Treaty of Waitangi (Joan of What?)

The Treaty of Marapikurrinya is a treaty first signed on 18 October 1854 by representatives of the Cygnian Crown and various Aboriginal leaders from the eastern Territories of Cygnia. The Treaty was intended to protect Aboriginal rights over the lands and property under their jurisdiction, to grant them the protection of the Cygnian government, and to grant them the rights of Cygnian Subjects, in return of their willing cession of sovereignty to the Cygnian Crown.

PREAMBLE
HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY Alexander the First, Emperor of Cygnia, regarding with His Imperial Favour the Native Leaders and Tribes of Cygnia and anxious to protect their just Rights and Property and to secure to them the enjoyment of Peace and Good Order has deemed it necessary in consequence of the great number of His Imperial Majesty's Subjects who have already settled in the new Territories of Cygnia to constitute an agreement to treat with the Aborigines of Cygnia for the recognition of His Majesty's Sovereign authority over the whole or any part of those lands.

His Majesty therefore being desirous to establish a settlement through which the Rights and Property of the Aborigines of Cygnia with a view to avert the evil consequences which must result from the absence of such Institutions to the native population and to His subjects.

Thusly, His Majesty invites the confederated and independent Leaders of the Aboriginal Tribes of Cygnia to concur in the following Articles and Conditions.

ARTICLE I
The Leaders of the Aborigines of Cygnia cede to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Cygnia absolutely and without reservation all the rights and powers of Sovereignty which the said Leaders respectively exercise or possess, or may be supposed to exercise or to possess, over their respective Territories as the sole Sovereigns thereof.

ARTICLE II
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Cygnia confirms and guarantees to the Leaders of the Aborigines of Cygnia and to the respective families and individuals thereof the full exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands and Estates, Forests, Fisheries and other properties which they may collectively or individually possess so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession; but the Leaders of the Aborigines of Cygnia yield to His Majesty the exclusive right of Preemption over such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate at such prices as may be agreed upon between the respective Proprietors and persons appointed by His Majesty to treat with them in that behalf.

ARTICLE III
In consideration thereof His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Cygnia extends to the Aborigines of Cygnia His Imperial protection and imparts to them all the Rights and Privileges of Citizens of the Empire.

[SIGNED] The Right Honourable H. Redford, Chancellor of the Empire of Cygnia as appointed by His Imperial Majesty

Now therefore We the Leaders of the Various Aboriginal Tribes of Cygnia being assembled in Convention at Theodora in Marapikurrinya and We the Separate and Independent Leaders of the Aboriginal Tribes of Cygnia claiming authority over the Tribes and Territories which are specified after our respective names, having been made fully to understand the Provisions of the foregoing Treaty, accept and enter into the same in the full spirit and meaning thereof in witness of which we have attached our signatures or marks at the places and the dates respectively specified.

Done at Marapikurrinya this Eighteenth Day of October in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Four.