Introduction

Across the globe, there are examples of treaties, compacts, or other negotiated agreements that mediate relationships between Indigenous peoples and States or settler communities. The Treaty of Waitangi is one living, and historically rich, illustration of these types of negotiated agreements and both the symmetries and asymmetries of Indigenous–State relations across time. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 by Maori leaders representing their nations/communities and representatives of the British Crown. Compacts between Indigenous peoples and States, such as the Treaty of Wait-angi, sit against the backdrop of the international recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples. A central part of that international framework is the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The collection is interdisciplinary, with contributions from historical, legal, political, and Indigenous perspectives that speak to one another across and between traditional disciplinary boundaries. The chapter also presents an overview of key concepts discussed in this book.