THE STONE FORT AND MANITOBA POST TREATIES NUMBERS ONE AND TWO
In the year 1871, the late Honorable Joseph Howe, then Secretary of
State of Canada, recommended the appointment by the Privy Council
of Canada, of Mr. Wemyss McKenzie Simpson, as Indian Commissioner,
in consequence of "the necessity of arranging with the bands of
Indians inhabiting the tract of country between Thunder Bay and the
Stone Fort, for the cession, subject to certain reserves such as
they should select, of the lands occupied by them." Mr. Simpson
accepted the appointment, and in company with Messrs. S. J. Dawson
and Robert Pether visited the Ojjibewas or Chippawa Indians,
between Thunder Bay and the north-west angle of the Lake of the
Woods, and took the initiatory steps for securing a treaty with
them thereafter. On his arrival at Fort Garry, he put himself, as
directed by his instructions, in communication with his Honor, the
Hon. A. G. Archibald, then Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and the
North-West Territories. A conference took place between His Honor,
Messrs. Simpson, Dawson and Pether, and the Hon. James McKay, a
member, at that time, of the Executive Council of Manitoba, and
himself a half-breed intimately acquainted with the Indian tribes,
and possessed of much influence over them. The Indians in Manitoba,
in the fall of 1870, had applied to the Lieutenant-Governor to
enter into a treaty with them, and had been informed that in the
ensuing year negotiations would be opened with them. They were
full of uneasiness, owing to the influx of population, denied
the validity of the Selkirk Treaty, and had in some instances
obstructed settlers and surveyors. In view of the anxiety and
uneasiness prevailing, those gentlemen were of opinion "that it was
desirable to secure the extinction of the Indian title not only
to the lands within Manitoba, but also to so much of the timber
grounds east and north of the Province as were required for
immediate entry and use, and also of a large tract of cultivable
ground west of the Portage, where there were very few Indian
inhabitants." It was therefore resolved to open negotiations at the
Lower Fort Garry, or Stone Fort, with the Indians of the Province,
and certain adjacent timber districts, and with the Indians of the
other districts at Manitoba Post, a Hudson's Bay fort, at the north
end of Lake Manitoba, the territory being occupied principally by
one nation, the Chippawas, of whom the Saulteaux of the lakes are a
branch, although there are also a number of Swampy Crees resident
within it.
Mr. Simpson accordingly issued proclamations, inviting the Indians
to meet him on the 25th of July and 17th of August, 1871, at
these points respectively, to negotiate an Indian treaty. The
Lieutenant-Governor also issued a proclamation forbidding the sale
or gift of intoxicating liquors during the negotiation of the
treaty, and applied to Major Irvine to detail a few of the troops
under his command to preserve order, which request was acceded to.
The Lieutenant-Governor and Mr. Simpson arrived at the Stone Fort
on the 24th of July, 1871, but as the Indians had not all arrived
the meeting was postponed till the 27th, when a thousand Indians
were found to have assembled, and a considerable number of
half-breeds and other inhabitants of the country were present,
awaiting with anxiety to learn the policy of the Government.
Lieutenant-Governor Archibald, after the Indians were assembled
opened the proceedings by delivering the following address:
"On the 13th September last, on my first arrival in the country,
I met a number of you at the mission, I told you I could not then
negotiate a Treaty with the Indians, but that I was charged by your
Great Mother, the Queen, to tell you that she had been very glad
to see that you had acted during the troubles like good and true
children of your Great Mother. I told you also that as soon as
possible you would all be called together to consider the terms of
a treaty to be entered into between you and your Great Mother.
"I advised you to disperse to your homes, and gave you some
ammunition to enable you to gain a livelihood during the winter
by hunting.
"I promised that in the spring you would be sent for, and that
either I, or some person directly appointed to represent your Great
Mother, should be here to meet you, and notice would be given you
when to convene at this place to talk over what was right to be
done.
"Early in the spring, Mr. Simpson, who sits beside me, was made
Commissioner. He left his home at once for this Province, by Rainy
Lake and the Lake of the Woods.
"The Indians of the lake districts meet, as you know, on Rainy
River yearly, about the 20th June, to fish for sturgeon, I and they
could not be called together sooner.
"Mr. Simpson met them there at that time, and talked over their
affairs with them, and made certain arrangements with them. He then
hurried on to see you, and reached this Province a week ago last
Sunday. He then sent messengers at once to all the Indians within
certain bounds, asking them to meet him here on the 25th day of
July. Some of you were unable to come so soon, and he has
therefore, at the instance of those who were here, waited till
to-day to open the talk. I believe that now you are all arrived,
and ready to proceed to business.
"It will be the duty of the Commissioner to talk to you on the
particular details of the treaty, and I will give place to him
presently, but there are one or two things of a general kind which
I would like, before I close, to bring to your notice, for you to
think about among yourselves.
