Treaty of Fort Niagara facts for kids
The Treaty of Fort Niagara is a name given to several important agreements signed between the British Crown (the government of Great Britain) and different Indigenous peoples in North America. These treaties helped shape the relationship between these groups and the new settlers moving into what would become Canada.
The 1764 Treaty of Niagara
The 1764 Treaty of Niagara was a big meeting and agreement. It happened on August 1, 1764. Sir William Johnson, who represented the British King, met with leaders from 24 different Indigenous Nations. These included the Haudenosaunee, Seneca, Wyandot of Detroit, Menominee, Algonquin, Nipissing, Ojibwe, Mississaugas, and others. They were part of groups like the Seven Nations of Canada and the Western Lakes Confederacy.
This treaty gave the British a small strip of land, about four miles wide, along the western side of the Niagara River. More importantly, it set up how the British and Indigenous Nations would get along as more settlers arrived. This treaty also showed that the Indigenous Nations agreed with the Royal Proclamation of 1763. It also extended a special friendship agreement called the Silver Covenant Chain into the Great Lakes area.
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was a British rule that defined "Indian Country." This meant that while the British King claimed to be in charge of these lands, the Indigenous peoples who lived there still owned them. To get land from Indigenous peoples, the British had to make formal agreements, or treaties.
That's why the Treaty of Niagara Council started on July 8, 1764. However, some Nations, like the Ottawa of Detroit, the Wyandot of Sandusky, and the Lenape and Shawnee of Ohio, refused to come to the meeting. This treaty created a new Covenant Chain (a strong alliance and friendship) between Britain and the First Nations of the western Great Lakes. During the War of 1812, many Nations who were part of this treaty fought alongside the British. They believed the treaty meant they should support the British cause.
The 1781 Treaty of Fort Niagara
The 1781 Treaty of Fort Niagara is also known as the Niagara Purchase. It was signed on May 9, 1781. Colonel Guy Johnson, representing the British King, signed it with leaders from the Ojibwe and Mississaugas Nations. This agreement gave the British more land around Fort Niagara.
This second treaty was needed because many Loyalists (people who supported the British during the American Revolution) moved into British territory near Fort Niagara. With more people, Governor Frederick Haldimand of Quebec wanted to create farms near the main military forts. However, the first treaty didn't include enough land for these farms. So, a new treaty was negotiated.
As part of this treaty, the British gave many goods to the Indigenous Nations. These included 12,000 blankets, 23,500 yards of cloth, 5,000 silver ear bobs, 75 dozen razors, and 20 gross of jaw harps. The Mississaugas Nation accepted "300 suits of clothing" as payment for a four-mile strip of land. This land stretched along the Niagara River from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.
Clarifying the Treaties
Historical records, like the "Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations," mention two main agreements from this time. These are:
- A peace treaty with the Chenussios and other Seneca groups. Sir William Johnson made this agreement at Niagara on August 6, 1764.
- Peace agreements made by Sir William Johnson with the Hurons of Detroit. This happened at Niagara on July 18, 1764.
More than 2,000 representatives from up to 24 First Nations attended the 1764 council. The records don't give an exact number, but at least 84 Wampum Belts were exchanged during these talks. Wampum Belts are special beaded belts used to record agreements and important messages. Sometimes, a belt given by one speaker would be returned to another speaker. This was a common practice at such meetings.
The land area given up in the 1781 treaty was expanded. It included Niagara Township and parts of Stamford, Willoughby, and Bertie Townships.
