Numbered Treaty medal. Proof.

Medals were made to commemorate each of the 11 ‘numbered treaties’ agreed by First Nations and the British Crown between 1871 and 1921. By this date, it was common practice to give medals and other gifts to Indigenous chiefs who had taken part in negotiations – acknowledging their role and serving as a tangible reminder of the agreement. However, the medals awarded for the first treaties in 1871 and 1872 were small and of low-quality. An alternative memento was accordingly ordered from Wyon of London in 1873. This is a proof for that medal. The new design incorporated a bust of Queen Victoria, and a British Officer and First Nations leader shaking hands on the reverse. The incomplete inscription ‘INDIAN TREATY N°. – / 187– ‘ meant future treaty numbers and dates could be added as required. 

Negotiations for the 11 numbered treaties were attended by thousands of Indigenous representatives. The first delegates were assured that Queen Victoria – their ‘Great Mother’ – would protect them against settler intrusion on lands laid aside for them. In exchange for ceding territory, bands were promised reserves and schools, and individuals were given annual gratuities.