"First. Your Great Mother, the Queen, wishes to do justice to all
her children alike. She will deal fairly with those of the setting
sun, just as she would with those of the rising sun. She wishes
order and peace to reign through all her country, and while her arm
is strong to punish the wicked man, her hand is also open to reward
the good man everywhere in her Dominions.
"Your Great Mother wishes the good of all races under her sway. She
wishes her red children to be happy and contented. She wishes them
to live in comfort. She would like them to adopt the habits of the
whites, to till land and raise food, and store it up against a
time of want. She thinks this would be the best thing for her red
children to do, that it would make them safer from famine and
distress, and make their homes more comfortable.
"But the Queen, though she may think it good for you to adopt
civilized habits, has no idea of compelling you to do so. This she
leaves to your choice, and you need not live like the white man
unless you can be persuaded to do so of your own free will. Many
of you, however, are already doing this.
"I drove yesterday through the village below this Fort. There I saw
many well-built houses, and many well-tilled fields with wheat and
barley and potatoes growing, and giving promise of plenty for the
winter to come. The people who till these fields and live in these
houses are men of your own race, and they shew that you can live
and prosper and provide like the white man.
"What I say in my drive is enough to prove that even if there was
not a buffalo or a fur bearing animal in the country, you could
live and be surrounded with comfort by what you can raise from
the soil.
"Your Great Mother, therefore, will lay aside for you 'lots' of
land to be used by you and your children forever. She will not
allow the white man to intrude upon these lots. She will make rules
to keep them for you, so that as long as the sun shall shine, there
shall be no Indian who has not a place that he can call his home,
where he can go and pitch his camp or if he chooses build his house
and till his land.
"These reserves will be large enough, but you must not expect them
to be larger than will be enough to give a farm to each family,
where farms shall be required. They will enable you to earn a
living should the chase fail, and should you choose to get your
living by tilling, you must not expect to have included in your
reserve more of hay grounds than will be reasonably sufficient for
your purposes in case you adopt the habits of farmers. The old
settlers and the settlers that are coming in, must be dealt with on
the principles of fairness and justice as well as yourselves. Your
Great Mother knows no difference between any of her people. Another
thing I want you to think over is this: in laying aside these
reserves, and in everything else that the Queen shall do for you,
you must understand that she can do for you no more than she has
done for her red children in the East. If she were to do more for
you that would be unjust for them. She will not do less for you
because you are all her children alike, and she must treat you all
alike.
"When you have made your treaty you will still be free to hunt over
much of the land included in the treaty. Much of it is rocky and
unfit for cultivation, much of it that is wooded is beyond the
places where the white man will require to go, at all events for
some time to come. Till these lands are needed for use you will
be free to hunt over them, and make all the use of them which you
have made in the past. But when lands are needed to be tilled or
occupied, you must not go on them any more. There will still be
plenty of land that is neither tilled nor occupied where you can
go and roam and hunt as you have always done, and, if you wish to
farm, you will go to your own reserve where you will find a place
ready for you to live on and cultivate.
"There is another thing I have to say to you. Your Great Mother
cannot come here herself to talk with you, but she has sent a
messenger who has her confidence.
"Mr. Simpson will tell you truly all her wishes. As the Queen has
made her choice of a chief to represent her, you must, on your
part, point out to us the chiefs you wish to represent you, as the
persons you have faith in.
"Mr. Simpson cannot talk to all your braves and people, but when he
talks to chiefs who have your confidence he is talking to you all,
and when he hears the voice of one of your chiefs whom you name he
will hear the voice of you all. It is for you to say who shall talk
for you, and also who shall be your chief men. Let them be good
Indians, who know your wishes and whom you have faith in.
"You will look to the Commissioner to fulfil everything he agrees
to do, and the Queen will look to the chiefs you name to us, to see
that you keep your parts of the agreement.
"It is our wish to deal with you fairly and frankly.
"If you have any questions to ask, ask them, if you have anything
you wish the Queen to know, speak out plainly.
"Now chiefs and braves and people, I introduce to you Mr. Simpson,
who will say anything he thinks fit in addition to what I have
said.
"When you hear his voice you are listening to your Great Mother the
Queen, whom God bless and preserve long to reign over us."
Mr. Simpson also addressed them, and thereafter, in compliance with
a request of the Lieutenant-Governor, the Indians retired to select
their chiefs and principal spokesmen.
