When the numbered treaties were signed, they carried with them a promise — a commitment to the health and well-being of First Nations peoples. That promise is the medicine bundle clause, and it remains as relevant and binding today as the day it was made.

The medicine bundle clause is one of the most important yet least understood provisions within Canada’s treaty framework. It established a Crown obligation to provide access to medicine, health care, and the tools needed to support the well-being of treaty peoples. Yet for generations, the full spirit and intent of this clause has been overlooked, underfunded, and misunderstood.

The duty to consult is not a courtesy — it is a legal and constitutional obligation. Rooted in the honour of the Crown, it requires that First Nations peoples be meaningfully engaged whenever decisions are being made that may affect their treaty rights, lands, and ways of life. It is a foundational principle of the treaty relationship, and one that carries significant responsibility for governments, industries, and institutions across Canada.

Yet despite its legal standing, the duty to consult is frequently misapplied, misunderstood, or reduced to a procedural checkbox rather than the meaningful engagement it was intended to be.