GERRY DUQUETTE >> Ahnee. Boozhoo. Good day. Wabimakwa nindizhinikaaz.
Dokis nidoonjibaa. Makwa nidoodem. Ghi ma ghe tonda. Hello, my name is Gerald Duquette. I am the Chief of the Dokis First Nation. We are part of the Robinson-Huron Treaty, signed on September 9, 1850.
Our First Nation is part of a large territory where our ancestors – our elders – travelled from north of Temagami. They went west to Sault Ste. Marie, south to Penetanguishene and then east as far as Oka. We were always a nomadic people. We fished, hunted and trapped. We were a nation that truly pursued trading and fur.
We were really good, perhaps so good that the Hudson Bay Company moved to pursue us because I think we were better than they were. We had better relations with First Nations. What is important to know is what the treaties are to us, as Ojibway, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples, and to non-Indigenous people... It's really important to know what it was at the beginning.
What is a treaty? How did we come to be, what is known as Canada? We were very sophisticated people. There were laws, our language, lands – the vast lands that we looked after. We took care of our families. And for our people, it is also about knowing our history, how it was at the beginning. Ah, for those who crossed in big boats, it is something that was not taught in school.
I went to French Catholic school. The lessons we were taught in history, geography, it wasn't really true... the real story. And that's something that I, when I was a child in history classes,
I always asked questions.Is that true? I don't think that was what we were. And then I had to go home to ask questions because I didn't believe what was written in the books. But, in our time, we saw the change in schools, we saw the changes in the publications to say, yes, it is true.
It wasn't... it wasn't a good picture that was painted. But I hope and I think we are in a world where there are a lot of changes and we see that. In our First Nation, we received about two hundred and fifty (250) to three hundred (300) students to show them what it is like to live
in a First Nation. It was with the Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord, my sister is a principal at Rivière des-Francais. We brought the students to show them where we live, where we live, and let them know that it is okay to come to a First Nation, we are just people like everyone else.
We may have different ways of preparing food. We showed them how we made clothes. We sang our songs. And then we learned from them and I hope that continues. It's a good program and it's a good exchange with students. The impact of the treaties, on me, the members of my family and my community, historically, our chief was really...When they made the crossing in 1850, they went to pick up not only him, but also the chief just north of us in Nipissing.
And then they made the long journey to Sault Ste. Marie. And that had a big impact on us and we were proud of the place that had been chosen for the First Nation. Our chief was a person who, basically, saw the future. Were we part of French River, Memesagamesing, Little French River?
We had a land where there were lots of pine trees, maple trees, hunting, fishing – something that had enabled our people to grow. There was a lot... at the time, there were changes in the fur trade and we were in an ideal place where the French River falls. It was the route. There was no road, but that was where the boats crossed. We had a business. And since we were the ones who did the trading, where the people crossed, it was something that we could essentially control.
And I think the history of the treaty with us, is a good history – for my First Nation. Maybe not for other First Nations, but for us, yes. We always said that this was something that we were proud of. We were proud of the elders before us who chose our place on Earth, where we can live today.
Our territory is that of the Robinson-Huron Treaty, which is a vast territory in Ontario for us. I would like the people who did not sign a treaty to know that it is a place where everyone is accepted. This is something we have always been taught.
When someone asks you, "Are you going home?" home is not a building. It isn't something with four walls. It's where you go back to your place, our place. On our traditional lands, you will see your aunts, your grandmothers. And that is something really special.
I think if you go to a village or city, somewhere like Hamilton or Toronto, you don't feel accepted. We often don't lock our doors. If someone is hungry, you feed them. When you come home from hunting, it is very important to share with everyone. It may be your aunts, your uncle, your cousins who weren't able to get a moose, a deer or fish, and you give them some.
It isn't something that is given to you, it isn't something personal, but rather something you want to share. And I think that, with the treaties, it was something we accepted, as Ojibway people. It was something to share. It wasn't for us personally, but the spirit gave us all these natural things. And food to share, to survive. And I hope that everyone could come to Dokis, to see how we live, where we are located. It is something special.
It's not... we are about 34 kilometres from Highway 64. It's a long drive, but when you arrive, you are in such a beautiful place. Winter is long. It's not as busy, we would say, but summer with the tourists, it's really special. And I hope others will come visit us.
[TITLE: Treaties Recognition Week]
[TITLE: The Digital Living Library Treaties Recognition Week videos are intended to provide Indigenous people an opportunity to openly share their views on why treaties remain relevant today, their historical context and the treaty relationship in Ontario. They are not intended to provide the views of the Government of Ontario and do not necessarily reflect those views.]