On the next day the conference was resumed, the chiefs and
spokesmen being presented. The Indians, on being asked to express
their views, "stated that there was a cloud before them which made
things dark, and they did not wish to commence the proceedings till
the cloud was dispersed." On inquiry it was ascertained that they
referred to the imprisonment of four Swampy Cree Indians, who
had been convicted under a local law, of breach of contract, as
boatmen, with the Hudson's Bay Company, and on default of payment
of a fine, had been sent to prison. The Lieutenant-Governor, as a
matter of favor, ordered the release of these prisoners, and the
sky became clear. Next day the Indians met again and declared that
they would never again raise their voice against the enforcement
of the law, but much difficulty was experienced in getting them
to understand the views of the Government--they wishing to have
two-thirds of the Province as a reserve. Eventually on the 3rd
of August, 1871, a treaty was concluded, its principal features
being the relinquishment to Her Majesty of the Indian title; the
reserving of tracts of land for the Indians, sufficient to furnish
160 acres of land to each family of five; providing for the
maintenance of schools, and prohibition of the sale of intoxicating
liquors on the reserves; a present of three dollars per head to the
Indians and the payment to them of an annuity of three dollars per
head. [Footnote: In consequence of misunderstandings having arisen,
owing to the Indians alleging that certain promises had been made
to them which were not specified in these treaties, a revision of
them became necessary, and was effected in 1875, as will be seen
reported hereafter.] (See copy of treaty which will be found in
the Appendix.) On the 21st of August Mr. Commissioner Simpson,
accompanied by the Lieutenant-Governor, the Hon. James McKay,
and Mr. Molyneux St. John (lately Sheriff of the North-West
Territories), met the Indians at Manitoba Post, and found them
disposed to accept the terms of the treaty made at the Stone Fort,
with which they had already become familiar, so that little time
was lost in effecting a treaty with them as they had no special
terms to prefer. By these two treaties, there was acquired by the
Crown, the extinguishment of the Indian title in Manitoba, and in
a tract of country fully equal in resources beyond it.
Having submitted these preliminary remarks, I conclude my notice
of these treaties by quoting, as matter alike of historical record
and practical interest, the despatches of Lieutenant-Governor
Archibald and the excellent and instructive report, addressed to
the Secretary of State by Mr. Simpson, embracing as it does a full
and graphic narrative of the proceedings which took place at the
negotiation of these treaties, and of the difficulties which were
encountered by the Commissioner, and the mode in which they were
overcome.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
SILVER HEIGHTS July 32nd, 1871.
Sir,--I have the honor to enclose you copy of a proclamation I have
caused to be issued with a view to prevent the danger arising from
intoxicating drinks being given to the Indians, on the occasion of
the meeting to negotiate a treaty.
I look upon the proceedings, we are now initiating as important
in their bearing upon our relations to the Indians of the whole
continent. In fact the terms we now agree upon will probably shape
the arrangements we shall have to make with all the Indians between
the Red River and the Rocky Mountains. It will therefore be well to
neglect nothing that is within our power to enable us to start
fairly with the negotiations.
With that view, I have, amongst other things, asked Major Irvine
to detail a few of his troops to be present at the opening of the
treaty. Military display has always a great effect on savages, and
the presence even of a few troops will have a good tendency.
I fear we shall have to incur a considerable expenditure for
presents of food, etc. during the negotiations; but any cost for
that purpose I shall deem a matter of minor consequence. The real
burden to be considered is that which has to be borne in each
recurring year.
I doubt if it will be found practicable to make arrangements upon
so favorable a basis as that prescribed by His Excellency the
Governor-General as the maximum to be allowed, in case of a treaty
with the Lake Indians.
Nor indeed would it be right, if we look to what we receive, to
measure the benefits we derive from coming into possession of the
magnificent territory we are appropriating here by what would be
fair to allow for the rocks and swamps and muskegs of the lake
country east of this Province.
But to this subject I shall probably take occasion to call your
attention at an early day.
I have etc.,
ADAMS G. ARCHIBALD.
THE HONORABLE
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE PROVINCES,
Ottawa.
LOWER FORT GARRY, July 20th, 1871.
Sir,--I have the honor to inform you that on Monday last I came to
this Fort with the Commissioner to meet the Indians called here,
with a view to negotiate a treaty, intending to open the business
on Tuesday morning.
It appeared, however, on inquiry, that some bands of Indians had
not arrived on Tuesday morning, and we were therefore obliged to
postpone the opening of the meeting till Thursday. On that day the
Indians from all the sections of the country to which the
invitation extended were found present to the number of about one
thousand. A considerable body of half-breeds and other inhabitants
of the country were also present, awaiting with some anxiety to
learn what should be announced as the policy of the Government.
I enclose you a memorandum of the observations with which I opened
the meeting. On reading them you will observe one or two points
which may require some explanation.
At the time of the treaty with the Earl of Selkirk, certain Indians
signed as Chiefs and representatives of their people. Some of the
Indians now deny that these men ever were Chiefs or had authority
to sign the treaty.
With a view therefore to avoid a recurrence of any such question we
asked the Indians, as a first step, to agree among themselves in
selecting their Chiefs and then to present them to us and have
their names and authority recorded.
Furthermore, the Indians seem to have false ideas of the meaning
of a reserve. They have been led to suppose that large tracts of
ground were to be set aside for them as hunting grounds, including
timber lands, of which they might sell the wood as if they were
proprietors of the soil.
