Treaties Recognition Week at the library

This year, Treaties Recognition Week is November 5-11, 2023. This annual event honours the importance of treaties and helps students and residents of Ontario learn more about treaty rights and relationships. 

Here at the library, our Law Library is marking Treaties Recognition Week by highlighting resources on treaties made between Canada and Indigenous nations. There are a wide range of resources included in the display, including history and law books on different treaties, various films on treaties made by Indigenous filmmakers, and more. There are also free bookmarks on the Crawford Treaty of 1783 for patrons to take home. Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to stop by and learn about the treaties, treaty rights, and why treaties matter today.  

The Education Library also has a display that includes resources from our K to 12 classroom collections and scholarly collections.   

In 2016, Ontario passed the first legislation of its kind in Canada declaring the first full week of November as Treaties Recognition Week. 

By learning more about our collective treaty rights and obligations, we can create greater understanding and nurture relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Treaties Recognition Week represents one of many steps on Ontario’s journey of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The week was launched in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action to increase treaty awareness and provide students and the public with an important opportunity to learn why treaties matter.