Haudenosaunee,!2007)!!
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The!guiding!principles!held!in!the!Dish!With!One!Spool!Belt!began!
with!the!Haudenosaunee!and!the!Peacemaker,!and!were!later!
extended!to!the!Anishinaabe!by!1701.!The!Haudenosaunee!have!
similar!agreements!with!some!nations!North!and!East!of!them.!This!
within!the!past!10!years!has!received!a!lot!of!interest!in!Toronto.!
Written!documentation!of!the!agreement!includes!notes!from!early!
Jesuit!missionaries,!who!refer!to!a!shared!kettle!of!peace.!It!is!a!
simple!and!elegant!agreement!to!share!land.!!
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The!Dish!With!One!Spoon!Belt!has!a!white!background!with!a!symbol!
of!a!rounded!dish!in!the!centre!of!the!belt.!The!dish!implies!that!all!
their!game!is!held!in!common.!The!land!is!to!be!viewed!as!a!dish!(or!
bowl)!from!which!all!can!eat!together.!The!white!wampum!beads!in!
region!and!encompasses!much!of!Ontario,!New!York!State,!Ohio,!
Michigan!and!Wisconsin.

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“The!Lords!of!the!Confederacy!shall!eat!together!from!one!bowl!the!
feast!of!cooked!beaver’s!tail.!While!they!are!eating!they!are!to!use!no!
sharp!utensils!for!if!they!should!they!might!accidentally!cut!one!
another!and!bloodshed!would!follow.!All!measures!must!be!taken!to!
prevent!the!spilling!of!blood!in!any!way.”!(Seth!Newhouse,!
Constitution!of!the!Five!Nations!or!The!Iroquois!Book!of!the!Great!
Law,!1914)!
! all!of!the!regional!issues!and!propose!topics!for!deliberation!by!the!
For!the!Haudenosaunee,!each!Nation!had!its!own!territorial!“mat.”!
Each!mat!would!contain!multiple!villages,!referring!to!the!palisade!
and!protected!areas!around!the!longhouses.!Each!village!had!
surrounding!crops!divided!into!clan!plots.!At!the!edge!of!the!clearing!
was!the!wood’s!edge.!It!is!here!that!guests!were!greeted!and!
condoled.!Beyond!the!woods!were!the!hunting!grounds!of!their!
nation,!sometimes!marked!with!trees.!Beyond!that!were!the!hunting!
grounds!of!other!nations.!The!mats!bumped!up!against!each!other!
and!fluctuated!with!seasonal!shifts.!Nations!had!to!share!the!common!
spaces,!where!trade!took!place.!The!logic!around!introducing!yourself!
by!your!name,!nation,!village,!and!clan!helped!to!identify!allies!and!to!
maintain!long!distance!kin.!!
! and!spiritual!functions!of!the!Haudenosaunee.!With!the!
Similar!to!the!Anishinaabe,!the!Haudenosaunee!operate!with!three!
different!levels!of!governance.!The!Village!Council!Fire,!the!Nation!
Council!Fire,!and!the!Grand!Council!Fire.!Within!each!village,!there!
were!also!multiple!clans,!each!of!which!held!their!own!clan!councils,!
where!any!individual!could!raise!an!issue!for!consideration.!The!issue!
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would!then!be!directed!to!the!Village!council,!who!could!pass!
legislation.!The!longhouse!could!be!built!up;!“adding!to!the!rafters”!
allowed!for!new!legislation!to!be!passed!by!the!Grand!Council.!The!
Great!Law!is!intended!to!shift!with!contemporary!realities!and!to!
accommodate!changes!the!people!see!fit.!!
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The!centrally!located!Onondagas!serve!as!the!Firekeepers;!they!hear!
Grand!Council.!Each!issue!must!be!unanimously!agreed!upon!to!
discuss!by!the!Grand!Council!before!it!is!drawn!from!the!“well”!to!
deliberate.!The!Seneca!and!Mohawk,!the!Elder!Brothers,!deliberate!
first,!and!then!pass!it!on!to!the!Oneida!(including!Tuscarora)!and!
Cayuga,!who!act!as!the!Younger!Brothers.!If!these!nations!come!to!
one!mind,!the!issue!is!then!passed!to!the!Onondaga,!who!will!then!
either!confirm!the!resolution!or!ask!the!Elder!Brothers!and!Younger!
Brothers!to!reconsider!their!position!with!their!recommendations!in!
mind.!The!council!continues!to!deliberate!in!this!cycle!until!they!come!
to!a!consensus.!!
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Today,!Longhouses!serve!as!gathering!places!for!the!political,!social,!
implementation!of!the!1876!Indian!Act,!the!traditional!Council!was!
bypassed,!in!favour!of!communications!through!regional!Indian!
Agents!and!instated!Band!Council!governments.!The!Haudenosaunee!
Confederacy!is!still!functional!today,!with!limited!capacity!for!local!
jurisdiction,!but!still!represented!at!the!United!Nations.!!
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Red!Sky’s!Birch!Bark!Scroll,!copy,!1966!
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The!word!Anishinaabeg!means!"people!from!whence!lowered,"! groups!for!the!winter,!coming!back!together!in!the!late!spring!and!
sometimes!translated!as!"the!good!humans,"!people!who!live!in!a! early!summer!at!central!villages.!Thousands!of!people!would!gather!in!
good!way,!as!intended!by!Gitche!Manitou.!They!migrated!from!the! the!Toronto!area!to!spearfish!and!net!freshwater!fish,!using!fishing!
east!coast,!where!their!oral!history!tells!of!teachings!they!received! weirs,!thus!the!Haudenosaunee!interpretation!of!the!original!name!
from!key!animals.!Much!of!the!Anishinaabe!early!history!is!captured! for!Toronto!meaning!“trees!standing!in!the!water.”!!
on!Wiigwaasabak!(Birch!Bark!Scrolls)!and!has!been!passed!down! !
orally!by!the!Midewiwin!society,!generally!kept!hidden!to!avoid! !
improper!interpretations!and!disrespect!of!the!teachings.!! !
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The!Ojibwe!(also!Ojibwa,!Ojibway!and!Chippewa)!are!part!of!the! !
Anishinaabe.!They!are!closely!related!to!the!Odawa!and!Algonquin! !
peoples,!and!share!cultural!practices!with!neighbouring!Cree,! !
including!maple!and!wild!rice!harvesting.!Each!band!would!have!its! !
own!chief!and!hunting!grounds,!and!break!into!familyKbased!hunting!

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The!Thunderbird!is!a!common!image!in!contemporary!Anishinaabe!
urban!art.!They!are!one!of!many!common!mythological!creatures!
historically!represented,!often!partnered!with!the!Underwater!
Panther.!!
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Anishinabek!Nation!logo,!2018! !
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The!clan!system!kept!order!for!a!mobile!and!independent!population;!
each!community!had!a!predominant!patrilineal!dodemKbased!clan,!
and!within!each!clan!there!were!individuals!who!took!up!the!duties!of!
the!other!clans.!At!large!gatherings,!each!clan!would!be!represented,!
and!in!this!way,!balanced!decisions!could!be!made.!The!break!down!
of!various!clan!subdivisions!is!different!for!each!Nation,!but!can!be!
traced!back!to!the!original!Anishinaabe!teachers:!
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The!Bimaawidaasi!group!was!charged!with!scouting,!hunting!and!
gathering,!and!has!subdivision!clans!of!hooved!animals!and!little!
pawed!animals.!The!Giishkizhigwan!group!was!charged!with!teaching!
and!healing!and!is!represented!by!water!animals!and!fish.!The!Nooke!
! group!was!responsible!for!defense!and!healing!and!is!aligned!with!
! bears!and!large!animals.!The!Baswenaazhi!group!was!traditionally!
Anishinaabe!Clan!System! charged!with!outgoing!International!communications,!and!is!
! represented!by!large!birds!and!cranes.!The(Bemaangik(are!charged!
! with!Internal/Domestic!communications,!and!are!symbolized!by!
! various!birds.!!

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Each!clan!holds!responsibility!to!two!other!clans.!Decisions!between! Sharing!circles!continue!to!be!used!in!Toronto,!in!alternative!dispute!
nations!took!time,!with!representatives!returning!to!their!home! resolution!and!as!a!community!discussion!tool.!Clan!based!teachings!
communities!to!use!sharing!circles!to!deliberate!internally!before! and!their!governance!benefits!have!seen!a!recent!resurgence!in!
returning!with!a!response.!With!this!process!of!consultation,!every! Anishinaabek!communities!across!Ontario.!!
member!of!the!community!has!a!chance!to!speak!and!voice!their! !
opinion!without!interruption.!In!these!smaller!family!circles,!a!topic! !
introduced!by!the!elder!women!is!passed!around!the!circle,!to!be! !
summarized!by!the!elder!men,!until!consensus!is!met!within!the!clan.! !
This!unique!system!engaged!the!whole!community!in!decisionK !
making.!! !
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! The!Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit!logo!is!etched!onto!the!side!of!a!
! stone!bench!under!Princes’!Gate.!It!is!one!of!the!few!markers!of!their!
presence!in!the!city.!The!Mississaugas!are!a!subgroup!of!the!
AnishinaabeKspeaking!people,!closely!related!to!the!Ojibwe.!The!
name!"Mississauga"!comes!from!the!Anishinaabe!word!MisiKzaagiing,!
meaning!"Those!at!the!Great!RiverKmouth."!The!Eagle!on!their!logo!is!
the!most!prominent!dodem!of!the!Mississaugas,!and!is!shown!
surrounded!by!the!Circle!of!life!and!above!the!Peace!pipe.!!
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The!Missisaguas!of!the!New!Credit!are!part!of!a!larger!Nation!of!
Mississaugas,!including!the!Mississaugas!of!Alderville!and!of!the!
Missisagui!First!Nation.!The!flames!of!the!Three!Fires!Confederacy!
represent!the!Ojibwa,!Ottawa,!and!Potawatomi.!Originally!one!
people,!or!a!collection!of!closely!related!bands,!the!ethnic!identities!
! of!the!three!developed!after!the!Anishinaabe!reached!
! Michilimackinac!between!Lake!Huron!and!Michigan!on!their!journey!
Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit!logo,!2018! westward!from!the!Atlantic!coast,!around!796!AD.!Ojibwa!are!the!
! "keepers!of!the!faith,"!the!Odawa!are!the!"keepers!of!trade,"!and!the!
! Potawatomi!are!the!"keepers/maintainers!of/for!the!fire."!

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LAYER*I*–*Map*Locations*(Location(numbers(correspond(to(expanded(legends(below)(
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9
LAYER*I*–*Expanded*Map*Legends*
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Topographic!plan!and!crossKsection!of!the!1989K90!excavation!of!Wendat!village!
!
!
In!the!1950s,!the!University!of!Toronto!began!excavations,!and!
Near!Keele!and!Finch! multiple!preservation!attempts!were!made,!including!proposals!to!
! make!a!reconstruction!village!in!the!1960s.!Development!projects!in!
By!1000!CE,!the!Wendat!(Huron)!and!Tionontati!(Petun)!lived!in! the!late!1970s!ignored!archaeologists’!findings!and!began!
bustling!villages!across!the!GTA,!made!up!of!several!ethnic!groups.!In! construction!on!top!of!the!village.!The!excavation!revealed!only!10%!
1450,!there!was!a!large!ancestral!Wendat!village!near!Keele!and! of!the!whole!site,!a!cross!section!of!3!longhouses!and!a!palisade!wall.!
Finch,!now!called!the!Parsons!Site.!This!was!a!critical!time!in!Wendat! The!full!Parsons!Site!housed!10!longhouses,!subterranean!sweat!
history,!when!the!smaller!communities!were!amalgamating.!They! lodges,!midden!(refuse)!areas,!stone!and!copper!tools,!ceramic!pots,!
packed!longhouses!into!palisades,!full!of!sweat!lodges!and!food! rolled!tubular!beads,!ossuaries!and!animal!bones.!!
processing!huts.!This!site!was!double!the!size!of!others,!and!revealed! !
trade!items!from!long!distances,!reflecting!a!cosmopolitan,!well! Not!too!far!from!the!Parsons!Site!is!a!separate!site!on!the!side!of!a!hill!
travelled!population.!! near!Downsview,!and!another!in!the!Black!Creek!floodplain!which!had!
! a!rare!double!palisade.!After!the!Wendat!moved,!the!area!was!
continually!occupied,!with!seventeenthKcentury!sites!nearby.!

