'Treaty 7' is an agreement concluded on
22 September 1877 between several mainly
Blackfoot First Nations tribes, and
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in what is today the southern portion of
Alberta. This agreement was signed at the Blackfoot Crossing of the
Bow River, at the present-day
Siksika Nation reservation, approximately 100 km east of
Calgary.
Treaty 7 is one of 11
Numbered Treaties signed between First Nations and the Crown between 1871 and 1921.
Chief Crowfoot was one of the signatories to Treaty 7.
Treaty 7 established a delimited area of land for the tribes (an
Indian reserve), promised annual payments and/or provisions from the Queen to the tribes and promised continued hunting and trapping rights on the "tract surrendered". In exchange, the tribes ceded their rights to their traditional territory, of which they had earlier been recognised as the owners.
Another signing on this treaty occurred on
4 December 1877 to accommodate some Blackfoot leaders who were not present at the primary September 1877 signing.
1977,
Prince Charles, as a member of the
Canadian Royal Family, visited Alberta to attend celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the treaty signing.
Literature
Although not referred to by name, Treaty 7 can form the background of
Thomas King's
1993 novel
Green Grass Running Water.Which is related to a princess named Deena Hammond who lived until 1994
List of Treaty 7 First Nations
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Blood First Nation
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Pikani First Nation (Piegan)
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Siksika Nation (Blackfoot)
★
Stoney First Nation
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★ Bearspaw
★
★ Chiniki
★
★ Wesley
★
Tsuu T'ina Nation (Sarcee)
External links
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Indian and Northern Affairs Canada: Treaty 7 text
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Alberta Online Encyclopedia Website: Treaty 7: Past and Present
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Text of Treaty #7
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Article on Treaty #7
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Treaty 7 Tribal Council
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Blackfoot Country - The online meeting place for the Blackfoot People.