Royal Proclamation of 1763 on display at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

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Gatineau, Quebec, September 19, 2013 — Visitors to Canada’s national history museum have a unique opportunity this fall to view two landmark documents that are rarely seen by the public. The display will feature the historic Royal Proclamation of 1763, a document that forever redefined the relationship between the British Crown and the First Peoples of North America. Produced to commemorate the Proclamation’s 250th anniversary, the display will also feature the Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed by Sir William Johnson and the Huron chiefs of Detroit, one of the first treaties negotiated between the British Crown and the First Nations.

The display will be presented at the Canadian Museum of Civilization from September 19 to October 27, 2013, in collaboration with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Library and Archives Canada.

“The Royal Proclamation and the Treaty of Peace and Friendship have left their mark on the Canada we know today,” says Mark O’Neill, President and CEO, Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. “This presentation offers us a unique opportunity to highlight a pivotal period in Canadian history.”

The Royal Proclamation marked a turning point in Canadian history. Issued by King George III, it was the first constitutional act in which the British Crown recognized the rights of First Nations over a vast territory. Although two-and-a-half centuries old, the Proclamation remains a living constitutional document. Enshrined in Canada’s 1982 Constitution Act, it recognizes Aboriginal title and the Crown’s legal duty to consult with Aboriginal Peoples on important matters involving their rights.

The Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the British Crown and the Hurons of Detroit was one of several negotiated in 1764, following the Seven Years’ War. These treaties served as a model, followed by governments until the beginning of the 20th century, for the negotiation of territorial concessions by First Nations.

The display also features a historical map from 1755, modified to illustrate the area of the Province of Quebec in 1763 and the “Indian Territories” established by the Royal Proclamation. The province’s size would expand many times; First Nations territory began shrinking in 1764 as land was exchanged for protection and compensation.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is the centre for research and public information on the social and human history of the country. Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, the Museum is Canada’s largest and most popular cultural institution, attracting more than 1.2 million visitors each year. The Museum of Civilization’s principal role is to preserve and promote the heritage of Canada for present and future generations, thereby contributing to the promotion and enhancement of Canadian identity.

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