Yes, the numbered treaties with the aboriginal peoples should be considered 'broken promises'. The numbered treaties to the Indigenous peoples were a sign of hope that they were somewhat being treated as equals and as a link between the people of Canada- the link between people whose homeland is Canada and those who come from other countries. Many of the treaties were signed agreements that described exchanges in which Aboriginal peoples agreed to share some of their land with the Canadian government in exchange for different payments (food, clothing, shelter etc.) and promises. The Numbered treaties were post-confederation and were put into place for gaining land in the west. John A. Macdonald had no intentions whatsoever, in making sure the native peoples of the west got what they …show more content…
Treaty number 6 from the numbered treaties is an example of a broken promise. This treaty was one of the most notable treaties in history - it transferred 300,000km of land to the Canadian government. In exchange for this, natives were promised food in times of famine, money and gifts, and a square mile of land for each natives family to farm on. However, like other treaty promises this one too was broken. The natives had signed the treaty thinking of themselves as equals, but months earlier the government had passed a law declaring natives wards of the state - they were treated as if they were children with no homes and families. Moreover, many natives did not get the food they were promised to receive. Also, many treaties were made to assimilate the Indigenous peoples of Canada. By having them sign a treaty, the Natives thought they were somewhat equal and out of danger, therefore they put their 'shields' down but in reality this was the government's plan all along. They wanted the natives to be at their most naive point and then assimilate them. Overall, the numbered treaties are broken promises with the aboriginal peoples of