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 High!Park! Lake!Ontario!
! !
Wildlife!and!plant!life!were!managed!across!the!park,!providing! Lake!Ontario!is!named!after!the!Wendat!(Huron)!word!Ontarí:io,!
readily!available!medicines,!including!willow!bark,!rosehip,!and! meaning!"great!lake,"!or!Skanadario,!meaning!"beautiful!water."!In!
goldenrod.!A!1921!report!includes!a!story!of!finding,!on!the!west!side! 500!CE,!IroquoianKspeaking!cornKgrowers!inhabited!the!north!side!of!
of!the!park!north!of!Grenadier!Pond,!a!red!ochre!burial!of!10!humans,! the!lake.!Contemporarily,!we!refer!to!only!the!Wendat,!as!they!were!
seated,!some!young.!The!remains!were!not!properly!excavated!and! the!predominant!group!in!the!area.!They!shared!the!land!with!other!
the!site!is!controversial.!The!park!is!home!to!a!few!marker!trees,! nations,!many!of!whom!shared!cultural!practices,!including!Tionontati!
which!were!used!to!identify!territory!boundaries!and!directions!to! (Petun),!Attiwandaronk!(Neutrals),!Wenros,!and!Eries.!South!and!east!
local!camps.!! of!the!lake!were!the!homelands!of!the!Seneca,!Cayuga,!Onondaga,!
! Oneida,!and!the!Kanien'keha:ka!(Mohawk),!the!founding!nations!of!
! the!Haudenosaunee!Confederacy.!At!this!time,!the!Anishinaabek!
! generally!lived!farther!north!or!to!the!west.!!
!

! !
In!Lake!Ontario!
!
Fourteen!thousand!years!ago,!the!Laurentide!Glacier!began!to!melt.!It!
made!Lake!Iroquois,!whose!original!shoreline!went!up!to!Davenport!
Road.!When!more!of!the!glacier!melted!away,!the!St.!Lawrence!River!
valley!opened!up!and!the!water!rushed!out!of!lake,!leaving!the!
smaller!Lake!Admiralty,!whose!shore!is!beyond!Hanlan’s!Island.!
Toronto!has!been!a!central!transportation!and!trade!junction,!with!a!
shifting!population!for!over!10!millennia.!In!1908,!city!officials!were!
digging!a!tunnel!to!Toronto!Island!and!the!came!upon!the!footprints!
of!over!100!people,!in!a!layer!of!blue!clay!on!the!lake’s!bottom.!They!
were!walking!north,!wearing!moccasins,!moving!from!the!shore!
inland.!The!footprints!were!filled,!and!all!that!remains!of!this!sighting!
is!a!report!and!drawing!by!W.!H.!Cross.!!
! !
! !
Drawing!showing!footprints!from!description! !
and!sketch!of!W.!H.!Cross,!c.!1908!

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!
Bathurst!St!and!Eglinton!Ave! Further!up!the!Don!River,!Sunnybrook!Park!
! !
This!area!was!surrounded!by!a!huge!palisade!in!the!1640s.!Smaller! The!Sunnybrook!Park!site!became!known!in!1983.!Excavation!of!a!
villages!dotted!St.!Clair!and!Eglinton.!Toronto!is!host!to!8,000Kplus! 5000KyearKold!Wendat!village!revealed!spear!points,!pottery,!
sites!of!various!sizes.!Fishing!and!food!processing!camps!are!found! arrowheads,!and!human!remains!near!the!park.!The!Wendat!chose!
along!the!shores!of!the!current!and!buried!rivers!of!Toronto.!Three! village!sites!for!their!defensive!advantages:!high!ground,!surrounding!
hundred!sites!have!been!found!along!the!Humber!watershed,!alone.! river!and/or!ravine!and!a!nearby!yearKround!spring.!The!
Most!of!Toronto’s!rivers!have!been!lost!to!development,!reKrouted! Haudenosaunee!and!Wendat!were!swidden!(slash!and!burn)!
through!culverts!and!run!through!Toronto’s!sewer!system.!In!the! agriculturalists;!moving!villages!from!time!to!time!to!prevent!soil!
1950s,!the!city!expanded!and!traces!of!the!villages!were!covered.! erosion.!Occasionally,!Haudenosaunee!settlements!were!relocated!in!
Some!level!of!secrecy!is!kept!when!disclosing!site!locations,!to! order!to!give!the!whole!nation!a!better!vantage!point!in!dealing!with!
dissuade!potential!looters!and!amateur!archaeologists.!! enemies.!!
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!
Lost!Rivers’!Central!Toronto!Key!Map:!the!Toronto!Green!Community! !
started!the!Lost!Rivers!project!to!help!Torontonians!discover!the! !
fascinating!world!of!the!watershed!beneath!their!feet.! !

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 !
Forest!Hill:!Avenue!Rd.!and!Roselawn!Ave!
!
A!public!school!sits!on!top!of!the!Wendat!village!site,!with!a!human!
made!hill,!used!for!food!storage.!Occupied!between!1400!and!1700!
CE,!it!appeared!to!have!gone!through!a!fire!and!to!have!been!
abandoned!during!a!battle.!Excavations!between!the!1930s!and!1950s!
revealed!pipes,!pottery!and!worked!bone!tools.!The!site!was!not!well!
documented!otherwise.!Local!gardeners!have!found!more!artefacts!in!
the!area,!including!an!axe!head.!!
!

!
!
Huron!WendatKWyandot!migration,!1665K1855!
!!
! !
1700s!Wendat!Village,!Ivan!Kocsis,!commissioned!by!R.O.M.(
The!mouth!of!the!Don!River!
( !
! Up!the!Don!River,!Broadview!and!Withrow!Ave! New!cultural!groups!began!to!migrate!to!the!area!in!the!late!1500s.!
! By!1600,!most!of!the!Wendat!villages!were!vacated!to!the!Georgian!
A!public!school!stands!on!top!of!a!5000KyearKold!Huron!village,!which! Bay!region,!to!be!closer!to!their!Anishinaabe!trade!partners!or!further!
became!known!in!1886.!The!remains!of!60!humans!were!found,!as! from!the!Haudenosaunee.!There!are!oral!narratives!from!this!period!
well!as!spear!points,!a!fragment!of!an!axe!head,!stone!chisels,! that!present!vastly!different!reasons!for!the!Wendat!departure,!
arrowheads!and!pottery!fragments.!! including!a!battle!with!the!Haudenosaunee.!Regardless,!Toronto!
! remained!Wendat!hunting!ground!until!1649.!!

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In!1649K50!the!Haudenosaunee!began!to!systematically!attack!
neighbouring!nations,!and!a!lot!of!Wendat,!Petun!and!Neutrals!were! Toronto!Islands!
adopted!into!Haudenosaunee!nations.!Some!Six!Nations!residents! !
consider!Toronto!their!traditional!territory,!because!they!consider! Ed!Sackaney,!George!Brown!College!Knowledge!and!Wisdom!Keeper!
themselves!descendants!of!these!adoptions.!Others!joined!the!allied! said!of!the!Islands!in!2015:!!
Anishinaabe!nations!in!the!west,!and!moved!to!Anderton!and!north! !
across!the!Great!Lakes.!Some!Wendat!migrated!south,!and!then! I(think(it's(an(honour(we(acknowledge(the(original(people(
endured!forced!relocation!into!Kansas!and!Oklahoma!during!the!US! from(this(area('cause(it's(their(territory.(And(also(with(the(
Indian!Removal!Act!in!1830.!! Haudenosaunee(and(the(Wendat,(they(have(to(all(be(placed(in(
! this(area(because(they(did(roam(this(area.(I(mean,(let's(face(it,(
! they(lived(here,(they(actually(traded(here,(that(sort(of(thing.(
! The(Six(Nations(of(New(York,(right(down(to(Detroit,(they(went(
! all(over.(The(Wendats(were(also(here,(the(Hurons.(The(Hurons(
! were(pushed(out(and(come(back(into(this(area('cause(they(
! were(nearly(wiped(out…(And(the(Nishnawbe(people(always(
! had(this(and(that(island.(The(Toronto(Island(was(very(
! important.(Very(important(because(of(the(fact(that(it(was(a(
! meeting(place(for(ceremonies,(celebrations(of(life(and(
! understanding(each(other,(that(sort(of(thing.(That(place(is(
! spiritually(connected.(I(mean,(these(nations(had(spiritual(
! connection(to(this(land(and(water...(And(as(a(visitor,(I'm(just(
honoured(to(be(here(and(work(with(them(for(a(while.(
!
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LAYER*II*–*Approximately*1660s*to*1780s*
!
!
! united(in(Ye(Covenant(Chain,(our(hunting(places(to(be(one,(
and(to(boil(in(one(kettle,(eat(out(of(one(spoon,(and(so(be(one;(
and(because(the(path(to(Corlaer’s(house(may(be(open(and(
clear,(doe(give(a(drest(elke(skin(to(cover(Ye(path(to(walke(
upon.(
!
The!Haudenosaunee!accepted!this!proposal!for!peace,!which!was!
! formalised!at!the!Great!Peace!of!Montreal!in!1701.!The!title!of!
Two!Row!Wampum,!1613! “Corlaer”!was!the!name!of!the!original!negotiator!on!the!Dutch!side!
! of!the!agreement!with!the!Mohawk.!The!name!continued!to!be!used!
! by!Haudenosaunee!and!Anishinaabe!even!after!the!English!took!New!
! York!and!assumed!the!Dutch!role!in!Indigenous!relations.!The!
The!Kaswhenta!(TwoKRow!Wampum)!is!an!agreement!to!coKexist! continuity!of!this!title!is!related!to!the!condoling!and!naming!practices!
independently,!forged!between!the!Dutch!and!the!Mohawk!in!1613.! of!the!Haudenosaunee.!The!idea!of!“Requickening”!allows!a!name!to!
It!is!a!treaty!of!respect!for!the!dignity!and!integrity!of!the!other! be!passed!on!along!with!the!history!and!responsibilities!of!the!prior!
nation,!and!stresses!the!importance!of!nonKinterference.!Each!nation! name!holder.!This!statement!brings!together!the!long!legacy!of!the!
will!travel!side!by!side,!along!the!river!of!life!in!their!own!vessels;! Two!Row!with!the!Indigenous!nationKtoKnation!agreement,!the!Dish!
neither!side!shall!impose!their!laws,!traditions,!customs,!languages,! with!One!Spoon.!It!presents!a!shared!approach!to!the!Toronto!area,!
and!spirituality!upon!the!other.!The!principles!established!in!the! ensuring!that!the!land!can!be!accessed!by!everyone!involved,!with!
Kaswhentha!formed!the!basis!of!all!Haudenosaunee!treaties!with! some!parameters,!including!acknowledging!each!nation!as!distinct,!
European!nations!after!the!Dutch.!! sovereign!entities.!!
! !
In!1700,!the!Haudenosaunee!were!at!a!trade!meeting!where!they!let! When!the!English!defeated!the!French!in!1760,!they!began!to!
the!English!know!of!the!Anishinaabe!call!for!peace,!and!to!be!united! intervene!in!hunting!disputes!between!Native!nations.!King!George!III!
under!the!Dish!with!One!Spoon.!They!told!of!a!group!of!Dowaganhaes! of!England!put!forth!the!Royal!Proclamation!in!attempt!to!establish!a!
(Ottawas)!who!came!to!live!with!the!Seneca!at!Ganatsekwyagon,!who! base!of!government!in!the!wake!of!the!Treaty!of!Paris!in!1763,!just!
brought!a!message!from!the!Three!Fires!confederacy:!! after!the!Seven!Years!War.!The!Proclamation!intended!to!be!the!
! framework!for!which!all!future!land!treaties!would!be!based.!
We(have(come(to(acquaint(you(that(we(are(settled(on(Ye( Individuals!were!not!able!to!buy!lands!directly!from!native!nations.!
North(side(of(Cadarachqui(Lake(near(Tchojachiage([Teiaiagon]( Only!the!king!could!buy!land,!if!freely!sold.!The!British!Crown!became!
where(we(plant(a(tree(of(peace(and(open(a(path(for(all(people,( an!essential!agent!in!the!transfer!of!lands!to!settlers.!It!planned!for!
quite(to(Corlaer’s(house([Schenectady],(and(desire(to(be(

