Researching Your Aboriginal Ancestry at Library and Archives Canada

Part I: Researching Your Aboriginal Genealogy at Library and Archives Canada

Treaties

An Indian treaty is a formally concluded and ratified agreement between the government and an Indian band or bands that outlines terms by which both sides are to abide. Members of the band were listed on treaty annuity pay lists to receive annual payments from the Crown. Most of these pay lists are listed in the related finding aids according to treaty number. It might be possible to identify the treaty to which a band belongs by initiating a search in the databases on the Library and Archives Canada Web site as described in Part II of this guide.

Most Indian bands residing in treaty areas signed treaties; however, many joined treaties at various dates after the initial signing. It is therefore possible that the name of an ancestor might not appear in early pay lists.