I wished to correct this idea at the outset.
Mr. Simpson followed me with some observations in the same strain,
after which the Indians retired to select their Chiefs and
spokesmen.
On Friday morning the Chiefs and spokesmen were duly presented,
and after their names were recorded, the Indians were invited to
express their views.
After some delay they stated that there was a cloud before them
which made things dark, and they did not wish to commence the
proceedings till the cloud was dispersed.
On inquiring into their meaning, I found that they were referring
to some four of their number who were prisoners in gaol. It seems
that some Swampy Indians had entered into a contract with the
Hudson's Bay Company as boatmen, and had deserted, and had been
brought up before magistrates under a local law of last session,
and fined, and in default of payment sent to prison for forty days.
Of this term some considerable part had expired. A few of the
offenders had paid their fines, but there were still four Indians
remaining in prison.
On learning the facts I told the Indians that I could not listen
to them if they made a demand for the release of the Indians as a
matter of right; that every subject of the Queen, whether Indian,
half-breed or white, was equal in the eye of the law; that every
offender against the law must be punished, whatever race he
belonged to; but I said that on the opening of negotiations with
them the Queen would like to see all her Indians taking part in
them, and if the whole body present were to ask as a matter of
grace and favor, under the circumstances, that their brethren
should be released, Her Majesty would be willing to consent to
their discharge; she would grant as a favor what she must refuse if
asked for on any other ground. They replied by saying that they
begged it as a matter of favor only. Thereupon I acceded to their
request, and directed the discharge of the four Indians. This was
received with great satisfaction. I explained again, that there
might be no misunderstanding about it, that henceforth every
offender against the law must be punished. They all expressed their
acquiescence in what I said. The discharge of the prisoners had an
excellent effect.
Next morning the Indians, through one of their spokesmen, declared
in presence of the whole body assembled that from this time they
would never raise their voice against the law being enforced. After
the order of the release, the Chiefs and spokesmen addressed us
questions were asked and answered, and some progress made in the
negotiations. Eventually the meeting adjourned till this morning
at ten o'clock.
A general acquiescence in the views laid down by Mr. Simpson and
myself was expressed, but it was quite clear by the proceedings of
to-day, that our views were imperfectly apprehended. When we met
this morning, the Indians were invited to state their wishes as
to the reserves, they were to say how much they thought would be
sufficient, and whether they wished them all in one or in several
places.
In defining the limits of their reserves, so far as we could see,
they wished to have about two-thirds of the Province. We heard them
out, and then told them it was quite clear that they had entirely
misunderstood the meaning and intention of reserves. We explained
the object of these in something like the language of the
memorandum enclosed, and then told them it was of no use for
them to entertain any such ideas, which were entirely out of
the question. We told them that whether they wished it or not,
immigrants would come in and fill up the country; that every year
from this one twice as many in number as their whole people there
assembled would pour into the Province, and in a little while would
spread all over it, and that now was the time for them to come to
an arrangement that would secure homes and annuities for themselves
and their children.
We told them that what we proposed to allow them was an extent of
one hundred and sixty acres for each family of five, or in that
proportion; that they might have their land where they chose,
not interfering with existing occupants, that we should allow an
annuity of twelve dollars for every family of five, or in that
proportion per head. We requested them to think over these
propositions till Monday morning.
If they thought it better to have no treaty at all, they might do
without one, but they must make up their minds; if there was to be
a treaty, it must be on a basis like that offered.
That under some such arrangements, the Indians in the east were
living happy and contented enjoying themselves, drawing their
annuities, and satisfied with their position.
The observations seemed to command the acquiescence of the
majority, and on Monday morning we hope to meet them in a better
frame for the discussion and settlement of the treaty.
I have, etc.,
ADAMS G. ARCHIBALD.
The Honorable
The Secretary of State for the Provinces.
LOWER FORT GARRY, MANITOBA, July 30th, 1871.
Sir,--I have the honor to inform you, for the information of His
Excellency the Governor-General, that I arrived in this Province on
the 16th instant, and, after consultation with the Lieutenant-Governor
of Manitoba, determined upon summoning the Indians of this part of the
country to a conference for the purpose of negotiating a treaty at
Lower Fort Garry, on Tuesday, the 25th instant, leaving for a future
date the negotiation with the Indians westward of and outside of the
Province of Manitoba.
Proclamations were issued, and every means taken to insure the
attendance of the Indians, and on Monday, the 24th instant, I
proceeded to Lower Fort Garry, where I met His Excellency the
Lieutenant-Governor.
On Tuesday, finding that only a small portion of the Indians had
arrived, we held a preliminary conference with Henry Prince--the
Chief of the Swampies and Chippewas residing on what is known as
the Indian Reserve, between Lower Fort Garry and Lake Winnipeg--at
which we arranged a meeting for the next day at twelve o'clock, for
the purpose of ascertaining the names of the Chiefs and head men of
the several tribes. At this preliminary conference, Henry Prince
said that he could not then enter upon any negotiations, as he was
not empowered to speak or act for those bands of Indians not then
present.