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15
territories!beyond!the!Appalachian!Mountains!to!be!exclusively!native!
domain.!Early!US!citizens!in!the!colonies!were!not!satisfied!with!this!
decree,!it!becoming!a!factor!in!the!Revolutionary!War.!The!Royal!
Proclamation!has!been!cited!as!the!source!of!aboriginal!land!rights,!
though,!in!its!creation!it!acknowledged!and!confirmed!preKexisting!
rights.!
! regulated!and!respectful!of!Indigenous!title!to!land.!It!proclaimed!that!
!
The!Royal!Proclamation,!1763!
The!Treaty!of!Niagara!was!effectively!an!oral!telling!of!the!Royal!
Proclamation,!the!written!document!sent!around!to!Indigenous!
Nations!by!runners!in!1763.!It!became!apparent!that!the!agreement!
was!not!understood!and!would!not!be!accepted!in!written!form.!The!
Proclamation!asserted!British!authority!over!a!large!part!of!North!
America,!and!initiated!a!process!of!settlement!that!needed!to!be!
newcomers!could!not!settle!the!land!until!the!Crown!had!acquired!it!
from!the!First!Nations:!
!
And(whereas(great(Frauds(and(Abuses(have(been(committed(
in(purchasing(Lands(of(the(Indians,(to(the(great(Prejudice(of(
our(Interests,(and(to(the(great(Dissatisfaction(of(the(said(
Indians;(In(order,(therefore,(to(prevent(such(Irregularities(for(
the(future,(and(to(the(end(that(the(Indians(may(be(convinced(
of(our(Justice(and(determined(Resolution(to(remove(all(
reasonable(Cause(of(Discontent,(We(do,(with(the(Advice(of(our(
Privy(Council(strictly(enjoin(and(require,(that(no(private(Person(
do(presume(to(make(any(purchase(from(the(said(Indians(of(
any(Lands(reserved(to(the(said(Indians,(within(those(parts(of(
our(Colonies(where,(We(have(thought(proper(to(allow(
Settlement;(but(that,(if(any(Time(any(of(the(Said(Indians(
should(be(inclined(to(dispose(of(the(said(Lands,(the(same(shall(
be(Purchased(only(for(Us,(in(our(Name,(at(some(public(
Meeting(or(Assembly(of(the(said(Indians,(to(be(held(for(that(
Purpose(by(the(Governor(or(Commander(in(Chief(of(our(Colony(
respectively(within(which(they(shall(lie…(
!
Sir!William!Johnson!was!aware!of!the!growing!concern!that!the!
Nation!he!was!negotiating!would!be!considered!subjects!of!the!
English!Crown.!In!1763,!he!spoke!of!the!concept!in!relation!to!the!
Royal!Proclamation!and!subsequent!Treaty!of!Niagara,!in!a!private!
letter!to!a!Toronto!region!general:!!
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16
 You(may(be(assured(that(none(of(the(Six(Nations,(Western( had!to!win!back!the!favour!of!local!nations.!Directed!to!treat!with!
Indians,(etc.(ever(declared(themselves(to(be(Subjects,(or(will( each!nation!separately,!Johnson,!along!with!his!Mohawk!wife!and!
ever(consider(themselves(in(that(light(whilst(they(have(any( clan!mother,!Molly!Johnson,!managed!to!bring!distinct!nations!to!
Men,(or(an(open(Country(to(retire(to,(the(very(Idea(of( agree!to!the!vision!translated!from!King!George!III’s!Royal!
Subjection(would(fill(them(with(horror(–(Indeed(I(have(been( Proclamation.!!
Just(looking(in(to(the(Indian(Records,(where(I(find(in(the( !
Minutes(of(1751(that(those(who(made(ye(Entry(Say,(that(Nine( He!subdued!further!rebellion!with!gifts,!political!theater!and!
different(Nations(acknowledged(themselves(to(be(his( manipulation!of!each!Nation’s!rivalries.!At!the!Treaty!of!Niagara,!in!
Majesty’s(Subjects,(although(I(sat(at(that(Conference,(made( 1764,!24!Nations,!including!Mississaugas!and!other!Anishinaabe,!
entries(of(all(the(Transactions,(in(which(there(was(not(a(Word( convene!to!hear!William!Johnson!deliver!the!speech!contained!in!the!
mentioned,(which(could(imply(a(subjection,(however,(these( belts:!
matters…seem(not(to(be(well(known(at(home([in(Britain],(and( !
therefore,(it(may(prove(of(dangerous(consequence(to( Exchange(of(the(great(Belt(of(the(Covenant(Chain(that(we(may(
persuade(them(that(the(Indians(have(agreed(to(things(which( not(forget(our(mutual(Engagements;(to(bind(all(of(the(western(
are(so(repugnant(to(their(Principles(that(the(attempting(to( nations(together(with(the(English,(take(fast(hold,(never(let(it(
enforce(it,(must(lay(the(foundation(of(greater(Calamities(than( slip;(don’t(listen(to(any(other(news,(as(it(may(shake(the(Belt;(
has(yet(been(experienced(in(this(Country,(](it(is(necessary(to( promises(favor,(plentiful(trade(and(happiness;(reject(war(and(
observe(that(no(Nation(of(Indians(have(any(word(which(can( respect(and(esteem(the(English.(I(exhort(you(then(to(preserve(
express,(or(convey(the(Idea(of(Subjection.( my(Words(in(your(Hearts.(Look(upon(this(Belt(as(the(Chain(
! which(binds(you(to(the(English,(and(never(to(let(it(slip(out(of(
! your(Hands.(
!
The!large!wampum!belt!was!commissioned!by!the!English!to!be!
delivered!to!the!gather!Nations!to!solidify!their!pact,!extending!the!
Haudenosaunee!and!English!pact!of!the!Covenant!Chain!across!Lake!
Ontario.!The!Treaty!of!Niagara!was!meant!to!be!foundational!for!all!
subsequent!treaties.!!
! !
The!Covenant!Chain!belt,!1764! Wampum!historian!Al!Corbiere!poses!a!theory!on!the!hexagonal!
! shapes!on!the!Covenant!Chain!Belt.!He!proposes!they!are!
Sir!William!Johnson!replaced!General!Jeffery!Amherst,!a!British! representations!of!forts!along!the!St!Lawrence!to!Lake!Superior,!with!
general!who!proposed!sending!smallpox!blankets!to!deal!with! one!being!Fort!York.!This!would!imply!that!native!Nations!are!always!
Pontiac’s!rebellion!and!had!all!forms!of!diplomatic!gift!giving!cut!off.! invited!to!these!safe!locations!to!polish!the!Chain!and!return!to!talk!
When!Johnson!got!him!called!back!to!England,!he!replaced!him!and! with!the!English.!!

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! !

24!Nations!Belt,!1764!
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Two!thousand!delegates!of!22K24!Nations!experienced!Johnson’s! this!agreement,!Molly!secured!a!future!for!herself!and!her!nation,!but!
1764!show!of!Wampum!diplomacy,!which!was!accompanied!by!300! also!for!the!children!they!shared.!William!Johnson!said!to!the!
boatloads!of!gift!goods.!At!least!84!wampum!belts!were!exchanged! gathered!nations:!!
during!the!treaty!councils,!which!were!conducted!as!a!series!of!miniK !
councils!with!the!various!nations,!tailored!to!their!specific! (My(children,(I(clothe(your(land,(you(see(that(Wampum(before(
circumstance.!With!each!nation,!Johnson!used!the!same!threats:!that! me,(the(body(of(my(words,(in(this(spirit(of(my(words(shall(
trade!was!suspended!with!all!other!nations!until!the!English!received! remain,(it(shall(never(be(removed,(this(will(be(our(Mat(the(
satisfaction!for!the!harm!done!to!them!during!the!recent!war,!and! eastern(Corner(of(which(I(myself(will(occupy,(the(Indians(being(
that!the!English!Army!and!their!Native!allies!would!invade!and! my(adopted(children(their(life(shall(never(sink(in(poverty…(My(
destroy!their!enemies’!settlements.!Once!all!of!the!subKagreements! children(this(is(my(canoe(floating(on(the(other(side(of(the(
were!made!and!wampum!belts!properly!exchanged,!Johnson!paddled! Great(Waters(it(shall(never(be(exhausted(but(always(full(of(the(
across!the!river!to!present!the!large!Covenant!Chain!belt!to!the! necessaries(of(life(as(long(as(the(world(shall(last.(Shouldn't(
Western!Lakes!Confederacy,!encamped!across!the!river!from!the! happen(anytime(after(this(that(you(find(the(strength(of(your(
Haudenausaunnee!at!Fort!Niagara.!! life(reduced(your(Indian(tribes(must(take(hold(of(the(vessel(
! and(pull.(I(will(open(my(hand(and(you(will(find(yourself(
Kanienkeha:ka!Clan!Mother,!Molly!Johnson!was!a!respected!political! supplied(with(plenty.(
figure!amongst!the!Haudenosaunee.!She!was!the!3rd!wife!of!Sir! !
William!Johnson!and!had!many!children!with!him.!Their!home!was!a! !
meeting!space!for!Haudenosaunee!chiefs!and!international!delegates.! !
They!hosted!grand!feasts!and!had!a!large!house!staff,!including!the! !
little!known!aspect!of!slave!ownership.!The!time!period!was!very! !
complex!and!these!details!speak!to!the!preeminent!role!the! !
Haudenausonee!had!in!the!Proclamation!negotiations.!Material!goods! !
were!central,!and!expected!to!be!renewed!and!ongoing.!In!forging!!! !

!
18
Also!included!in!the!Treaty!of!Niagara!were!the!1764!exchange!rates,! (
which!all!the!fur!traders!and!present!nations!were!to!abide!by.! (
European!currency!had!been!introduced,!but!was!still!used!sparingly,! (
with!little!conception!of!comparable!monetary!value!by!the! (
Indigenous!nations.!Land!had!already!begun!being!purchased!for! (
currency!in!New!York,!yet!in!the!Toronto!areas,!value!was!still! (
measured!in!beaver!pelts:!! (
! (
Notice(is(hereby(Given(to(all(Indian(Traders,(that(liberty(is( (
granted(them(to(Trade(with(the(Indian(Nations(now(here,(and( (
none(other(…The(Merchandise(to(be(Bought(and(Sold(at(the( (
hereafter(nam’d(prices.( (
( (
A(Stroud(blanket(2(yards,(2(beavers((
A(large(French(blanket,(2(middling(beaver(
A(man’s(ruffled(shirt,(1(large(beaver(
Plain(shirt,(1(middling(beaver(
300(wampum,(1(large(beaver(
1(pound(vermillion,(2(middling(beaver(
A(steel(beaver(trap,(1(large(beaver(
Kettles(per(pound,(six(shillings(
A(Bed(gown(lin’d(with(Callicoe(for(a(grown(person,(2(beavers(
A(small(bed(gown(ditto,(1(large(beaver(
A(good(Knife,(1(racoon(
The(largest(silver(arm(band,(3(beavers(
Second(size(of(the(same,(2(beavers(
A(pair(of(silver(wrist(bands,(2(middling(beavers(
A(pair(of(silver(ear(bobs,(1(beaver((
12(silver(broaches,(1(beaver(
2(large(silver(crosses,(1(beaver(
A(Silver(Hair(plate(best(sort,(3(beaver(
A(size(smaller,(2(beaver(
A(Silver(Gorget,(2(beaver!
A(gallon(of(rum,(1(beaver(

!
19
LAYER*II*–*Map*Locations (Location(numbers(correspond(to(expanded(legends(below)
(

!
20
!
!
Note:!all!locations!in!Layer!II!are!along!waterways.!Here!are!some!of! !
the!origins!of!the!names!of!Toronto’s!rivers,!both!present!and!now! !
buried,!through!the!language!of!the!Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit:!! !
! !
! !
! !
!
!
Don*River!! ! ! Won.Sco.ton.ach! ! Back!burnt!ground!or!burning!bright!point!
!
Toronto*Peninsula! ! Min.ne.sink!or!Menecing! Island! !
! ! ! ! MiKniKsing! ! ! On!the!island!
!
Humber*River! ! ! Co!bec!he!nonk!! ! Leave!their!canoes!and!go!back!or!Place!or!rest!and!refreshment!
! From:!! Kabe!K!entire,!all,!through!
Ishinoo!K!to!lie!or!rest!
Iniing!K!at!the!place!of!
!
Etobicoke*River!! ! AKdooKpeKkog! ! ! Place!of!the!black!alder!
!
Credit*River! ! ! Mis.sin.ni.he! ! ! Trusting!Creek!or!! ! ! !
MazinigaeKzeebi! ! To!write!or!give!and!make!credit!
From:!! MazinKimage!
Ikae(igae)!K!to!make!
Seebi!K!river!
!
!
*
*
*
*
* !

!
21
LAYER*II*–*Expanded*Map*Legends* !
!
The!Humber!River!
! On!the!Credit!River! !
! The!ideas!held!in!the!Dish!with!One!Spoon!carried!into!agreements!
The!Mississauga!people!migrated!into!the!area!from!the!north!shore! made!between!Indigenous!Nations!and!with!the!French!and!English.!
of!Lake!Huron,!near!the!Mississagi!river,!throughout!the!1660’s.!They! The!land!was!viewed!as!a!source!of!food!for!everyone.!Large!trade!
were!the!predominant!nation!in!the!Toronto!area!when!the!British! networks!were!established,!bringing!huge!trade!parties!to!exchange!
arrived.!The!Credit!River,!according!to!oral!history,!received!its!name! for!European!goods!and!supplies.!When!the!Indigenous!nations!
because!fur!traders!would!send!goods!up!the!river!and!payment! expressed!concerns!around!commercial!trapping!or!hunting!by!
would!be!sent!back!down!in!furs;!the!Mississaugas!were!people!of! incoming!fur!traders,!the!British!Indian!Department!officials!at!first!
good!credit.! replied!that!the!Royal!Proclamation!had!reserved!the!territory!to!all!
! the!Indian!nations!together,!so!that!hunting!grounds!could!not!be!
At!Port!Credit,!they!had!a!village,!where!they!established!a!trading! claimed!by!individual!nations!exclusively.!!
post!in!1720!to!reap!the!benefits!of!the!bustling!fur!trade.!After!they! !
fought!alongside!the!British!in!1812,!they!opened!a!shared!harbour!at! The!distribution!of!alcohol!had!been!banned!during!the!Seven!Year’s!
the!village.! War!(1756–63),!but!later!became!a!prominent!gift,!and!was!included!
! formally!when!maintaining!ongoing!trade!relationships.!Although!
! some!fur!traders!followed!the!regulations!set!by!the!Treaty!of!
! Niagara,!many!did!not,!nor!did!they!care!to!honour!the!arrangements.!
! In!1770,!Toronto!area!fur!trader!Ferral!Wade!described!his!trading!
! partner!Peter!Keiuser!to!Sir!William!Johnson:!
! !
! When(the([Mississauga](Indians(come(atrading(not(a(word(
! will(he(say(to(them(without(its(extorted(from(him.(I(then(say(
! why(don’t(you(welcome(the(Indians,(its(all(the(same(I(am(
! obliged(to(stammer(to(them,(in(short(he(does(not(know(what(
! we(are(about,(or(the(price(of(a(single(knife.(On(the(whole,(he(is(
! one(of(the(most(lazy,(indolent(young(fellows(I(ever(saw,(the(
! whole(winter(he(sate(at(the(fire(side(with(his(elbow(on(his(
! knee(&(his(chin(on(his(hand(picking(his(nose(without(speaking(
! a(word.(He(has(wore(a(shirt(13(or(14(weeks(without(changing(
! &(the(whole(time(I(don’t(think(he(ever(washed.(When(he(took(
! his(short(off,(the(man(showed(it(to(me(it(was(swarmed(with(
! lice.(
! !

