James Bay Treaty (Treaty No. 9) Exhibit Launched

We’re thrilled to announce a new, in-depth online exhibit about the James Bay Treaty (Treaty No. 9), created in partnership with Mushkegowuk Council, and the Archives of Ontario.

The exhibit is part of a larger mission of reconciliation and de-colonization of institutions within the archival profession and across the heritage sector in Ontario and Canada. It replaces an older exhibit created for the centennial of the treaty in 2005 by incorporating Omushkegowuk perspectives on the treaty, integrating recent archival findings from Queen’s University Archives that support these perspectives, and showcasing the longstanding importance of the original written record to signatory communities and to the documentary heritage of Ontario. 

We’re pleased to help further this mission of reconciliation by sharing this valuable resource to support learning about the treaty’s historical significance for all Ontarians, the different interpretations of the written document and importance of the oral agreements made, the treaty’s impact on Indigenous communities in an area covering roughly two-thirds of Ontario’s total landmass, and the enduring relevance of the treaty today. 

We encourage you to visit the exhibit and share with others!