As another June rings in the start of National Indigenous History Month, we are reminded to reflect on the overlooked, erased, and reclaimed stories that live within our histories as Indigenous people. It is also a time to recognize and celebrate the good work being done in commitment to storying Indigenous histories on our own terms.
April of 2026 called attention to the 150th anniversary of the Indian Act, an assimilative piece of legislation that has severely impacted First Nations peoples and governments – encroaching on nearly every aspect of life – since its passing in 1876. Building on previous Acts and policies designed to control and extinguish Indigenous culture and identity, the Indian Act has regulated Indian Status, governed reserve lands, and enabled systems such as the residential school system, all while attempting to reshape Indigenous governance and ways of life. Over the course of 150 years, we have seen it define and redefine what it means to be a Status Indian under Canadian federal jurisdiction, and the intergenerational effects of these colonial measures. Yet the Act demonstrates an acknowledgment – however limited and problematic – of the unique historic and ongoing relationship Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island have with Canada.
We see another example of this relationship alive within Treaty 6. On August 23rd of this year, the Plains communities of Alberta and Saskatchewan will commemorate 150 years of the signing of Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton and Fort Pitt in 1876. Held between bands of Cree and Stoney First Nations and the Crown, Treaty 6 effectively aided in the establishment of reserve lands and government control of Indigenous land use and stewardship in the prairies. With distinct provisions including the Medicine Chest Clause and Famine Clause, the treaty outlines commitments to health, education, and support in times of need from the Canadian government – commitments that have not been upheld over time. As a legally binding document that continues to shape land, rights, and responsibilities today, Treaty 6 remains an important agreement to reflect on as it holds a central place in ongoing discussions about treaty rights and reconciliation efforts.
2026 delivers the sesquicentennials of two significant legal frameworks that continue to affect the lived experiences of First Nations citizens and governments across Turtle Island. In light of this, Shekon Neechie is taking the opportunity this Indigenous History Month to uplift the work of Indigenous scholars who are carving out important explorations of the historic and contemporary effects of the Indian Act and Treaty 6 on Indigenous lives and rights. We hope these June posts will offer readers an opportunity to deepen their understandings of Treaties, the Indian Act, and the rights of Indigenous peoples today.