In 1905, when mining was in full swing and the national railway was being built in northern Ontario, the British Crown and the Canadian government entered into an agreement with Crees and Ojibways from Ontario and Manitoba: the James Bay Treaty – Treaty No. 9. Signed over 100 years ago, the treaty is still called into question today by a number of Indigenous and Canadians who want to set the record straight.
The documentary Trick or Treaty? by Alanis Obomsawin follows the course of Indigenous leaders in their quest for justice and fairness as they seek to establish dialogue with the Cnaadian government. Their message is clear: Urgent actions is needed. By tracing the history of their ancestors since the signing of the treaty, they want to raise people’s awareness about the issues that concern them now more than ever: respect for and protection of their lands, their natural resources and the right to hunt and fish so that their society can prosper.