In the meantime it was found necessary to feed the Indians
assembled here, and accordingly provisions were purchased and
rations served out.
On Wednesday, the 26th, His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor and
myself met those Indians who had arrived, in council, and addressed
them with the view of explaining the purport of my commission, and
the matters which were to form the subject of a treaty.
It having been reported that the Indians who had not then arrived
were on their road here, we agreed that another meeting should take
place on the following day, at which the Chiefs and head men were
to be presented to us.
On Thursday, pursuant to appointment, we again met the Indians,
when the Chiefs and head men of the several bands present were
named and presented. I then explained to them the nature of
Indian reserves, and desired them to determine, in council among
themselves, the locality in which they desired their reserves to
be laid out.
On Friday, the 28th, we again met the Indians, but they were not
then prepared to state their demands, and another meeting was
appointed for Saturday.
On Saturday, the 29th, we again met them, all having by this time
arrived. When the subject of reserves came up, it was found that
the Indians had misunderstood the object of these reservations, for
their demands in this respect were utterly out of the question.
After a prolonged discussion with them, I consulted with the
Lieutenant-Governor, and determined to let them at once understand
the terms that I was prepared to offer and I pointed out that the
terms offered were those which would receive Her Majesty's consent.
On further explanation of the subject, the Indians appeared to be
satisfied, and willing to acquiesce in our arrangements as
hereinafter mentioned, and having given them diagrams showing the
size of the lots they would individually become possessed of, and
having informed them of the amount of their annuity, it was finally
settled that they should meet on Monday, the 31st and acquaint me
with their decision.
The reserves will comprise sufficient land to give each family of
five persons one hundred and sixty acres, or in like proportion
together with an annual payment in perpetuity of twelve dollars
for each family of five persons, or in like proportion.
As far as I can judge, I am inclined to think that the Indians will
accept these terms.
I am happy to be able to say that the precautions taken to prevent
the introduction of liquor amongst the Indians have been wholly
successful, and that perfect order and contentment have prevailed
up to the present time.
I have etc.
WEMYSS M. SIMPSON,
Indian Commissioner.
The Honorable
The Secretary of State for the Provinces,
Ottawa.
OTTAWA, November 3rd, 1871.
TO THE HONORABLE
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE PROVINCES,
Ottawa
Sir,--I have the honor to submit to you, for the information of
His Excellency the Governor-General, a report of my negotiations
with the Indians of the Province of Manitoba, and with certain of
the Indians of the North-West Territory, entered upon by me, in
accordance with your instructions, dated 3rd May, 1871.
Having, in association with S. J. Dawson, Esq., and Robert Pether,
Esq., effected a preliminary arrangement with the Indians of Rainy
Lake, the particulars of which I have already had the honor of
reporting to you in my Report, dated July 11th, 1871, I proceeded
by the Lake of the Woods and Dawson Road to Fort Garry, at which
place I arrived on the 16th July.
Bearing in mind your desire that I should confer with the
Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, I called upon Mr. Archibald, and
learned from him that the Indians were anxiously awaiting my
arrival, and were much excited on the subject of their lands being
occupied without attention being first given to their claims for
compensation. Amongst the settlers, also, an uneasy feeling
existed, arising partly from the often-repeated demands of the
Indians for a treaty with themselves, and partly from the fact that
certain settlers in the neighborhood of Portage la Prairie and
other parts of the Province, had been warned by the Indians not to
cut wood or otherwise take possession of the lands upon which they
were squatting. The Indians, it appeared, consented to their
remaining on their holdings until sufficient time had been allowed
for my arrival, and the conclusion of a treaty; but they were
unwilling to allow the settlers the free use of the country for
themselves or their cattle. Mr. Archibald and those residents in
the Province of Manitoba with whom I conversed on the subject,
appeared to think that no time should be lost in meeting the
Indians, as some assurances had already been given them that a
treaty would be made with them during the summer of 1871; and I
therefore, at once, issued notices calling certain of the Indians
together, naming two places at which I would meet them. The first
meeting, to which were asked the Indians of the Province and
certain others on the eastern side, was to be held on the 25th of
July, at the Stone Fort, a Hudson's Bay Company's Post, situated
on the Red River, about twenty miles northward of Fort Garry--a
locality chosen as being the most central for those invited. The
second meeting was appointed to be held on August 17th, at Manitoba
Post, a Hudson's Bay Company's Post, at the north-west extremity of
Lake Manitoba, as it was deemed that such of the bands of Indians
residing without the limits of the Province of Manitoba, as I
purposed to deal with at present, would meet there more readily
than elsewhere.