!
22
 Near!Old!Mill!
!
When!the!French!map!the!Toronto!area!in!1660,!the!Seneca!and!
Mohawk!Village!of!Teiaiagon!appears!on!the!Rouge.!Teiaiagon,!
meaning!“crosses!the!stream,”!was!inhabited!by!over!5000!people!
and!had!50!longhouses.!It!was!surrounded!by!growing!fields!and!had!
a!large!burial!ground!in!the!middle!of!the!village.!The!location!was!
previously!occupied!by!the!Wendat.!The!village!was!at!the!beginning!
of!the!Carrying!Place!Trail.!The!Trail!connected!rivers!with!short!
portages!up!the!Humber,!across!to!the!Holland!River,!into!Lake!
Simcoe,!and!from!there!to!Georgian!Bay.!The!banks!of!the!river!were!
swampy,!wooded,!and!impeded!by!timber!and!beaver!dams.!It!was!a!
challenging!route,!but!significantly!cut!down!on!travel!time!to!the!
upper!great!lakes.!The!French!used!the!route!more!than!the!
succeeding!English,!though!it’s!presence!contributed!to!the!decision!
to!establish!the!settlement!of!York!here!in!1793.!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
! !
! !
Carrying!Place!Trail!map,!1619K1793! !

!
23
 On!the!Rouge!River! In!Lake!Ontario!
! !
Ganatsekwyagon,!meaning!”among!the!birches,”!was!another!Seneca! The!name!of!the!City!of!Toronto!has!been!highly!disputed.!For!a!long!
and!Mohawk!village!documented!by!the!French!in!1669.!The!Seneca! time,!it!was!believed!to!mean!abundance!or!"A!place!of!plenty"!in!
and!Mohawk!villages!are!abandoned!or!destroyed!by!the!French!by! Wendat,!then!attributed!to!mean!“The!meeting!place.”!Other!name!
1687,!with!most!Seneca!moving!to!the!south!shore!of!Lake!Ontario,! origin!theories!included,!ThoronKtoKhen,!meaning!"Timber!(fallen!
near!Buffalo,!NY.!An!ongoing!debate!persists!around!this!transition! trees)!in!the!water"!and!DeKonKdo,!which!translates!to!"Logs!floating!
period!and!the!reasons!for!the!Seneca!departure.!The! on!the!water."!The!Kanienkeha:ka!were!talking!about!the!fish!weir!at!
Haudenosaunee!are!involved!in!numerous!fights!with!the!Anishinaabe! the!north!end!of!the!lake!as!"Where!there!are!trees!standing!in!
and!lose!warriors.!They!cease!fighting!with!the!Anishinaabe,!who!then! water."!The!whole!structure!was!called!tkaronto,!“ront,”!referring!to!
take!the!lead!in!the!regional!fur!trade!with!the!French.!The! tree!or!pole.(This!was!recorded!by!a!French!cartographer!in!1680,!
Haudenosaunee!and!Anishinaabe!build!military!and!trade!alliances,! who!took!this!to!be!the!name!for!the!whole!lake,!labeling!it!Lac!
and!at!the!same!time,!they!continue!to!compete!for!the!strategic! Toronteau.!!
access!to!Georgian!Bay!that!the!Carrying!Place!provides.!These! !
villages!are!the!reason!why!Haudenosaunee!claim!Toronto!as!their! !
territory.!Later!on,!the!Ganatsekwyagon!site!was!inhabited!by!the! !
Mississaugas.!! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !

!
24
LAYER*III*–*Approximately*1780s*to*1813*
*
The*Toronto*Purchase*
* me(to(cross(the(River(with(ye(Bound[ar]y(line(between(them(
In!1787,!the!British!Crown!gave!the!Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit!a!
little!money:!2,000!gun!flints,!24!brass!kettles,!120!mirrors,!24!laced!
hats,!a!bale!of!flowered!flannel,!and!96!gallons!of!rum!and!began!to!
talk!about!sharing!250,808!acres!of!land.!This!is!what!was!considered!
the!Toronto!Purchase.!The!lands!that!were!supposedly!ceded!to!the!
British!were!not!recorded.!In!1788,!Deputy!SurveyorKGeneral!Collins!
instructed!Alexander!Aitkin!to!survey!land!at!Toronto,!said!to!have!
been!purchased!the!preceding!year.!He!began!his!surveying!at!the!
Don!River.!Of!the!troubles!in!his!attempt!to!complete!the!plot,!Aitkin!
wrote:!!
! with(the(creek(which(I(found(with(the(course(I(then(run(I(would(
I(then(desired(Mr.(Lines,(the(Interpreter,(to(signify(to(the(
Indian(Chief(then(on(the(spot(my(intention(of(beginning(to(
survey(the(land(purchased(from(them(last(year(by(Sir(John(
Johnson(and(pointed(out(to(him(where(I(was(to(begin.(I(
requested(of(him(to(go(with(me(to(the(spot(along(with(Mr.(
Lines,(which(he(did,(but(instead(of(going(to(the(lower(end(of(
the(Beach(which(forms(the(Harbour(he(brought(me(to(the(river(
called(on(the(Plan(Nechengquakekonk([the(Don](which(is(
upwards(of(three(miles(nearer(the(Old(Fort(than(the(place(you(
mention(in(your(instructions:(he(insisted(that(they(had(sold(
the(land(no(further,(so(that(to(prevent(disputes(I(had(to(put(it(
off(for(some(days(longer(until(a(few(more(of(the(Chiefs(came(
in,(when(Mr.(Kines(settled(with(them(that(I(was(to(begin(my(
Survey(at(the(west(end(of(the(High(Lands…(Matters(being(
settled(with(the(Indians(I(continued(my(Survey(westward(until(
I(came(to(the(Toronto(River([Humber](which(the(Indians(
looked(upon(to(be(the(west(boundary(of(the(purchase(until(
Col.(Butler(got(them(prevailed(upon(to(give(up(to(the(River(
Tobicoak(but(no(further(nor(would(they(on(any(account(suffer(
and(Government(althou(I(had(them(twice(to(the(spot(they(told(
us(they(did(not(look(upon(a(straight(line(as(a(proper(
Bound[ar]y.(The(creek(there(was(a(Boundary(that(could(not(be(
altered(or(moved(but(that(a(line(in(a(few(years(unless(always(
cut(open(and(frequented(would(soon(grow(up(with(Brush(and(
trees.(
(
Having(finished(the(Survey(of(the(Front(I(then(began(the(West(
Boundary(line(aforementioned(which(I(ran(back(perpendicular(
to(the(Front(about(two(miles(and(three(quarters(until(I(fell(in(
cross(and(have(considerably(to(the(Right.(I(then(was(obliged(
to(stop(rather(than(run(the(risk(of(having(any(disputes(with(
the(Indian(Chief(from(whom(the(land(was(purchased(and(who(
was(that(morning(along(the(line(and(had(cautioned(me(
against(crossing(it(openly(as(Col.(Butler(&(Mr.(Lines(were(both(
gone(and(I(left(without(any(one(to(settle(any(disputes(that(
might(arise(between(me(and(the(Indians…(The(survey(I(believe(
you(will(find(pretty(accurate(&(I(hope(my(proceedings(may(
meet(with(your(and(His(Lordship’s(approbation.(With(great(
respect(Sir,(I(have(the(Honour(to(be(your(most(obedient(
Humble(Servant.(
!
Margaret!Sault,!one!of!today’s!chiefs!of!the!Mississaugas!of!the!New!
Credit,!explained!the!blank!deed!attached!to!the!1787!survey:!!
!
What(happened(then(was,(the(land(was(going(to(be(surveyed,(
so(I(think(they(got(agents(in(to(come(out(and(do(the(
boundaries,(and(when(they(were(going(out(to(them(the(head(
!
25
 chief(said,("No,(it's(not(gone(that(far,(this(is(only(what(we( nearly(their(whole(property(within(its(limits.(For(should(the(
gave."(So(then(the(Butler's(Rangers(came(in..(and(then(the( whole(of(that(transaction(be(invalid,(as(your(Excy(and(Lord(
other(way,(they(went(to(the(Humber(River,(and(they(only(went( Dorchester(have(judged(it(to(be,(the(King’s(right(to(any(of(the(
in(so(far,(so(there(was(never...(For(1787,(there(were(no(other( Land(between(the(Rivers(Etobicoak(&(Don,(may(become(very(
boundaries,(just(the(frontage,(which(they(questioned,(too.(So( doubtful;(and(our(tenure(of(the(intermediate(space((involving(
Butler's(men(left(and(then(the(surveyor(left,(because(he(knew( a(great(many(cultivated(farms,(as(well(as(the(Seat(of(
the(Indians(were(angry(about(what(they(were(trying(to(survey.( Government)(might(consequently(be(at(the(Mercy(of(the(
! Messisagues,(who,(if(they(were(apprised(of(the(circumstance,(
For!years,!the!city!continued!to!expand!beyond!the!unclear!boundary! might(be(induced(to(give(trouble(with(a(view(of(making(their(
lines!of!Treaty!13.!Knowledge!of!this!incomplete!record!was!not! own(advantages(from(it.(
public,!Lieutenant!Governor!Simcoe!wrote!to!Governor!General!Lord! !
Dorchester,!in!1794:! The!Mississaugas!believed!that!the!agreement!was!not!a!purchase!
! extinguishing!their!rights!to!the!land,!but!a!rental!of!the!lands!for!
A(plan…has(been(found(in(the(Survey’r(General’s(Office,(to( British!use!in!exchange!for!gifts!and!presents!in!perpetuity.!Gift!giving!
which(is(attached(a(blank(deed,(with(the(names(or(devices(of( was!a!normal!exchange!practice!for!shared!land!access!and!hunting!
three(chiefs(of(the(Mississauga(Nation,(on(separate(pieces(of( rights,!not!payment.!Margaret!Sault,!states:!!
paper(annexed(thereto,(and(witnessed(by(Mr.(Collins,(Mr.( !
Kotte,(a(Surveyor,(since(dead,(and(Mr.(Lines,(Indian( Well(actually(we(found(out(through(our(research(that(1787(
Interpreter,(but(not(being(filled(up,(is(of(no(validity,(or(may(be( was(not(actually(a(treaty.(They(had(a(gathering(of(the(
applied(to(a(land(they(possess;(no(Fraud(has(been(committed( Mississaugas(and(it(was(to(hand(out(presents(for(the(alliance(
or(seems(to(have(been(intended.(It(was,(however(an(omission( with(the(Crown;(then(they(started(talking(about(other(lands(
which(will(set(aside(the(whole(transaction,(and(throw(us( they(wanted,(so(there(was(talk,(but(there(was(never(anything.(
entirely(on(the(good(faith(of(the(Indians(for(just(so(much(land( So(years(later,(a(clerk(was(going(through(the(things(and(came(
as(they(are(willing(to(allow,(and(what(may(be(further( across(this(document(that(had(no(land(description(in(it.(What(
necessary(must(be(purchased(anew,(but(it(will(be(best(not(to( should(we(do(with(this?(It(wasn’t(a(treaty.(They([the(
press(that(matter(or(show(any(anxiety(about(it.( Mississaugas](thought(they(were(just(giving(them(stuff(to(
! come(through(their(lands…(What(happened(here?..(There(was(
A!few!years!later,!the!news!spread!to!England.!Politician!and!Judge! no(protocol(or(ceremony(for(entering(into(a(treaty,(no(
Peter!Russell!wrote!to!Governor!in!Chief,!Robert!Prescott,!in!1798:! wampum…(They(weren’t(there(for(that(purpose.(They(have(to(
! go(by(the(Royal(Proclamation…well(that(procedure(didn’t(
We(were(exceedingly(alarmed(on(reading(the(Paragraph( happen.(There’s(a(process(under(the(Royal(Proclamation.(
which(related(to(the(Purchase(made(at(Toronto(in(1787,(which( There’s(guidelines(that(set(how(you(take(surrenders(or(get(
if(more(generally(known,(would(probably(shake(the( land(from(the(First(Nations.(The(government(has(to(call(a(
tranquillity(of(many(respectable(persons,(who(have(risked( meeting(of(the(principal(men(and(they(show(up(and(they(give(

