We are all Treaty People. Even if you live on unceded territory, Treaty still affects us all. Treaty laid out the framework for establishing a settler dominated society and forcing the Indigenous Peoples into small sections of the land they had previously been able to roam and live on freely. This is even worse on unceded territory. Education about Treaty and its people need to be taught because, like it or not, it is Canadian history which subsequently makes it all Canadians history.
To believe Treaty education and Indigenous/Métis/Inuit perspectives, ways of knowing, and worldviews as only something valuable to Indigenous students is providing a disservice to students. My own personal growth and understandings happened when I learned about Treaty, Indigenous History, and Indigenous ways of knowing. It was uncomfortable, challenging, upsetting, and made me incredibly frustrated. For awhile I resisted, which was natural, but once my Prof emailed me about a reflection imploring me to reread the chapter and actually listen to it, I was able to understand why this content and information was so relevant to education as a whole. It deconstructs the image of Canada that is engrained in students from the start of their educational journey.
As a Social Studies major, and an avid reader of history, I find it imperative that students learn about Treaty. Treaty gave way to the Reserve system (which has an interesting history to it and provided dangerous inspirations for a world leader during the Second World War), the Residential school system, the high rates of poverty seen in Indigenous populations, the Indigenous suicide endemic, and so many more ripple effects. It created the injustices in our society and the stereotypes that are peddled as truth. Treaty education, Indigenous/Métis/Inuit education, Indigenous ways of knowing education, etc. should be taught in schools and the Social Studies curriculum at least to challenge and break down these racist and ethnocentric views and ideologies that many people still believe to this day.
By introducing Treaty education and its counterparts, educators can challenge and deconstruct prior knowledge. While this type of learning is uncomfortable and faces resistance, it is necessary to help the next generations understand their history and the part everyone must play in Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation. While we may never be able to properly atone for the mistakes of those who came before us, we can help start the healing process. Treaty affects us all, and only until it is taught to those who do not believe it affects them can the restorative process occur.