Treaty 8

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Treaty 8 was an agreement signed on June 21, 1899 between the Government of Canada and various First Nations at Lesser Slave Lake. Adhesions to this agreement were signed that same year on July 1 at Peace River Landing, July 6 at Dunvegan, July 8 at Vermilion, July 13 at Fort Chipewyan, July 17 at Smith's Landing, July 25 and 27 at Fond du Lac, August 4 at Fort McMurray and August 14 at Wabasca Lake. Further Adhesions were in 1900 on May 13 at Fort St. John, June 8 at Lesser Slave Lake, June 23 at Vermilion and July 25 at Fort Resolution. The land covered by Treaty 8 is larger than France and includes northern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, northwestern Saskatchewan and a southernmost portion of the Northwest Territories.

Chief Keenooshayoo was one of the First Nations signatories to Treaty 8.

First Nations that are considered signatories to Treaty 8 include Woodland Cree, Dunneza (or "Beaver") and Chipewyan.

Treaty 8 is one of eleven numbered treaties made between the Government of Canada and First Nations.

The Government of Canada had between 1871 and 1877 signed Treaties 1 to 7. Treaties 1 to 7 covered the southern portions of what was the Northwest Territories. At that time, the Government of Canada had not considered a Treaty with the First Nations in what would be the Treaty 8 territory necessary, as conditions in the north were not considered conducive to settlement. However in the mid-1890's, the Klondike Gold Rush began to draw Europeans northward into the previous undisturbed territory. The increase contact and conflict between First Nations of the region and Europeans caused the Government of Canada enter into Treaty 8.

Father Albert Lacombe, a trusted Catholic missionary, had been asked by Canadian officials to be present to help convince First Nations that it was in their interest to enter into a treaty. He was present on June 21, 1899 and assured First Nations that their lives would remain, more or less, unchanged. He was also present at some of the meetings at which adhesions were signed.

The elements of Treaty 8 included provisions to maintain livelihood for the native populations in this 840 000 km² region. The affected First Nations were also to keep rights to water and minerals, including underground rights. The treaty also exempted the natives from military service, capital punishment and taxes.

Gordon Benoit, a Mikisew Cree, filed a legal challenge against income taxes in 1992 citing Treaty 8 rights still applied. His case was upheld in 2002 at the federal court level, but was subsequently overturned by the Federal Court of Appeal and in 2004 the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear a further appeal. Benoit had his housing and employment outside a reservation. A section of the Canadian Indian Act provides tax exemption for properties and jobs only within reserves.