!
26
 them(presents(and(they(talk(and(they(tell(them(what(they(
want(and(then(the(Indian(will(either(say(we’ll(think(about(it(
and(come(back(because(those(sessions(usually(lasted(a(few(
days…They(were(there(for(the(reason(of(getting(presents(from(
the(Crown.(There(was(no(treaty]making(process(involved…(
They(thought(they(were(just(paying,(giving(them(stuff(to(come(
through(their(lands.(
! !
In!between!the!first!attempt!to!solidify!the!boundaries!in!1787!and!
the!confirmation!of!1805,!the!population!of!Mississauga!had!
decreased!dramatically.!They!had!dealt!with!incoming!diseases!and!
the!excessively!available!supply!of!alcohol!the!fur!trade!offered.!At!
the!same!time,!they!were!being!pressured!to!give!up!more!land,!and!
the!Mississauga!Tract.!Joseph!Brant,!a!Mohawk!negotiator,!was!
brought!in!to!attempt!to!get!them!a!better!deal!for!the!lands!west!of!
the!Credit!River.!He!spoke!on!behalf!of!the!Missisasaguas!to!James!
Givins!in!1798!and!said,!“I!do!not!think!it!reasonable!that!the!land!
should!be!taken!from!the!Poor!Mississaugues!for!a!shilling!an!Acre,!
only!to!give!it!away!to!Individuals!to!make!money!of.”!Judge!Peter!
Russell!responded!to!Joseph!Brant’s!inquiries!in!1798!by!stating,!
“They!may!rest!assured!the!King!would!never!accept!a!single!Acre!
from!them!unless!they!themselves!were!willing!to!give!it!and!were!
satisfied!with!the!price!paid!for!it.”!!
! agreement!only!went!to!the!Lake!Ontario!shoreline.!!
The!three!chiefs!present!at!the!1787!land!survey,!and!whose!dodem!
marks!were!affixed!to!the!blank!deed,!had!passed!in!these!years.!No!
one!on!either!side!claimed!they!clearly!knew!the!original!boundaries.!
According!to!Margaret!Sault,!the!Mississaugas!said!to!the!Crown,!
“Well,!all!our!forefathers!are!gone.!We!don’t!know!what!they!gave!to!
you!or!what!they!talked!about…!And!so!the!Mississaugas!said!to!
them,!‘We!trust!you!to!say!what!was!taken.’”!
! !
When!trying!to!determine!how!much!land!was!agreed!upon,!one!
British!official!recounted!a!square!between!the!Humber!and!the!Don,!
a!bit!of!land!along!the!shores!of!the!Humber,!and!another!square!at!
Lake!Simcoe.!This!would!have!resulted!in!a!long,!barbellKshaped!city.!
Margaret!Sault!says!of!the!deception!involved!in!the!reKdrawing!of!
boundaries:!“They!took!a!ten!by!ten!square!….!and!they!asked!Sir!John!
Johnson,!‘What!did!you!get!from!the!Indians?’!And!he!talked!about!
the!ten!square….And!it!ended!up!being!the!frontage!was!14!by!28!
miles,!so!it!had!changed!a!lot…”!!
At!the!1805!meeting!on!the!Credit!River,!Chief!Kineubenae!
[Quinepenon]!said,!“All!the!Chiefs!who!sold!the!Land!you!speak!of!are!
dead!and!gone.!I!now!speak!for!all!the!Chiefs!of!the!Mississaugues;!
We!cannot!absolutely!tell!what!our!old!people!did!before!us,!except!
by!what!we!see!on!the!plan!now!produced!&!what!we!remember!
ourselves!and!have!been!told.”!
!
There!were!3!maps!drawn!up!in!advance!of!meeting!with!the!
Mississaugas,!each!with!a!different!size!land!base.!The!map!with!the!
largest!area!was!presented,!taking!advantage!of!the!uncertainty!and!
trust!the!Mississaugas!displayed.!The!new!boundaries,!from!Etobicoke!
Creek!to!Ashbridges!Bay!and!28!miles!north,!were!made!up!by!the!
British.!For!this!revision,!the!Mississaugas!were!given!the!amount!of!
ten!shillings,!the!equivalent!to!around!$60!today.!The!Mississaugas!
say!the!Toronto!Islands!were!not!part!of!the!purchase,!as!the!
!
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The!full!text!of!Treaty!13,!including!the!confirmation!of!the!disputed! (
borders,!was!signed!by!8!chiefs!of!the!Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit! (
in!1805:!! (
! (
! (
! (
TREATY*13*of*1805* (
! (
THIS(INDENTURE(made(at(the(River(Credit(on(Lake(Ontario(on(the(first( successors(as(a(aforesaid,(which(said(Instrument(did(not(ascertain(or(
day(of(August,(in(the(year(of(Our(Lord(one(thousand(eight(hundred( describe(the(parcel(or(tract(of(land(meant(and(intended(to(be(
and(five,(between(William(Claus,(Esquire,(Deputy(Superintendent( conveyed(thereby(and(was(an(is(in(other(respects(defective(and(
General(and(Deputy(Inspector(General(of(Indians(and(their(affairs,(for( imperfect.(
and(in(behalf(of(our(Sovereign(Lord(the(one(part(and(the(Principal( (
Chiefs,(Warriors(and(people(of(Mississague(Nation(of(Indians(for(and( NOW(THIS(INDENTURE(WITNESSETH,(that(for(carrying(into(execution(
in(the(name(of(the(said(Nation(of(the(other(part.( the(said(agreement(made(on(the(said(twenty]third(day(of(September,(
( one(thousand(seven(hundred(and(eight]seven,(and(in(consideration(
WHEREAS,(on(the(twenty]third(day(of(September,(in(the(year(of(Our( thereof(and(for(the(more(effectually(securing(and(conveying(to(Our(
Lord(one(thousand(seven(hundred(and(eighty]seven(at(the(Carrying( said(Lord(the(King(the(said(tract(or(parcel(of(land(so(agreed(to(be(
Place(at(the(head(of(the(Bay(of(Quinté(it(was(agreed(between(the( conveyed(to(him(as(aforesaid,(and(for(the(consideration(of(ten(
Honorable(Sir(John(Johnson,(Baronet,(on(the(part(of(Our(said(Lord(the( shillings(of(good(and(lawful(money(in(hand(paid(to(them(by(the(said(
King,(and(Wabukanyne,(Neace,(and(Pakquan,(Principal(Chiefs(and( William(Claus,(Esquire,(for(and(on(account(of(Our(said(Lord(the(King,(
War(Chiefs(of(the(said(Mississague(Nation,(two(of(which(said(Chiefs,( the(receipt(whereof(by(the(said(Principal(Chiefs,(Warriors(and(people(
that(is(to(say(Wabukanyne(and(Neace(are(now(dead,(that(they(the(last( of(the(Mississague(Nation(as(a(aforesaid(is(hereby(acknowledged,(
mentioned(Principal(Chiefs(would(for(diverse(good(and(valuable( have(granted,(bargained,(aliened,(released(and(confirmed(unto(Our(
considerations(received(by(them(for(their(right(and(title(a(certain(tract( Sovereign(Lord(the(King,(His(heirs(and(successors,(all(that(tract(or(
or(parcel(of(land(hereinafter(described(to(Our(said(Lord(the(King,(His( parcel(of(land(commencing(on(the(east(bank(of(the(south(outlet(of(the(
heirs(and(successors(forever.( River(Etobicoke;(thence(up(same,(following(the(several(windings(and(
( turning(of(the(said(river(to(a(maple(tree(blazed(on(four(sides(at(the(
AND(WHEREAS(in(pursuance(of(that(agreement(a(certain(Instrument( distance(of(three(miles(and(three]quarters,(in(a(straight(line(from(the(
hereunto(annexed(was(made(at(the(said(Carrying(Place,(bearing(date( mouth(of(the(said(river;(thence(north(twenty]two(degrees(west(
the(day(and(year(last(aforesaid,(signed(and(sealed(by(the(said( twenty]four(miles(and(one]quarter;(then(north(sixty]eight(degrees(
Wabukanyne,(Neace,(and(Pakquan,(for(the(purpose(of(conveying(the( east(fourteen(miles;(then(south(twenty]two(degrees(east(twenty]eight(
said(tract(or(parcel(of(land(to(Our(said(Lord(the(King,(His(heirs(and(( miles,(more(or(less,(to(Lake(Ontario;(then(westerly(along(the(water's(
( edge(of(Lake(Ontario(to(the(eastern(bank(of(the(south(outlet(of(the(

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28
River(Etobicoke,(being(the(place(of(beginning,(containing(Two(hundred( other(person(or(persons(lawfully(claiming(or(to(claim(by,(from(or(
and(fifty(thousand,(eight(hundred(and(eight(acres,(together(with(all( under(them(or(any(of(them.(
the(woods(and(waters(thereon,(lying(and(being(and(all(the( (
advantages,(emoluments(and(hereditaments(whatsoever(to(the(said( IN(WITNESS(WHEROF,(we(have(hereunto(affixed(our(marks(and(seals(
tract(or(parcel(of(land(belonging(or(in(anyways(appertaining(and(the( the(say(and(year(above(written,(having(first(heard(this(Instrument(
issue(and(profits(of(all(and(singular(the(said(premises(and(every(part( openly(read(and(rehearsed(in(our(own(language(and(fully(approved(by(
and(parcel(thereof(with(the(appartenances.(And(also(all(the(estate,( ourselves(and(our(Nation.(
right,(title,(interest,(property,(claim(and(demand(whatsoever(of(them( (
the(said(Principal(Chiefs,(Warriors,(and(people(of(the(Mississague( Witnesses(present(at(the(execution(of(this(instrument,(and(witnesses(
Nation(for(themselves(and(for(and(in(the(name(of(their(whole(Nation( thereto:(
in(and(to(all(and(singular(the(said(premises(and(every(part(and(parcel( (
thereof(with(the(appurtenances,(save(and(except(the(fishery(in(the( J.W.(WILLIAMS,(Capt.(49th(Regt.,(
said(River(Etobicoke,(which(they(the(said(Chiefs,(Warriors(and(people( JNO.(BRACKENBURY,(ENS.(49th(Regt.,(
expressly(reserve(for(the(sole(use(of(themselves(and(the(Missisague( P.(SELBY,(Asst.(Secy.(I.A.(
Nation.(To(have(and(to(hold(all(and(singular(the(said(tract(or(parcel(of( J.B.(ROUSSEAUX.(
land,(hereditaments(and(premises(in(and(by(these(presents(released( WM.(CLAUS,(Depy.(Supt.(Genl.,(on(behalf(of(the(Crown.([L.S.](
and(confirmed(unto(Our(Sovereign(Lord(the(King,(His(heirs(and( CHECHALK,((totem)([L.S.](
successors(forever,(and(to(and(for(no(other(use,(intent(or(purpose( QUENEPENON,((totem)([L.S.](
whatsoever.(And(also(that(His(Majesty,(His(heirs(and(successors(as( WABUKANYNE,((totem)([L.S.](
aforesaid(shall(and(may(at(all(times(for(ever(hereafter(peaceably(and( OKEMAPENESSE,((totem)([L.S.](
quietly(have,(hold,(occupy,(possess(and(enjoy(all(and(singular(the(said( WABENOSE,((totem)([L.S.](
tract(or(parcel(of(land(with(the(appurtenances(and(every(part(and( KEBONECENCE,((totem)([L.S.](
parcel(thereof(without(trouble,(hindrance,(molestation,(interruption(or( OSENEGO((totem)([L.S.](
disturbance(of(them(the(said(Principal(Chiefs,(Warriors(and(people(of( ACHETON,((totem)([L.S.](
the(Mississague(Nation(or(any(of(them,(their(heirs(or(successors(or(any(
!
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29
LAYER*III*–*Map*Locations (Location(numbers(correspond(to(expanded(legends(below)
(

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30
LAYER*III*–*Expanded*Map*Legends (Note(that(below(entries(are(listed(in(chronological(order,(and(certain(locations(repeat(in(the(course(of(this(layer.(
Each(location(has(a(single(number)

