Conference session

Treaties between Indigenous Peoples and the Crown are foundational agreements that ground Canada’s political and legal relationships to Land. Yet despite their central role in the creation of the country—and their ongoing importance to conversations about sovereignty, Land use, climate action, and reconciliation—public understanding of treaties remains limited. At a moment when Indigenous-settler relations are at a critical inflection point, there is an urgent need for accessible and meaningful treaty education. This session draws on the core themes of the national bestseller, Talk Treaty to Me: Understanding the Basics of Treaties and Land in Canada, to explore how treaty education can strengthen public knowledge and support renewed relationships between Indigenous Nations and Canada. Building on decades of Indigenous scholarship on treatymaking, the session situates the book alongside emerging public-facing tools—such as treaty maps, simulations, and educational resources—that are helping broaden engagement with treaty histories and responsibilities. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of what treaties are, why they matter today, and how treaty education can foster interdisciplinary dialogue about Indigenous-settler relations and reconciliation. This session will be particularly valuable for educators, researchers, policy practitioners, and community members seeking accessible ways to engage with treaty knowledge. Attendees will leave with practical insights into how treaties can be understood not only as historical agreements, but as living relationships that continue to shape responsibilities and possibilities for the future.