Bond Head Treaties, Aug. 9, 1836
(Numbers 45 and 45 ½)


Document Summary:
Sir Francis Bond Head wants Aboriginal tribes living on arable farmland in Upper Canada to leave for Manitoulin Island and other nearby islands. He believes that the Aboriginals cannot become self-sufficient or civilized enough in the white, agriculturally-based colonial society Britain wished to transform the province into.

Through this treaty, he asks Ottawa, Chippewan and Sauking tribes already living on the island to accommodate the anticipated influx of First Nation peoples. These tribes are not granted anything in return - except assurances that this is the best course of action.

The Bond Head Treaties were negotiated between Aboriginal nations and the British at the same time that Sir Francis Bond Head, Upper Canada's lieutenant-governor, began to rescind the terms of the Niagara Treaty, 1764. While these treaties do not replace the Niagara Treaty, fewer Aboriginals after 1836 would be entitled to receive the gifts from the British that were outlined in the earlier treaty as a result of changing governmental attitudes towards the Aboriginals. (See Imperialism).