Haldimand Proclamation facts for kids
The Haldimand Proclamation was a special order from the British government. It gave land to the Mohawk Nation and other Six Nations people. These groups had helped the British during the American Revolution.
Frederick Haldimand, who was the Governor of Quebec at the time, issued this order on October 25, 1784. This was just a few days after another important agreement, the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, was signed.
The land given to the Mohawk had to be bought first. It was purchased from the Mississaugas of the Credit. Their traditional lands covered a large part of what is now Southwestern Ontario.
In May 1784, Colonel John Butler was sent to buy about 3 million acres of land. This land was located between Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie. The Mississaugas of the Credit sold it for £1180. Of this large area, about 550,000 acres were then given to the Mohawk Nation through the Haldimand Proclamation. This land sale is also known as the "Between the Lakes Treaty."
What the Proclamation Said
The Haldimand Proclamation was a formal document. It explained why the land was being given.
It said that the King wanted to thank the Mohawk people for their loyalty. They had lost their homes because they supported the British. So, the King wanted to give them a safe and comfortable new home.
The proclamation stated that a large area of land was bought from the Indigenous peoples. This land was located between Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron. The Mohawk Nation and other Five Nations people who wanted to settle there were allowed to take possession of it.
The land was specifically along the banks of the river called the Grand River. It stretched six miles deep on each side of the river. This area started at Lake Erie and went all the way to the source of the river. The proclamation said that the Mohawk and their future generations would enjoy this land forever.
The order was officially signed by Governor Frederick Haldimand in Quebec on October 25, 1784.
Why the Proclamation Happened
Before the American Revolution began, Mohawk leader Joseph Brant and Guy Johnson traveled to London, England, in November 1775. They wanted a promise from the British King. They asked that if the Iroquois people fought alongside the British, they would receive land in Canada.
During and after the American Revolution, American colonists took land and property from people who had supported the British. These supporters were called Loyalists. The British government paid both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Loyalists for their losses.
By 1783, Joseph Brant had chosen the Grand River valley as a good place for his people to settle. In 1784, Governor Frederick Haldimand agreed to this idea. The land was bought from the Mississaugas in May 1784. Lieutenant-Colonel John Butler handled the purchase for the government.
Later, the British government believed that they had not fully bought the rights to the entire Grand River valley from the Mississaugas.
Moratorium on Development
In April 2021, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council announced a pause on new building projects. This pause was for the entire area covered by the Haldimand Tract. This decision came after nine months of land reclamation actions by people at 1492 Land Back Lane.
The Six Nations Elected Council supported this call. They wanted to show a united front while land claims were being discussed with the Canadian government.
