These Indian treaties, acts, and agreements represent a significant collection of federal and state dealings with various Native American tribes. Treaties remain a tool used by the American government in agreements with other nations today. Historically, the United States treated many Native American tribes as sovereign nations, drafting treaties to establish friendship, purchase land, or formalize peace terms after conflicts. Many of these treaties forced tribes to relocate, usually westward, though occasionally in other directions. Negotiating land treaties posed significant challenges for both the United States and Canada, as tribal governance often made it unclear who held the authority to cede land. Additionally, the concept of land ownership, as understood by European settlers, was foreign to Native Americans, who saw themselves as caretakers and users of the land in harmony with nature. This difference in perspective made it difficult for Native Americans to fully grasp the implications of ceding land ownership and the responsibilities outlined in the treaties, leading to misunderstandings and lasting consequences.
Treaties provide a vivid history of a tribe and often have lists of names included in them or as attachments to them. When we find these, those names are included with our text version of the treaty. We have a database of many of these signers which can be accessed directly below.
Signers of Native American Treaties
This unique database comprises a list of all signers of each specific treaty, whether the signer be white or Native American.
Treaty Directory
Click on the tribes listed below to read the agreements and treaties made between the United States, individual states, and the many Native American tribes who preceded us:
- Indian Treaties Aionai to Assinaboine
- Indian Treaties Bannock to Brothertown
- Indian Treaties Caddo to Crow
- Indian Treaties Dakota to Eel River
- Indian Treaties Five Nations to Foxes
- Indian Treaties Gros Ventres to Iowa
- Indian Treaties Kalapuya to Lepan
- Indian Treaties Makah to Muscogee
- Indian Treaties Navaho to Noo-Wha-Ha
- Indian Treaties Omaha to Ottawa
- Indian Treaties Pawnee to Rogue River
- Indian Treaties Sac to Swinamish
- Indian Treaties Tah-Wa-Carro to Ute
- Indian Treaties Waco to Yakima
Acts
Canadian Treaties
- The Selkirk Treaty
- The Robinson Treaties
- The Manitoulin Island Treaty
- The Stone Fort And Manitoba Post Treaties
- The North-West Angle Treaty
- The Qu’appelle Treaty
- The Winnipeg Treaty
- The Treaties At Forts Carlton And Pitt
- The Blackfeet Treaty
- Treaty With the Seven Nations of Canada, 1796