Between the Lakes Treaty (No. 3)

The Between the Lakes Treaty (No. 3) was negotiated in 1784 and updated in 1792. The Treaty, between the Mississaugas of the Credit and the British Crown, covers approximately 3 million acres between lakes Erie, Huron and Ontario. The present-day City of Hamilton is covered by this treaty. You can read the full text in this exhibition (scroll down).

Today, multiple urban centres exist on the Between the Lakes Treaty territory, including Hamilton, Waterloo, St. Catharines and Guelph. The present-day reserves for both the Mississauga of the Credit and Six Nations exist within the original Haldimand Tract.

The text outlines details of the 1784 Treaty, including the lands covered in the agreement. According to the document, for £1180 worth of trade goods, the Mississauga ceded

“all that tract or parcel of land lying and being between the Lakes Ontario and Erie, beginning at Lake Ontario four miles south westerly from the point opposite to Niagara fort, known by the name of Messisague Point, and running from thence along the said lake to the creek that flows from a small lake into the said Lake Ontario known by the name of Washquarter; from thence a north westerly course until it strikes the River La Tranche or New River; thence down the stream of the said river to the part or place where a due south course will lead to the mouth of Cat Fish Creek emptying into Lake Erie, and from the above mentioned part or place of the aforesaid River La Tranche following the south course to the mouth of the said Cat Fish Creek; thence down Lake Erie to the lands heretofore purchased from the Nation of Messissague Indians; and from thence along the said purchase to Lake Ontario at the place of beginning as above mentioned, together with the woods, ways, paths, waters, watercourses, and appurtenances to the said tract or parcel of land belonging.” (extract from the Treaty text)

According to the Haldimand Proclamation of 25 October 1784, 550,000 acres (out of the 3 million total) were granted to Haudenosaunee who were loyal to the crown. The original tract consisted of 6 miles on both sides of the Grand River, from its mouth to source, although this territory has shrunk substantially since this time (owing to long-term leases, sales, Crown negotiations). The Haldimand Proclamation stated

“Whereas His Majesty having been pleased to direct that in consideration of the early attachment to his cause manifested by the Mohawk Indians and of the loss of their settlement which they thereby sustained - that a convenient tract of land under his protection should be chosen as a safe and comfortable retreat for them and others of the Six Nations, who have either lost their settlements within the Territory of the American States, or wish to retire from them to the British - I have at the earnest desire of many of these His Majesty's faithful Allies purchased a tract of land from the Indians situated between the Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron, and I do hereby in His Majesty's name authorize and permit the said Mohawk Nation and such others of the Six Nation Indians as wish to settle in that quarter to take possession of and settle upon the Banks of the River commonly called Ouse or Grand River, running into Lake Erie, allotting to them for that purpose six miles deep from each side of the river beginning at Lake Erie and extending in that proportion to the head of the said river, which them and their posterity are to enjoy for ever.” (extract from the Proclamation text)

The Royal Proclamation of 1763 recognized Indigenous sovereignty over the land they occupied and required that if the Crown needed land for military or settlement purposes, they had to purchase it from the Indigenous occupants.

Therefore, when the Crown required land on which to settle Loyalists forced from their homes in the United States, following the American Revolution (1765-1791), they had to negotiate with the Mississaugas, through Col. John Butler. At the time the treaty was made, the Mississauga, 

“occupied, controlled, exercised stewardship over approximately 3.9 million acres of land, water in resources in Southern Ontario…with their lands extending from the Rouge River Valley westward to the headwaters of the Thames River, down to Long Point on Lake Erie, following the shoreline of Lake Erie, the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, until arriving back at the Rouge River Valley.” (source: MNCFN.ca)

The Between the Lakes Treaty is not a long document and focuses largely on defining the boundaries of the land ceded to the Crown.  Despite their brevity, treaties are complex documents, which require historical and cultural context to be best understood.

When it comes to comprehending treaties between the Crown and Indigenous people, what is said is just as notable as what isn’t addressed. For example, treaties do not discuss stewardship of the land, self-determination, the right to be sustained by their land (to hunt, fish and gather), or water rights, all of which are key considerations for the Mississauga of the Credit and other Indigenous people. 

Written in English and in the colonial, settler tradition, the outright ownership of land that this and other treaties detail was a foreign concept to Indigenous people, whose world view did not commodify land and resources as Europeans did. 

Further, in a number of cases, the treaty text differs from contemporaneous Indigenous oral histories and wampum belts, with the written treaties favouring Crown interests at the expense of Indigenous communities. This, in addition to bad faith negotiations, treaty responsibilities not being honoured or unclear title and transfer of land in question, has led a number of Indigenous communities in recent years to submit land claims, requesting that the government right historical wrongs. One such modern land claim is the Rouge Tract Claim, submitted to the government by the Mississaugas of the Credit in 2006.

The Mississaugas of the Credit relocated to their present location after settler encroachment and inability to gain title to their land holdings at the Credit River necessitated the removal of their village. 

The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Reserve is situated a thirty-minute drive south of Hamilton along Highway Six near the town of Hagersville. The Reserve consists of approximately 6000 acres of farmland and Carolinian Forest adjoining the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve and straddling Brant and Haldimand Counties.

One-third of the First Nation’s total membership of roughly 2700 band members lives on the reserve with the balance living primarily in the Golden Horseshoe Area of Southern Ontario. The MCFN vision for the future includes a “strong, caring, and connected membership that respects the earth’s gifts and protects the environment for future generations. The vision recognizes its Anishinaabe (Ojibway) roots- our history, language, culture, beliefs, and traditions” which will inform the programs and services offered to the MCFN membership.

The First Nation is led by a council consisting of seven counsellors and a chief elected from its membership every two years. The council meets on a weekly basis to discuss issues of importance to the community. The council does not administer the day-to-day affairs of the First Nation, but such tasks are the responsibilities of its administrative staff.  Administrative Departments include Public Works, Governance, Consultation and Accommodation, Lifelong Learning, Social and Health Services, Communications, and Lands, Research and Membership.

Since their arrival in Southern Ontario during the latter part of the 17th century, the Mississaugas of the Credit have been a resilient and dynamic people adapting to the changing geographic, social, political and economic landscape as the times warranted. In their past, the Mississaugas had gained their sustenance from hunting, fishing, and gathering; then they transitioned to an agrarian lifestyle becoming adept farmers. Moving forward into the 20th century,

farming gave way to working in manufacturing jobs in nearby Brantford and the greater Hamilton area. Currently, the First Nation finds itself in a period of transition as it now owns an energy company, and owns the Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation which seeks to contribute to the self-sufficiency of the First Nation through the development of projects and partnerships throughout its treaty lands and territory.

The First Nation has always been a proponent of education among its people.  Children are educated on reserve at the Lloyd S. King Elementary School and attend high school in nearby Hagersville and Brantford. Anishinaabe culture and language classes are taught to the students at the elementary school while adult learners may partake of language and culture classes offered by the First Nation throughout the course of the year. An annual historical gathering is held in the spring, welcoming all interested parties to explore the history of the Mississauga people; while every August, a traditional powwow and homecoming does the same as a celebration of Mississauga culture and tradition.