People & Culture

Treaty 3: A community copy’s 150-year journey through ancestral hands

It’s been a century and a half since Treaty 3 was signed. Anishinaabe Elder Sherry Copenace, whose great-grandfather was a keeper of an original community copy of the treaty, discusses its history and continued importance.

  • Published Jul 25, 2024
  • Updated Nov 19
  • 1,024 words
  • 5 minutes
[ Disponible en français ]
Sherry and her sister Hazel Copenace look at the community copy in Winnipeg. (Photo: Anne Kierans)
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Spanning northwestern Ontario and southeastern Manitoba, across fertile farmland and freshwater lakes, is the territory of the Northwest Angle Treaty, also known as Treaty 3. 

In the fall of 1873, after four years of negotiations, representatives of the Crown met with the Anishinaabeg on the shores of Lake of the Woods. There, 24 Anishinaabeg chiefs reluctantly put their names to a treaty — the third of 11 numbered treaties signed after Canada’s Confederation — and agreed to share their 55,000 square miles of territory with the British.

A community copy of the treaty ended up in the hands of Naotkamegwanning First Nation Chief Paabamasagaa, great-grandfather of Anishinaabe Elder Sherry Copenace. Earlier this year, after 150 years of passing through the hands of Indian agents and museum curators, Library and Archives Canada sent Paabamasagaa’s copy of the treaty on a territory tour. One of its stops was the Lake of the Woods Museum, where Copenace finally viewed it for the very first time. Here, Copenace reflects on the copy’s long and winding journey, her great-grandfather’s legacy, and the importance of understanding that we are all treaty people.

Bob Roy’s granddaughter, Mary Lorraine Mandamin, holding his medal. (Photo: Sherry Copenace)
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On growing up Anishinaabe

I grew up in my home community on the east side of the Lake of the Woods. Because I didn’t have to learn English until I went to Kindergarten, I didn’t really know too much of the outside world. I lived with my parents and sisters, and we lived right next door to my paternal grandparents. When I got a little bit older, I went to the neighbouring towns. Even though I didn’t know what to call it back then, I knew my people weren’t really liked and always felt as if we were less than.

On learning about Treaty 3

My mother would always talk to her cousins and sisters about the treaty. When I was little, I didn’t really understand too much of what they were talking about, but I knew there was this document, these promises that were made. What I have come to understand is that there have always been treaties. With Treaty 3, our ancestors did everything spiritually and ceremonially for us because they wanted to leave something for us today. Even though I am a descendant, we’re still all treaty people. Whether we like it or not, we all have the responsibility to fulfill it.

On Chief Paabamasagaa’s copy

I was just a baby when my great-grandfather died, so I don’t remember him, but there’s a photo of him. His English name was John Robert Roy, but everybody called him Bob Roy, and his wife’s name was Bella Roy. My great-grandparents took care of a community copy of Treaty 3. I’ve heard stories that they had a two-story home, and on the second story, they kept a trunk there, and that’s where they kept that community copy, along with two trading medals. The children were taught from a young age that there was something very special and sacred there, so they didn’t play around or in that trunk.

Sherry looks at the community copy at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg. (Photo: Anne Kierans)
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On the community copy’s journey

When my great-grandfather died, we believe that his regalia and the community copy were confiscated by an Indian agent. They have records at the Lake of the Woods Museum saying that his regalia was brought there in the early 1940s by an Indian agent. The community copy was later found at the Kenora Courthouse in the mid-70s. Eventually, my great aunt, one of Bob Roy’s daughters, went to claim it. Later, it visited the Lake of the Woods and then the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. People believe that it’s the only surviving community copy out of the 24 copies made.

On welcoming Treaty 3

In late April of last year, with the help of the Grand Council, my aunts and I got to spend time with the document at the Lake of the Woods Museum, along with my great-grandfather’s regalia and one of his medals, before it went public. It had to be kept in a temperature-controlled environment because of how fragile it was. Even the writing had degraded! We were there for a few hours. We invited family members, but the lead person was my great-aunt. We then feasted it, making acknowledgements and gratitude for that document. We did so again in Winnipeg with the help of Robert Greene, who’s the Elder in residence at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

On the treaty negotiations and promises

Even though our ancestors didn’t speak a word of English, they knew enough. They were smart enough to hire people to take notes for them. They wanted something that could survive for a long time. As long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the waters flow —  that’s part of Treaty 3. Part of what we negotiated was that our medical needs would always be looked after. But it’s 2024, and that’s not the case. For me, keeping our water as clean as possible is part of the treaty. Water is not a resource. It’s a relative, just like the earth and the grass. So, it’s our responsibility to make sure everybody upholds that because everything on this earth needs water to sustain it. Our ancestors agreed to allow access and to share the land with people. We have allowed access and we haven’t made any acts of war against anybody. So, we kept our side of the treaty. But unfortunately, the Crown and representatives in the Canadian government haven’t. 

On steps forward 

We feel that our great-grandfather had this faith that treaties would someday be fully honoured. So we carry on that work for him in many ways, whether spiritually, emotionally or ceremonially. Everything is continuing to be done to eradicate us, but that’s not going to happen. There have been many, many attempts to do so, but we’re still here and will continue to be here. Even though we have many social challenges right now that are systemic and structural in nature, we’ve never given up that spiritual part, that sacred part of our life in Treaty 3. 

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