On Monday, the 24th of July, I met the Lieutenant-Governor of
Manitoba at the Stone Fort; but negotiations were unavoidably
delayed, owing to the fact that only one band of Indians had
arrived, and that until all were on the spot those present declined
to discuss the subject of a treaty, except in an informal manner.
Amongst these, as amongst other Indians with whom I have come in
contact, there exists great jealousy of one another, in all matters
relating to their communications with the officials of Her Majesty;
and in order to facilitate the object in view, it was most
desirable that suspicion and jealousy of all kinds should be
allayed. The fact of the Commissioner having arrived was sufficient
evidence of the good intentions of Her Majesty's Government, and it
seemed better to await the arrival of all whom I had summoned, than
to press matters to an issue while any were absent. This, however,
entailed the necessity of feeding those who were already there, and
others as they arrived.
It is customary in dealing with Indians to do so, and in this case
it was absolutely necessary, for, obviously, it would have been
impossible to invite those people from a distance, and then leave
them to starve at our doors, or, in search of food, to plunder the
neighborhood into which they had been introduced. At that season of
the year the Indians were not engaged in fishing or hunting, and
consequently large numbers of men, women and children attended at
the place of meeting, for all of whom food was provided. The price
of provisions, even at the lowest price for which they could be
obtained, was high, pork being fifty dollars a barrel, and flour
twenty shillings sterling per hundred, and such cattle as I was
able to purchase L16 per head, so that the expense of keeping
the Indians during the negotiation of treaty and payment of the
gratuity, which lasted eleven days, forms no small share of the
total expenditure. In addition to this expense, it was thought
necessary by the Lieutenant-Governor that Major Irvine commanding
the troops at Fort Garry should be requested to furnish a guard at
the Stone Fort during the negotiations, and that there should be at
hand, also, a force of constabulary, for the purpose of preventing
the introduction of liquor amongst the Indian encampments. Other
expenses of a somewhat similar nature were incurred, which would be
totally unnecessary upon any future occasion of payment being made
to the Indians of Manitoba. I may here refer to the apparently
prolonged duration of the first negotiation, and explain, in
reference thereto, the causes, or some of them, that entailed the
loss of time and attendant expense. For some time a doubt has
existed whether the Chief, nominally at the head of the Indians of
the Indian settlement, possessed the good will and confidence of
that band; and I thought it advisable to require that the several
bands of Indians should select such Chiefs as they thought proper,
and present these men as their authorized Chiefs, before anything
was said as to the terms of a treaty. The Indians having acquiesced
in this proposal, forthwith proceeded to such election; but the
proceeding apparently involved discussion and consideration amongst
themselves, and two days elapsed before the men chosen were
presented for recognition, and the business of the meeting
commenced.
When the peculiar circumstances surrounding the position of the
Indians of the Province were pointed out, the future of the country
predicted, and the views and intentions of the Government explained
by the Lieutenant-Governor and myself, the Indians professed a
desire for time to think over what had been said before making any
reply; and when their answer came it proved to contain demands of
such an exorbitant nature, that much time was spent in reducing
their terms to a basis upon which an arrangement could be made.
Every band had its spokesman in addition to its Chief, and each
seemed to vie with another in the dimensions of their requirements.
I may mention, as an illustration, that in the matter of reserves,
the quantity of land demanded for each band amounted to about three
townships per Indian, and included the greater part of the settled
portions of the Province. It was not until the 3rd of August, or
nine days after the first meeting, that the basis of arrangement
was arrived at, upon which is founded the treaty of that date.
Then, and by means of mutual concessions, the following terms were
agreed upon. For the cession of the country described in the treaty
referred to, and comprising the Province of Manitoba, and certain
country in the north-east thereof, every Indian was to receive a
sum of three dollars a year in perpetuity, and a reserve was to he
set apart for each band, of sufficient size to allow one hundred
and sixty acres to each family of five persons, or in like
proportion as the family might be greater or less than five. As
each Indian settled down upon his share of the reserve, and
commenced the cultivation of his land, he was to receive a plough
and harrow. Each Chief was to receive a cow and a male and female
of the smaller kinds of animals bred upon a farm. There was to be
a bull for the general use of each reserve. In addition to this,
each Chief was to receive a dress, a flag and a medal, as marks of
distinction; and each Chief, with the exception of Bozawequare, the
Chief of the Portage band, was to receive a buggy, or light spring
waggon. Two councillors and two braves of each band were to receive
a dress, somewhat inferior to that provided for the Chiefs, and
the braves and councillors of the Portage band excepted, were to
receive a buggy. Every Indian was to receive a gratuity of three
dollars, which, though given as a payment for good behaviour, was
to be understood to cover all dimensions for the past.
On this basis the treaty was signed by myself and the several Chiefs,
on behalf of themselves and their respective bands, on the 3rd of
August, 1871, and on the following day the payment commenced.
