Bill 5 Violates Treaty Relationships and Indigenous Sovereignty

For Indigenous Peoples, Treaties are not symbolic or historical—they are sacred, living agreements between Nations. They represent a shared understanding of how we live together on the land: with mutual respect, shared stewardship, and a promise to honour each other’s rights and responsibilities. Ontario’s Bill 5 – Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025—passed without consultation or consent—violates the spirit and the law of these Treaties. Wahkohtowin stands firmly against this legislation.

Community members gather at Queen’s Park to oppose Bill 5, standing strong against ongoing treaty violations and threats to Indigenous sovereignty.

Treaties Are Sacred. Bill 5 Breaks Them.

Treaties, as Nation-to-Nation agreements, require dialogue, consent, and respect. When Ontario passed Bill 5 without consulting Indigenous Nations, it broke those Treaty promises. This is not just a failure of policy—it is a legal and ethical breach. Treaties are constitutionally protected. They are the foundation of the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Crown. Bypassing consultation and imposing top-down decisions violates Canada’s own laws, including Section 35 of the Constitution, and the commitments made under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Bill 5 also weakens the principle of shared stewardship that lies at the heart of many Treaty agreements. By repealing the Endangered Species Act and weakening environmental oversight, the Province is ignoring not only scientific evidence but also the knowledge systems of Elders, harvesters, and land-based educators who have protected these lands for generations. Species like caribou, moose, and songbirds are not just ecological indicators—they are kin, and their survival is tied to our own responsibilities under Natural Law.

We Will Uphold Our Responsibilities to the Land and Future Generations

The rights of Indigenous Peoples do not come from the Province—they are inherent, and they are affirmed in Treaties. Bill 5 disregards those rights. It removes Indigenous voices from decisions that directly affect our lands and waters. It undermines our ability to live out our roles as protectors, teachers, and caregivers of the land. When governments make decisions without us, sacred places and the knowledge they carry are put at risk.

Wahkohtowin affirms that Indigenous Nations have governed these lands since time immemorial. Bill 5 is a step backward at a time that demands reconciliation, not regression. We will continue to uphold our side of the Treaty relationship—through stewardship, ceremony, and advocacy. We will honour our ancestors, protect our homelands, and defend the rights of future generations.

The Treaties remain. Our responsibilities remain. And so does our resistance.

Written by: Sara Bilodeau