! !
Etobicoke!Creek! The!Credit!River!mouth!
! !
Etobicoke!Creek!is!the!western!shoreline!boundary!of!the!Toronto! Young!Mississauga!Chief!Kineubenae,!spoke!to!the!English!in!1805:!
Purchase.!The!name!Etobicoke!originates!with!the!Mississauga!First! !
Nation,!who!called!the!area!around!the!creek!“Adobigok,”!meaning! I(speak(for(all(the(Chiefs(&(they(wish(to(be(under(your(
“where!the!alders!grow.”!The!area!around!the!creek!saw!many! protection(as(formerly.(But(it(is(hard(for(us(to(give(away(more(
changes!over!the!early!1800’s!with!early!industrial!processing!mills! Land:(The(Young(Men(and(Women(have(found(fault(with(so(
increasingly!present!along!the!lakeshore.!! much(having(been(sold(before:(it(is(true(we(are(poor,(&(the(
! Women(say(we(will(be(worse,(if(we(part(with(any(more(land.!
(Proceedings!of!a!Meeting!with!the!Mississagues!at!the!River!
Ashbridges!Bay! Credit!31st!July!1805)!
! !
Ashbridges!Bay!is!the!eastern!shoreline!boundary!of!the!soKcalled!
Toronto!Purchase.!! The!Credit!River!
! !
Chief!Kineubenae!protested!to!the!government!about!the!state!of!the!
The!Credit!River! Credit!River!in!1806,!saying,!“Our!Waters!on!this!River!are!so!filthy!&!
! disturbed!by!washing!with!Sope!&!other!dirt!that!the!fish!refuse!
Minutes!from!a!Mississauga!council!meeting!with!the!Lieutenant! coming!into!the!River!as!usual!for!which!our!families!are!in!great!
General!in!1805!on!the!Credit!River!express:! distress!for!want!of!food.”!(Upper!Canada!Civil!Control,!Indian!Affairs!
! 1:!Quinepenon,!speech,!Sept.!6,!1806)!
The(inhabitants(drive(us(away(instead(of(helping(us,(and(we( !
want(to(know(why(we(are(served(in(that(manner(–(Colonel(
Butler(told(us(the(Farmers(would(help(us,(but(instead(of(doing( In!Lake!Ontario!
so(when(we(camp(on(the(shore,(they(drive(us(off(&(shoot(our( !
Dogs(&(never(give(us(any(assistance(as(was(promised(to(our( The!Mississaugas!believed!they!would!have!been!able!to!continue!
old(Chiefs.…The(Farmers(call(us(Dogs(&(threaten(to(shoot(us(in( hunting,!fishing!and!trading!across!Toronto.!Soon,!they!spoke!of!
the(same(manner(when(we(go(on(their(Land.!! fences!going!up,!attacks!on!villages!and!children,!the!lack!of!salmon!
! who!are!being!pushed!out!of!the!Rivers!by!saw!mill!factories.!In!1820,!
! Chief!Kineubenae!says,!“You!came!as!wind!blown!across!the!great!

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31
Lake.!The!wind!wafted!you!to!our!shores.!We!received!you!–!we! father,(the(King,(for(very(little,(and(we(became(poorer(and(
planted!you!–!we!nursed!you.!We!protected!you!till!you!became!a! poorer.(We(reserved(all(the(hunting(and(fishing(ground,(but(
mighty!tree!that!spread!thro[ugh]!our!Hunting!Land.!With!its! the(white(men(soon(grew(so(many(that(they(took(all;(when(all(
branches!you!now!lash!us.”(Mississauga!chief,!speech,!July!8,!1820,!in! the(rest(was(gone,(we(kept(the((Auzahzahkewayyogk)(Sixteen]
McOuat,!ed.,!“Diary!of!William!Graves,”!!Ontario!Historical!Society,! mile](102(Creek,((Asqquasingk)(Twelve]mile]Creek,(and(the(
Papers!and!!Records,!XLIII!(Jan!.!1951))! (Mahzenahekasepeh)(River(Credit.(The(two(first(are(gone(from(
! us,(but(we(are(wishing(to(keep(the(Credit.(We(reserved(one(
mile(on(each(side(of(the(Credit,(where(we(now(live…(But(now,(
!The!Credit!River! Father,(we(will(tell(you(how(wicked(white(men(have(used(us(–
! These(are(almost(all(lazy(drunken(white(men,(who(will(not(
Located!on!the!site!of!what!is!now!the!Mississauga!Golf!&!Country! work.(They(come(in(the(Fall(and(Spring,(and(encamp(for(many(
Club!on!Mississauga!Road,!stood!the!Credit!Mission!Village.!Edgar! weeks(close(by(our(Village(–(they(burn(and(destroy(our(fences(
Ryerson!led!a!Methodist!mission!to!convert!the!Mississaugas!in!1926.! and(boards(in(the(night(–(they(watch(the(Salmon,(and(take(
Within!a!year,!all!but!two!families!were!converted.!Their!traditional! them(as(fast(as(they(can(be(come(up(–(they(swear(and(get(
dwellings!were!given!up!for!cabin!style!houses.!Furniture!and!beds! drunk,(and(give(a(very(bad(example(to(our(young(people,(and(
were!common,!though!many!older!people!continued!to!sleep!on! try(to(persuade(them(to(be(wicked(like(themselves,(and(
traditional!floor!mats.!Nonetheless,!the!conversion!to!Methodist! particularly(on(the(Sabbath(–(their(wicked(ways(give(us(much(
religion!and!lifestyle!was!never!fully!complete.!Throughout!this!time! trouble,(and(make(our(hearts(sorry…(your(red(Children(only(
of!change,!traditional!lodgings!were!still!being!used,!especially! ask(you(to(cause(laws(to(be(made(to(keep(these(bad(men(
outside!of!the!villages.!Indigenous!spirituality!infiltrated!and! away(from(our(fishery(at(the(River(Credit…(We(will(not(fish(on(
hybridised!with!western!spiritual!practices,!some!theorising!that!the! Saturday(night,(Sunday(night,(and(Sunday,(but(will(let(the(fish(
figure!of!Gitche!Manitou,!the!creator,!is!a!result!of!this!blending!of! pass(up(to(our(white(brothers(up(the(River.(And(we,(your(
belief!systems.!! children,(as(in(duty(bound,(will(ever(pray.(
! !
Though!the!Mississaugas!were!steadily!westernizing,!they!faced! At!the!River!Credit!in!1829,!Indian!Department!Official,!William!Clause!
enormous!challenges!with!their!new!European!neighbours.!In!1829! told!the!Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit:!!
they!sent!a!petition!to!Lieutenant!governor,!Sir!John!Colborne:!! !
! The(white(people(are(getting(thick(around(you(and(we(are(
Father,(Your(children(who(now(petition(you(are(a(remnant(of( afraid(they,(or(the(Yankees,(will(cheat(you(out(of(your(land,(
the(great(nations(who(owned(and(inhabited(the(country(in( you(had(better(put(it(into(the(hands(of(your(very(great(Father(
which(you(now(live(and(make(laws;(the(ground(on(which(you( the(king(to(keep(for(you(till(you(want(to(settle,(and(he(will(
and(your(children(stand(covers(the(bones(of(our(fathers(for( appropriate(it(for(your(good(and(he(will(take(good(care(of(it,(
many(generations…But(the(white(man(made(us(sick(and( and(will(take(you(under(his(wing,(and(keep(you(under(his(arm,(
drunken,(and(as(they(increased(we(grew(less(and(less,(till(we( &(give(you(schools,(and(build(houses(for(you(when(you(want(
are(now(very(small.(We(sold(a(great(deal(of(land(to(our(great( to(settle.(