The three dollars gratuity, above referred to, will not occur in
the ordinary annual payments to the Indians of Manitoba, and,
though doubling the amount paid this year, may now properly be
regarded as belonging to a previous year, but only now liquidated.
A large number of Indians, entitled to share in the treaty, were
absent on the 3rd August, and in the belief that I should, almost
immediately, be able to obtain a more accurate knowledge than I
possessed of the numbers of the several bands, I paid to each
person present only three dollars--the gratuity--postponing for
a short time the first annual payment. Having completed this
disbursement, I prepared to start for Manitoba Post, to open
negotiations with the Indians on the immediate north and north-west
borders of the Province of Manitoba, promising however to visit the
several bands of the first treaty, in their own districts, and to
there pay them. By this means the necessity for their leaving their
own homes, and for the Government's feeding them while they were
being paid, and during their journey home, was avoided.
After completing the treaty at Manitoba Post, of which mention
is herein after made, I visited Portage la Prairie, the Indian
settlement at St. Peter's, Riviere Marais, and the Town of
Winnipeg, according to my promise, and at each place, with the
exception of Riviere Marais, found the Indians satisfied with the
treaty and awaiting their payment. At Riviere Marais, which was
the rendezvous appointed by the bands living in the neighborhood
of Pembina, I found that the Indians had either misunderstood the
advice given them by parties in the settlement, well disposed
towards the treaty, or, as I have some reason to believe had become
unsettled by the representations made by persons in the vicinity
of Pembina, whose interests lay elsewhere than in the Province of
Manitoba; for, on my announcing my readiness to pay them, they
demurred at receiving their money until some further concessions
had been made by me.
With a view to inducing the Indians to adopt the habits and labors
of civilization, it had been agreed, at the signing of the treaty
as before mentioned, to give certain animals as a nucleus for
stocking the several reserves, together with certain farming
implements; and it was now represented to me by the spokesman of
the bands, that as the Queen had, with that kindness of heart which
distinguished her dealings with her red children, expressed a
desire to see the Indians discard their former precarious mode of
living and adopt the agricultural pursuits of the white man, they
were desirous of acceding to the wish of their great Mother, and
were now prepared to receive the gifts she had been good enough to
speak of, through her Commissioner, in full. But, as it could make
no difference whatever to their great Mother whether these things
were given in kind or in money value, her red children of the
Pembina bands were resolved to receive them in the latter form.
I had put a valuation upon all the articles mentioned in the
supplement to the treaty, and could go no further in the matter
unless I was prepared to pay them for all these articles at the
rates they would now proceed to mention. I declined to comply
with the request, and they declined to receive their first annual
payment, whereupon I broke up my camp and returned to Winnipeg. As
I foresaw at the time this determination on their part was shortly
repented, and a number of their leading men were subsequently paid
at Winnipeg, while at the request of the Indians, the money for the
remainder, together with a pay sheet, was forwarded to the officer
in charge of the Hudson's Bay Company's Post at Pembina, with
instructions to pay the Indians as per list as each might present
himself. At Portage la Prairie, although the number paid at the
Stone Fort was largely increased, there still remained many who,
from absence or other causes, were not paid, and by the request of
the Chief the money was left for these with the officers in charge
of the Hudson's Bay Company's Post, in the same manner as was done
for the Pembina bands.
As I was unable to proceed to Fort Alexander, the payments for the
Indians or for such of them as were present at the signing of the
treaty, were sent in like manner to the officer in charge of the
Hudson's Bay Company's Post at Fort Alexander; but it may be as
well to mention that the number so paid will fall far short of the
total number belonging to that place. The latter remark will apply
to the Pembina band, for their payment was sent as per gratuity
list, and there must necessarily have been others who did not
receive payment. All these must receive their back payments during
the course of next year.
During the payment of the several bands, it was found that in some,
and most notably in the Indian settlement and Broken Head River
Band, a number of those residing among the Indians, and calling
themselves Indians, are in reality half-breeds, and entitled to
share in the land grant under the provisions of the Manitoba Act.
I was most particular, therefore, in causing it to be explained,
generally and to individuals, that any person now electing to be
classed with Indians, and receiving the Indian pay and gratuity,
would, I believed, thereby forfeit his or her right to another
grant as a half-breed; and in all cases where it was known that
a man was a half-breed, the matter, as it affected himself and
his children, was explained to him, and the choice given him to
characterize himself. A very few only decided upon taking their
grants as half-breeds. The explanation of this apparent sacrifice
is found in the fact that the mass of these persons have lived all
their lives on the Indian reserves (so called), and would rather
receive such benefits as may accrue to them under the Indian
treaty, than wait the realization of any value in their half-breed
grant.
The Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba having expressed a desire to
be present at the negotiation of the treaty at Manitoba Post. His
Honor, accompanied by the Hon. James McKay, proceeded thither
with me, in company with Mr. Molyneux St. John, the Clerk of the
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, who had assisted me in the duties
connected with the former treaty and payments. I left Winnipeg on
the 13th August, but owing to adverse winds on Lake Manitoba did
not arrive until two days after the time appointed. I found that,
in the meanwhile, the officer in charge of the Hudson's Bay
Company's Post had been obliged to give some provisions to the
Indians pending my arrival, but on my speaking to the leading men
of the bands assembled, it was evident that the Indians of this
part had no special demands to make, but having a knowledge of the
former treaty, desired to be dealt with in the same manner and on
the same terms as those adopted by the Indians of the Province of
Manitoba.
The negotiation with these bands therefore occupied little time and
on the 21st August, 1871, a treaty was concluded by which a tract
of country three times as large as the Province of Manitoba was
surrendered by the Indians to the Crown. Payment in full, that is
to say, the gratuity and the first payment, was at once made; and
I have since written to the officers in charge of the Hudson's Bay
Company's Posts within the tract above referred to, requesting them
to procure for me a reliable census of the Indians, parties to this
treaty.
I have referred to the cost of effecting these treaties, and
remarked that it will prove to be exceptional. It may be regarded
as entirely so, as far as the Indians with whom the dealings were
held are concerned. In the future the annual payment will be only
one-half to each Indian of the amount paid this year, for the
gratuity was the same as the payment, and the heavy expense of
feeding the Indians while at the place of meeting and on their
journey home, will be avoided by the payment being made at or near
their own reserves.
All the collateral expenses, therefore, of this year, including
dresses, medals, presents to the Indians, etc., etc., will not
appear in the expenses attending during future payments.
But it is to be remembered that a large number of Indians, whose
lands were ceded by the second treaty, were not present. The
distance from the hunting grounds of some to Manitoba Post is
very great; but while their absence was to be regretted for some
reasons, it effected a very considerable saving in the item of
provisions.
During the ensuing season, these persons will probably be found at
the place where the payments will be made, and will then require
their payments as if they had been present at the signing of the
treaty.
Of the land ceded in the Province of Manitoba, it will be hardly
necessary for me to speak, as His Excellency the Governor-General
is already in possession of accurate information touching its
fertility and resources; but I may observe that, valuable as are
these lands, they are fully equalled if not exceeded by the country
of which the Government now comes into possession by virtue of
the treaty concluded at Manitoba Post. Already settlers from the
Provinces in Canada and elsewhere are pushing their way beyond the
limits of the Province of Manitoba; and there is nothing but the
arbitrary limits of that Province, and certain wood and water
advantages found in the territory beyond it, to distinguish one
part of the country from the other. The fertility that is possessed
by Manitoba is shared by the country and its confines. The water
courses of the Province are excelled by those of the territory; and
the want of wood which threatens serious difficulty in the one is
by no means so apparent in the other.
The Indians of both parts have a firm belief in the honor and
integrity of Her Majesty's representatives, and are fully impressed
with the idea that the amelioration of their present condition
is one of the objects of Her Majesty in making these treaties.
Although many years will elapse before they can be regarded as a
settled population--settled in the sense of following agricultural
pursuits--the Indians have already shown a disposition to provide
against the vicissitudes of the chase by cultivating small patches
of corn and potatoes. Moreover, in the Province of Manitoba, where
labor is scarce, Indians give great assistance in gathering in the
crops. At Portage la Prairie, both Chippawas and Sioux were largely
employed in the grain field; and in other parishes I found many
farmers whose employes were nearly all Indians.
Although serious trouble has from time to time occurred across the
boundary line, with Indians of the same tribes, and indeed of the
same bands as those in Manitoba, there is no reason to fear any
trouble with those who regard themselves as subjects of Her
Majesty. Their desire is to live at peace with the white man, to
trade with him, and, when they are disposed, to work for him; and I
believe that nothing but gross injustice or oppression will induce
them either to forget the allegiance which they now claim with
pride, or molest the white subjects of the sovereign whom they
regard as their Supreme Chief.
The system of an annual payment in money I regard as a good one,
because the recipient is enabled to purchase just what he requires
when he can get it most cheaply, and it also enables him to buy
articles at second hand, from settlers and others, that are quite
as useful to him as are the same things when new. The sum of three
dollars does not appear to be large enough to enable an Indian to
provide himself with many of his winter necessaries; but as he
receives the same amount for his wife or wives, and for each of his
children, the aggregate sum is usually sufficient to procure many
comforts for his family which he would otherwise be compelled to
deny himself.
* * * * *
I take this opportunity of acknowledging the assistance afforded
me in successfully completing the two treaties, to which I have
referred, by His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, the
Hon. James McKay, and the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company. In
a country where transport and all other business facilities are
necessarily so scarce, the services rendered to the Government by
the officers in charge of the several Hudson's Bay Posts has been
most opportune and valuable.
I have, etc.,
WEMYSS M. SIMPSON,
Indian Commissioner.