Treaty 7

Treaty 7 is an agreement concluded on 22 September 1877 between several mainly Blackfoot First Nations tribes, and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in what is today the southern portion of Alberta. This agreement was signed at the Blackfoot Crossing of the Bow River, at the present-day Siksika Nation reservation, approximately 100 km east of Calgary.

Treaty 7 is one of 11 Numbered Treaties signed between First Nations and the Crown between 1871 and 1921.

Chief Crowfoot was one of the signatories to Treaty 7.

Treaty 7 established a delimited area of land for the tribes (an Indian reserve), promised annual payments and/or provisions from the Queen to the tribes and promised continued hunting and trapping rights on the "tract surrendered". In exchange, the tribes ceded their rights to their traditional territory, of which they had earlier been recognised as the owners.

Another signing on this treaty occurred on 4 December 1877 to accommodate some Blackfoot leaders who were not present at the primary September 1877 signing.

1977, Prince Charles, as a member of the Canadian Royal Family, visited Alberta to attend celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the treaty signing.

Literature

Although not referred to by name, Treaty 7 forms the background of Thomas King's 1993 novel Green Grass Running Water.

List of Treaty 7 First Nations

• Blood First Nation
• Pikani First Nation (Piegan)
• Siksika Nation (Blackfoot)
• Stoney First Nation
  • Bearspaw
  • Chiniki
  • Wesley
• Tsuu T'ina Nation (Sarcee)

External links

• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada: Treaty 7 text
• Alberta Online Encyclopedia Website: Treaty 7: Past and Present
• Text of Treaty #7
• Article on Treaty #7
• Treaty 7 Tribal Council
• Blackfoot Country - The online meeting place for the Blackfoot People.