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The!Mississaugas!stayed!at!their!village,!with!each!family!allotted!50!
acres!to!farm.!They!cultivated!the!land!oneKmile!on!either!side!of!the!
Credit!River.!The!village!grew!to!include!two!sawmills,!a!couple!
carpenters,!a!shoemaker,!a!hospital!building,!two!stores,!and!a!
blacksmith.!Over!the!next!10!years,!squatters!would!build!homes!and!
even!mills!without!first!securing!land!grants,!and!many!used!the!area!
to!get!timber.!Petitions!were!consistently!made!over!a!period!of!10!
years!to!secure!the!lands!from!encroachment.!!
! !
It!became!increasingly!difficult!to!survive!with!EuroKCanadian!
settlement,!causing!the!Mississaugas!to!leave!their!village!at!the!
Credit.!By!1840,!they!began!to!look!at!offers!for!relocation.!Six!
Nations!offered!them!a!small!portion!of!land!within!the!Haldimand!
Tract,!which!was!originally!purchased!from!the!Mississaugas,!but!was!
granted!to!the!Haudenosaunee!after!their!service!during!the!
American!Revolution.!This!gesture!was!made!in!recognition!that!they!
had!a!shared!history!of!living!within!each!other’s!lands.!The!
Mississaugas!settled!into!their!new!territory,!the!only!reserve!within!a!
reserve,!where!they!later!purchased!more!lands!from!Six!Nations!and!
expanded!their!community.!The!Indian!Department!sold!the!lands!at!
the!Credit!River!by!auction!in!1847.!
! as!a!provincial!administrator.!He!bought!1,000!acres!of!land!in!
Etobicoke!Creek!
!
The!1797!the!Mississaugas!attempt!to!ally!with!the!Haudenosaunee!
to!get!a!fair!price!for!the!Mississauga!Tract;!this!is!not!part!of!popular!
settler!memory!or!Toronto!history.!Negotiator!Joseph!Brant!would!
not!settle!for!less!than!three!shillings,!four!pence!an!acre!for!the!
Mississauga!Tract!(lands!west!of!the!Etobicoke!Creek),!or!twelve!times!
more!than!the!government!offer!of!three!pence!per!acre.!
! with!sand!and!made!into!mortar.!!
At!that!time,!Upper!Canada!did!not!have!any!way!to!make!its!own!
money,!and!England!was!unwilling!to!supply!funds!to!develop!local!
infrastructure.!The!colonies!got!most!of!their!revenue!and!political!
stability!through!surveying!Indian!lands!and!granting!land!titles!to!
powerful!people,!who!would!in!turn!sell!the!lands!to!other!settlers.!
Colonial!authorities!helped!keep!land!prices!down!and!Indigenous!
nations!separate!so!they!could!not!benefit!from!each!other’s!
advances!in!negotiation.!An!Indian!agent!was!put!in!place!at!York!with!
the!duty!to!prevent!the!Mississaugas!and!Haudenosaunee!negotiator!
Joseph!Brant!from!working!together!to!gain!better!prices!for!the!lands!
they!were!being!pressed!to!sell.!The!Indian!Agent!was!given!the!
following!instruction:!
The(primary(duty(of(the(new(appointee(is(fomenting(the(
jealousy(which(subsists(between(them(and(the(Six(Nations,(
and(of(preventing,(as(far(as(possible,(any(junction(or(good(
understanding(taking(place(between(those(two(tribes.(It(
appears(to(me(that(the(best(and(safest(line(of(Policy(to(be(
pursued(in(the(Indian(Department(is(to(keep(the(Indians(
separate(and(unconnected(with(one(another,(as(by(this(means(
they(will(be(in(proportion(more(dependent(on(the(King’s(
Government.(
!
In!1806,!the!lands!were!patented!to!Colonel!Samuel!Smith!for!his!
service!with!the!Queen’s!Rangers!during!the!Revolutionary!War!and!
Etobicoke.!!
!
Bay!Street!and!Bloor!Street!!
!
A!Mississauga!burial!ground,!Sandhill,!was!being!disturbed!in!1797.!
The!known!gravesites!were!not!safe!from!looters.!By!1813,!the!
Mississaugas!moved!some!of!the!bones!to!a!new!location.!Building!
went!up!over!the!area,!with!accounts!of!additional!bones!taken!away!
!
!
!
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33
 The!Islands!continue!to!be!a!sacred!site!for!the!Mississaugas!of!the!
St.!Lawrence!Market! New!Credit,!the!Haudenausaunee!and!others,!yet!it!remains!
! inaccessible!for!traditional!ceremonies.!It!used!to!be!known!to!
In!the!late!1700s,!Chief!Wabakine!of!the!Mississaugas!(the!same!Chief! Torontonians!as!the!“Island!of!Hiawatha,”!and!was!connected!to!the!
Wabukanye!named!in!Treaty!13)!was!at!the!Market!with!his!sister!and! shore!by!a!thin!sandbar.!The!sandbar!was!washed!away!in!a!storm!in!
wife.!The!Market!was!frequented!by!the!Mississaugas,!as!they!would! 1858.!!
sell!fish!and!trade!goods!there!until!the!early!1900s.!The!chief!and!his! !
family!had!been!drinking!with!soldiers,!when!one!propositioned!
Wabakine’s!sister.!She!turned!down!his!advances!and!the!family!went! Fort!York!
to!the!Toronto!Islands,!where!the!Mississaugas!often!camped.!Some! !
of!the!soldiers!followed!them!to!their!camp!and!one!attacked!and! The!1793!Town!of!York!was!the!second!capital!of!the!district!of!Upper!
raped!his!sister.!Wabakine!and!his!wife!went!to!stop!them!and!they! Canada.!At!this!time,!there!were!only!12!complete!houses!and!the!
were!both!fatally!injured.!The!Mississaugas!were!infuriated!and! Toronto!Purchase!was!known!to!be!invalid,!with!its!exact!limits!
proposed!retaliation.!To!prevent!this!attack,!the!soldier!was!sent!by! unknown.!Nothing!was!done!for!ten!years!about!this!issue,!and!
boat!to!Kingston,!where!he!was!not!convicted.!The!loss!of!Wabakine! settlers!continued!to!build.!Settlers!lived!in!fear!of!an!Indigenous!
contributed!to!the!confusion!over!the!boundaries!in!the!1805! uprising,!with!concern!that!the!Mississaugas!would!turn!against!the!
confirmation!of!Treaty!13,!as!he!was!one!of!the!3!Chiefs!who!had!his! British!settlers,!for!local!issues,!but!also!for!waging!wars!against!
dodem!mark!affixed!to!the!1787!incomplete!survey.! Indigenous!Nations!they!held!allegiances!with!in!the!U.S.!Tensions!
! rose!with!ongoing!disturbance!of!Mississauga!lands,!grave!robbing,!
overfishing,!and!the!halt!of!gift!giving!practices!due!to!British!financial!
CityPlace! concerns.!The!1796!murder!of!Chief!Wabakine,!one!of!the!three!
! Chiefs!present!for!the!1787!surveying!of!lands,!pushed!the!
Referring!to!urban!development,!Keith!Jaimeson,!ethnoKhistorian!and! Mississaugas!to!consider!attacking!Fort!York!and!surrounding!farms.!
curator!from!Six!Nations,!says,!“We’re!certainly!not!antiK The!British!fear!of!attack!is!what!led!Fort!York!to!be!granted!official!
development.!We’re!the!guys!who!came!up!with!the!first!condos!!You! British!army!post!status!in!1798.!The!uprising!never!occurred.!!
know,!the!longhouse!–!there’s!a!hundred!people!in!there!”! !
! The!Mississaugas!allied!with!the!French!during!the!1754–63!Seven!
Toronto!Islands! Year’s!War,!and!through!the!1763!Pontiac's!War,!fighting!against!
! Great!Britain!and!allied!Haudenosaunee.!In!1776,!the!Three!Fires!
According!to!the!Mississaugas,!the!Toronto!Islands!were!not!included! Confederacy!joined!together!with!the!Wyandots,!Algonquins,!
in!1805!confirmation.!In!the!2010!settlement,!it!was!made!to!be! Nipissing,!Sacs,!Meskwaki!and!others!to!create!the!Great!Lakes!
included.!Gary!Sault,!Historian!with!the!Mississaugas!of!the!New! Confederacy.!During!the!1785–1795!Northwest!Indian!War!and!the!
Credit,!who!was!present!in!the!court!proceedings,!stated,!“The! War!of!1812,!they!fought!against!the!United!States!with!the!British.!!
Toronto!Islands!were!included!in!the!2010!settlement.!We!didn’t! !
want!it!to,!but!they!would!never!agree!to!anything!unless!the!Toronto! !
Islands!were!included!in!the!inside!of!the!purchase.”!
!
34
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Strachan!Avenue!entrance!to!Fort!York! !
!
!
In!the!1813!Battle!of!York,!the!British!fought!alongside!warriors!from!
!
the!Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit!First!Nation,!Beausoleil!First!
!
Nation,!Chippewas!of!Rama!First!Nation,!and!the!Chippewas!of!
!
Georgina!Island.!The!Native!nations!were!the!first!to!confront!the!
!
Americans.!!
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35
LAYER*IV*–*Approximately*1813*to*Present**
!
There!were!clearly!miscommunications!around!land!title!transfer!
between!the!English!and!the!Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit.!There!
were!fundamental!differences!in!approach!to!land!use!between!these!
negotiating!partners.!Nathan!Tidgridge,!nonKIndigenous!historian,!
discusses!this!separation!of!thought:!!
! Canadian!Confederation,!150!years!ago,!enacting!a!unilateral!National!
And(did(the(British(understand(that(when(they(came(in?(
Probably,(yes.(If(they(were(holding(to(this,(which(is(supposed(
to(be(tied(to(the(Royal(Proclamation,(there(would(be(no(
ceding(of(land,(it(was(about(partnership.(Were(the(
Mississaugas(of(the(New(Credit(misled?(Were(the(treaties(
following(this(one(dishonest?(Yes.(I(would(say(yes(they(are,(
absolutely.(And(the(numbered(treaties,(especially,(the(post]
confederation(numbered(treaties(especially,(they(do(not(
follow(the(intent(of(the(Treaty(of(Niagara(which(was(supposed(
to(be(the(basis.(So(often(times,(we'll(hear(the(Canadian(
government(cite(the(Royal(Proclamation.(Yes,(but(the(Royal(
Proclamation(has(to(be(married(with(the(Treaty(of(Niagara,(
because(the(Treaty(of(Niagara(was(the(British(delivery(of(the(
Royal(Proclamation....(it's(their(agreement(orally(of(what(the(
Royal(Proclamation(is(supposed(to(be.(And(then(tied(together(
by(this(chain,(and(that's(the(Covenant(Chain.(And(it's(a(silver(
chain('cause(it(needs(to(be(regularly(polished.(So,(they(need(to(
come(together(on(regular(intervals.(And(they(did(for(a(long(
time(and(it(wasn't(until(the(British(stopped(showing(up(at(
these(meetings,(basically(after(the(war(of(1812.(Because(
that's(when,(really,(Indigenous(people(weren't(needed(by(The(
Crown(anymore.(
! Karihwatehkwen,!Words!that!come!before!all!else!or!Thanksgiving!
Consultation!with!Indigenous!nations!was!diminished!drastically,!with!
a!clear!shift!to!the!paternalistic!attitudes!and!legislation!of!the!Indian!
act!of!1876.!The!act!acknowledges!that!Native!people!relate!
differently!to!the!state!because!of!their!established!previous!
agreements,!such!as!the!Royal!Proclamation!of!1763!and!various!
treaties.!Canada's!constitution!assigns!Native!issues!to!the!federal,!
rather!than!provincial!governments.!The!Indian!Act!replaced!all!laws!
passed!by!a!local!legislature!on!Native!people!that!were!made!before!
policy.!The!Indian!Act!is!not!a!treaty;!it!is!Canada's!legal!response!to!
the!treaties.!Only!recently,!in!the!wake!of!Canada!150,!and!following!
the!multiple!requests!to!honour!and!invest!resources!into!Treaty!
awareness!called!upon!by!the!Truth!and!Reconciliation!Commission,!
has!public!awareness!of!these!agreements!become!something!to!
strive!for.!For!Indigenous!nations!of!Eastern!Canada,!Canada!150!
marked!an!erasure!of!the!longKstanding!agreements!we!had!forged!
between!our!Nations,!and!of!the!foundational!agreements,!which!
facilitated!the!way!this!land!was!settled.!
!
In!Toronto,!the!most!popular!of!these!agreements!is!the!Dish!with!
One!Spoon.!As!a!founding!understanding,!it!is!an!elegant!and!simple!
approach!to!sharing!the!land.!Although!not!necessarily!applicable!
today,!with!the!regulations!around!fishing,!hunting!and!water!rights,!
principals!must!be!maintained!orally.!The!way!the!Dish!looks!at!the!
land!can!be!applied!to!all!aspects!of!selfKregulation.!Taking!stock!of!
resources,!local!entities,!and!our!relations!allow!us!to!ground!
ourselves!in!this!territory,!and!to!make!informed!decisions!for!our!
daily!lives.!The!Anishinaabe!have!a!set!of!guiding!principles!called!the!
MinoKbimaadiziwin,!which!describe!a!way!of!living!in!a!good!way,!in!
respectful!relationships!with!all!of!their!relatives.!This!world!view!was!
compatible!with!the!practice!of!the!Haudenosaunee!Ohen:ton!
address.!In!a!2015!interview,!Vancouver!born,!TorontoKbased!artistic!
leader!Lee!Maracle!states!how!this!shared!world!view!contributed!to!
the!shared!nature!of!the!GTA:!
!
36
 An(important(thing(that(treaties(do(for(anybody(is(allow(
certain(behaviours(to(exist.(And(what(it(does(is(allow(First(
Nations(people(to(live(here,(if(they(obey(the(law(of(the(land.(
And(the(words(that(come(before(all(else(became(a(standard(
law(in(this(territory,(and(it's(that,(‘Before(you(make(any(
decision,(you(consider(the(sky,(the(land,(the(plants,(the(
animals,(the(fishes,(the(waters,(and(the(humans(before(you(
decide(anything(to(take(this(and(do(that(with(it…(Before(
making(any(decision,(those(words(have(to(be(said(so(that(we(
can(root(ourselves(to(the(direction(that(we've(always(been(
going(in(in(this(territory.’(Now,(the(treaty(that(was(the(Two(
Row(Wampum(excluded(non]native(people(from(participating(
in(the(treaty(the(Dish(with(One(Spoon,(because(they(could(see(
that(Europeans(weren't(mature(enough(to(abide(by(original(
law.(They(were(not(prepared(to(take(care(of(the(land,(the(
water,(the(sky,(the(rivers.(And(if(you're(gonna(have(any(treaty(
with(me(and(my(folks,(that's(the(starting(point;(respect(for(the(
land…(We(have(a(treaty(of(the(Dish(With(One(Spoon,(that's(
the(treaty(that(I(ascribe(to.(Anything(else(to(me(is(bogus.(So,(if(
someone(wants(to(make(a(deal(with(me,(then(that's(our(
foundation(stone(and(then(we(could(have(a(thread(of(
agreement(to(do(something(together(that(is(an(extension(of(
that…(Making(sure(that(the(dish(never(runs(empty,(acting(in(a(
responsible(way(to(the(land,(in(addition(to(relating(to(one(
another(with(peace,(mutual(autonomy,(and(respect;(these(are(
the(things(our(ancestors(expected(of(settlers(coming(into(the(
region.(
! 1840,!Mississauga!historian!Peter!Jones!wrote!the!1701!renewal!at!
New!alliances!grew!between!Nations!in!order!to!gain!political!
leverage!in!the!face!of!further!disruption!to!shared!land!systems.!The!
Seven!Nations!of!Canada!grew!to!unite!Christian!Native!populations!
who!lived!in!the!St.!Lawrence!River!Valley.!The!members!were!the!
Mohawk!(including!other!Iroquoian!peoples!subsumed!under!the!
Mohawk),!Huron!(Wendat,!including!the!Petun),!Algonquin,!Nipissing,!
Ojibwa,!Montagnais!and!Abenaki.!These!nations!united!under!the!
tenants!of!the!Dish,!and!spoke!to!the!decision!not!to!include!
Europeans!in!this!agreement:!!
!
When(the(King(of(France(set(foot(on(our(ground(he(did(not(
conquer(us,(he(came(as(a(Father(who(wishes(to(protect(his(
Children.(We(communicated(to(him(a(parable(of(the(Dish(and(
the(Spoon,(he(approved(of(it(and(encouraged(us(to(continue(in(
our(way(of(acting.(He(did(not(tell(us(children,(‘I(want(to(share(
in(your(Dish(and(have(the(best(bit(in(it.’(When(our(Father(the(
King(of(England(drove(away(the(King(of(France,(we(were(so(
earnest(in(nothing(as(communicating(to(him(this(Parable,(He(
did(more(than(the(King(of(France(for(he(had(the(goodness(to(
prop(up(the(Dish(telling(us(that(he(did(not(wish(that(we(should(
make(use(of(Knives(to(eat(our(Meal,(least(they(should(hurt(us(
as(a(proof(of(it(we(preserve(his(word.(He(did(not(tell(us(that(he(
wished(to(eat(with(us,(being(accustomed(to(a(different(kind(of(
food.(
!
The!Dish!principals!have!been!brought!back!into!memory!many!times!
over!the!years,!often!assisting!to!bring!the!nations!back!into!unity!
with!each!other.!In!1812,!Tecumseh!sought!to!unite!all!Onkwehon:we!
peoples!under!the!principles!of!the!Dish!with!One!Spoon,!desiring!to!
create!a!panKNative!alliance!to!hold!the!US!from!advancing!west!and!
in!allegiance!with!the!English!in!the!War!of!1812.!The!talk!continued!
to!be!upheld!through!knowledge!keepers,!the!common!foundational!
understanding!influencing!their!agreementKmaking!approach.!In!
the!Credit!River!grand!council!meeting:!!
!
A(treaty(of(peace(and(friendship(was(then(made(with(the(
Nahdoways(residing(on(the(south(side(of(Lake(Ontario,(and(
both(nations(solemnly(covenanted,(by(going(through(the(usual(
forms(of(burying(the(tomahawk,(smoking(the(pipe(of(peace,(
!
37
 and(locking(their(hands(and(arms(together(to(call(each(other( Nations,!Canada!and!the!United!States.!Practicing!land!sovereignty!is!
Brothers...(the(treaty(of(peace(mentioned(has(from(time(to( inhibited!by!hefty!fines,!jail!time!and!confiscation!of!hunting!and!
time(been(renewed(at(general(councils.( fishing!equipment!through!Canadian!regulation.!When!taking!care!of!
! our!mats,!Rick!Hill,!historian!from!Six!Nations!notes,!“The!three!basic!
In!1840,!Ojibway!chief!Yellowhead!explained!the!talk!contained!in!the! rules!are:!only!take!what!you!need,!second,!you!always!leave!
belt:!! something!in!the!dish!for!everybody!else,!including!the!dish,!and!
! third,!you!keep!the!dish!clean…that!was!the!treaty!between!us!and!
This(Belt(was(given(by(the(Nahdooways((Haudenausonee)(to( nature,!and!then!the!treaty!between!us!and!everybody!else.”!!
the(Ojibways(many(years(ago,(about(the(time(the(French(first( !
came(to(this(country.(That(the(great(Council(took(place(at( Metis!Historian!Jesse!Thistle,!who!has!explored!the!varied!Metis!
Lake(Superior...(A(dish(was(also(placed(at(the(Credit.(That(the( presence!in!the!Toronto!area,!has!jokingly!referred!to!the!CN!Tower!
right(of(hunting(on(the(north(side(of(the(Lake(was(secured(to( as!the!spoon!and!the!Rogers!Center!as!the!dish.!This!visual!maker!has!
the(Ojibways,(and(that(the(Six(Nations(were(not(to(hunt(here( the!capacity!to!act!as!a!reminder!of!our!shared!responsibility!and!
only(when(they(come(to(smoke(the(pipe(of(peace(with(their( commitment!to!the!laws!of!the!land.!Toronto!needs!to!be!reminded!
Ojibway(brethren.( of!the!Indigenous,!NationKtoKNation,!simple!and!expansive!contract.!
! Lee!Maracle!talks!about!when!she!first!learned!about!the!Dish!with!
In!1887,!Skanawati!(John!Buck)!kept!the!wampum!in!Six!Nations,!and! One!Spoon:!
was!recorded!saying:! !
! I(thought,(“Oh(my(God,(this(is(the(foundation(of(everything(
The(firekeeper(told(the(first(belt,(all(white(except(for(a(round( here.”(If(we(understood(this,(we(could(transform(the(whole(of(
purple(patch(in(the(centre.(This(represents(all(the(Indians(on( Ontario,(by(just(the(consciousness(that(it's(just(here,(it's(just(
the(continent.(They(have(entered(into(one(great(league(and( marvellous.(And(Toronto's(the(place(I(think,(that(this(is(most(
contract(that(they(will(all(be(one(and(have(one(heart.(The(pot( possible(to(get(all(kinds(of(people(involved(in(transforming(
in(the(centre(is(a(dish(of(beaver,(indicating(that(they(will(have( relationships.(Because(then(we(can(have(conversations(that(
one(dish(and(what(belongs(to(one(will(belong(to(all.( will(get(us(somewhere(and(develop(our(knowledge(base(from(
! out(of(our(little(clannish(original(nations(into(a(
Throughout!the!1900s,!wampum!belts!were!hidden!in!private! worldview...We(have(to(realize(the(power(of(having(167(
collections!or!put!on!display!as!curiosities!in!museums.!In!1927,!the! different(nations(of(people(living(in(this(space.(This(is(the(most(
Dish!with!One!Spoon!wampum!belt,!with!the!round!purple!area!in!the! diverse(city(in(the(world.(There’s(huge(power(in(that.(That(
centre!symbolizing!the!dish,!was!brought!to!the!Royal!Ontario! means(the(world(can(come(together(in(Toronto(and(talk(about(
Museum!by!Evelyn!H.C.!Johnson,!sister!of!poet!Pauline!Johnson.!They! things.(That’s(what(it(means,(but(we(have(to(make(it(happen.(
have!been!carefully!preserved,!yet!public!awareness!of!this!belt!has! !
only!recently!begun!to!shift.!Growing!interest!in!its!teachings!brings!a! Current!elected!Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit!Chief!Stacey!Laforme!
fresh!perspective!to!the!legal!and!political!affairs!between!Indigenous! spoke!of!his!responsibility!to!the!land:!!

