In 1778, eight Anishinaabe council fires of the Upper Michigan peninsula region responded to the request of their British allies to allow British troops to harvest wood on the island. By 1780, the Anishinaabe allowed the British to construct a stockaded village, permitted farming on the island, and to have lots given to those "White people who were married amongst them."  In return, the British undertook to cease farming and harvesting wood on the mainland.  On the 12th of May 1781 four Anishinaabe leaders and Indigenous witnesses inscribed their doodem images on two copies of an English title, written in English, which said that they did on behalf of themselves and their "Posterity” renounces "all Claims in future", to the Island of Michilimackinac for a consideration of £5000 New York currency, delivered in goods. The text acknowledges that the Anishinaabe parties agreed that they had signed two copies in front of witnesses, "one of which Deeds is to remain with the Gover[nor of] Canada and the other is to remain at this Post to certify the same.” In addition, the deed states that the ogimaag promised " to preserve in our Village a Belt of Wampum of seven feet in length to perpetuate, secure, and be a lasting memorial of, the said Transaction to our Nation for ever hereafter.”  The agreement lasted until 1796, when the British handed over the Island to the United States following the terms of the Jay Treaty, and relocated to St. Joseph's Island. Two copies of the deed exist; the wampum belt's location is at present unknown.

Parties to the treaty agreement.

This relative is a treaty agreement. The Anishinaabe signatories entered into this treaty agreement because they were part of the Covenant Chain alliance with the Crown, and had ratified their part of this Alliance at the Treaty of Niagara in 1764. Evidence of, and different perspectives on the meaning of the agreement, can be found in the different archival documents and other sources attached to this record.