In late 1923, treaties were signed dealing with outstanding Aboriginal land claims in southern and central Ontario. The treaties covered some 28,000 square kilometers of land. Some areas had been improperly seized through late 1700s-era blank treaties - simply put, treaties where the Aboriginals signed nothing but a blank piece of paper.

Like the Numbered Treaties that preceded the Williams Treaties, the Aboriginals received cash in exchange for formally giving up this land. However, they lost their right to hunt, fish or trap on any of this land. The worst fears of many Aboriginals to the west had finally come true: the government seemed to be clearly saying it was not interested in preserving their way of life.