!
38
 As(you(know,(the(Mississaugas(of(the(New(Credit(and(the(
Mississauga(Nation(as(a(whole(have(a(vast(traditional(
territory.(And(the(best(way(I(can(explain(that(is,(when(I(talk(to(
proponents(or(other(people,(I(say(that,("Our(traditional(
territory(means(we(have(an(obligation(to(the(land(and(the(
water.(It(means(we(have(an(obligation(to(the(people(who(
reside(upon(the(land(and(the(water.”(So(the(recognition(of(
traditional(territory(gives(us(a(small(opportunity(to(meet(our(
obligation,(something(we're(serious(about...(So(we(are(not(
interested(in(saying(we(have(jurisdiction(over(this...(We(want(
to(be(sure(that(there's(a(future(for(our(children(and(for(your(
children,(and(for(other(First(Nations(who(reside(on(the(land(to(
enjoy(that(way(of(life(as(well.(
! government(with(a(full(understanding(of(what(they're(doing,(
Starting!in!1986,!the!Mississaugas!opened!a!land!claims!settlement!
process!with!the!Government!of!Canada!to!rectify!its!grievance!over!
the!Toronto!Purchase.!It!was!launched!by!former!chief!Maurice!
LaForme,!and!followed!up!on!by!his!son,!Bryan!LaForme!and!a!team!
of!Mississauga!historians.!Margaret!Sault!was!involved!in!the!case!
throughout,!and!says!of!the!settlement!negotiations:!!
! !
At(one(point(they(made(us(an(offer(of($17(million(and(that’s(
when(I(got(a(little(upset…and(I(told(them(that(you’re(taking(us(
back(to(1805(again,(with(the(original(purchase,(and(I(said(
“That’s(unacceptable!”(…(When(we(were(trying(to(reach(a(
settlement,(what(they(would(do(is(go(around(and(itemize(
every(gift(or(present(that(was(given(to(us(and(deduct(it(from(
the(amount(that(they(felt(we(should(be(getting.(
! different(chiefs(we(went(through,(different(band(councils(we(
Finally,!in!2010,!Canada!agreed!to!pay!$145!million!for!the!lands,!
based!on!the!value!of!the!land!in!1805,!extrapolated!to!current!
dollars.!The!cost!of!the!1787!gifts!was!also!deducted!from!the!final!
settlement!figure!and!no!lands!were!returned.!With!the!settlement!
money!they!gave!each!member!$10,000,!held!$10,000!each!for!life!
insurance,!created!a!wellness!fund,!put!10!million!into!economic!
development,!2!million!in!education,!and!2!million!for!land!purchases.!!
!
Chief!Stacey!Laforme!speaks!of!the!contradictory!notions!around!land!
ownership!in!Toronto:!!
!
I(would(have(a(difficult(time(believing...(Okay,(even(in(today's(
society,(we're(forced(to(the(government's...(Or(Canadians'(
ideology(about(the(land(and(ownership(and(stuff,(but(inside(
here,(I(don't(feel(like(I(own(this(land.(Will(I(tell(you(I(own(this(
land?(For(the(benefit(of(my(people,(absolutely.(But(do(I(think(I(
own(it?(No.(And(so,(I(can't(believe(that(the(people(today(
would(sign(away(their(rights(and(their(way(of(life(to(a(
when(deep(inside(they(realize(that,(the(land(is(a(shared(
resource(for(people.(So,(I(totally(think(that(any(time(you(had(
treaties(with(First(Nations(and(the(Crown,(there(was(a(terrible(
misunderstanding(of(what(that(represented…(So(absolutely(I(
think(all(the(treaties(of(the(day(were(done(with(two(different(
mindsets,(from(two(different(sides(of(the(table.(
Daryn!Wybenga,!Historian!with!the!Mississaugas!of!the!New!Credit,!
expresses!his!thoughts!about!the!Settlement!process:!!
!
I(guess,(when(I(read(through(the(documents,(I(get(the(sense(of(
frustration(through(the(years,(especially(the(negotiation(
process.(Here(we(go(through(five(prime(ministers,(I(think,(in(22(
years,(or(whatever(it(took(to(do(it.(I(don’t(know(how(many(
went(through.(I(think(we(must(have(went(through(at(least(10,(
11(band(councils(and(you(can(see(the(anger(rising(all(the(time.(
They(just(think(they’re(going(to(make(a(breakthrough.(Okay,(
election(called.(Make(another(breakthrough,(change(in(
minister.(Make(another(breakthrough(or(you(think(you’re(
!
39
 about(to(get(a(breakthrough(and(then(one(of(the(negotiators( !
goes(and(they(have(to(train(a(new(person(to(do(it.(It(takes(22( !
years(but(I(think,(we’re(resilient(people,(if(nothing(else.(We’re( !
full(of(patience(to(do(it.(I(remember(they(were(talking(about,( !
in(a(newspaper(article(in(the(Hamilton(Spectator,(it(was(about( !
1898,(they’re(already(worrying(about,(“We(haven’t(been( !
compensated(for(this(land(in(Toronto”(and,(I(wrote(a(brief( !
history(of(the(council(house,(not(too(long(ago,(and(I(thought,( !
“Boy,(it’s(funny(how(it(took(them(so(long(to(resolve(it,(even( !
then.”(They’re(talking(about(it(in(1898,(whenever,(and(here( !
they(are,(finally(getting(it(all(wrapped(up(in(2010.( !
! !
David!Miller,!former!Mayor!of!Toronto,!spoke!to!the!awareness!he! !
grew!while!in!office:!“It!was!very!eyeKopening!to!me!to!have!the! !
realization!that!not!only!I!knew!the!results!were!oneKsided!but!the! !
whole!process,!and!something!that!today!we!wouldn’t!consider!a! !
legal!thing,!is!the!foundation!of!an!awful!lot!of!rights!and!the! !
foundation!of!the!suppression!of!rights.”! !
! !
Today,!the!City!of!Toronto,!through!consultation!with!Agencies! !
serving!the!Aboriginal!community!in!Toronto,!estimates!that!there!are!
70,000!Indigenous!residents,!from!nations!across!North!America.!
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LAYER*IV*–*Map*Locations*(An(overlay(of(the(3(preceding(maps(as(well(as(possible(locations(for(TBA(events(and(exhibitions,(all(sites(listed(below)(
(

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LAYER*IV*–*All*Locations!
!
Note!that!the!above!map!is!an!overlay!of!the!3!preceding!maps,!as!well!as!possible!locations!for!TBA!events!and!exhibitions.!Colour!coding!is!as!
follows:!
!
Yellow!–!Layer!I!locations!
Green!–!Layer!II!locations!
Blue!–!Layer!III!locations!
White!–!possible!TBA!event!and!exhibition!locations!
!

Near!Keele!and!Finch! On!the!Rouge!River! The!Fort!York!Armoury!

High!Park! Etobicoke!Creek! The!Bentway!

Ashbridges!Bay! The!Music!Garden!
Lake!Ontario!
The!Credit!River!mouth! Harbourfront!Centre!
!In!Lake!Ontario!
Bay!Street!and!Bloor!Street!! The!Power!Plant!
Bathurst!St!and!Eglinton!Ave!
The!Jack!Layton!Ferry!Terminal!
Further!up!the!Don!River,!Sunnybrook!Park! St.!Lawrence!Market!
Daniels!City!of!the!Arts!
Forest!Hill:!Avenue!Rd.!and!Roselawn!Ave! CityPlace!
Sugar!Beach!
Up!the!Don!River,!Broadview!and!Withrow!Ave! ! Fort!York!
Quayside!
The!mouth!of!the!Don!River! Strachan!Avenue!entrance!to!Fort!York!
Don!River!Trail!!
! ! Toronto!Islands! Small!Arms!Building,!Mississauga!!
Port!Lands!!
! The!Credit!River! Martin!Goodman!Trail!! !!
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The!Humber!River! Ontario!Place!
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Near!Old!Mill! Trillium!Park!
Coronation!Park!
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!
!
Ange*Loft!is!the!Associate!Artistic!Director!of!Jumblies!Theatre,!multiK
disciplinary!artist!and!performer!from!Kahnawake!Mohawk!Territory.!Ange!is!
an!ardent!collaborator,!arts!advocate!and!amateur!historian!available!for!
speaking!engagements!and!hands!on!workshops.!She!specializes!in!and!
facilitates!interdisciplinary!creation,!arts!based!research,!oral!history,!
outdoor!performance,!community!art!design,!wearable!sculpture!and!project!
planning.!Ange!is!also!a!Juno!and!Polaris!nominated!vocalist!with!
YAMANTAKA//SONIC!TITAN.!!Recent!projects!include:!ReCollection!
Kahnawake!(Lead!artist),!Talking!Treaties!Spectacle!(Direction!and!design),!
Material!Witness!by!Spider!woman!Theatre!(Performer),!On!Tuesdays:!
Musical!Neighbourhood!Tour!with!Jumblies!Theatre!(librettist),!Something!
has!changed,!at!least!for!one!of!us!for!Musagetes!Sense!Lab,!All!You!Can!Hold!
with!LAL!(Direction!and!design),!After!the!Fire:!Based!on!Interviews!about!Idle!
No!More!(Direction!and!performance),!Our!Last!Best!Hope!with!Clay!and!
Paper!Theatre!(Script!and!costumes),!YT//ST’s!Opera!33!(Direction!and!
performance),!Smithsonian’s!NMAI!Artist!Leadership!Program!funded!KKTown!
Underground!(Direction),!Cult!of!Kateri:!Armour!and!Accessories!(Solo!
wearable!sculpture!line),!HIDE!(Movement!and!art!direction),!Albums!YT//ST,!
UZU!and!Severed!original!soundtrack!for!Drinkbox!Studio!(Vocals!and!
percussion).!
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