THE SIOUX IN THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES
Much interest has been awakened with regard to this warlike race,
owing to recent events; namely, the war between them and the United
States, the destruction by them of Captain Custer's command, and
their subsequent flight into British territory, and now prolonged
sojourn therein.
Prior, however, to this irruption, a portion of the Sioux tribe of
American Indians, took refuge in the Red River settlement, after
the massacre of the whites by the Indians in Minnesota, in the year
1862. Their arrival caused great consternation in the settlement.
The main body took up a position at Sturgeon Creek, about six miles
from Fort Garry, now the City of Winnipeg, and others, at Poplar
Point, and the Turtle Mountain. The Governor and Council of
Assiniboia then governed the Province of Assiniboia, under the
Hudson's Bay Company, and was composed of representative men.
Their deliberations were grave and anxious. In December, 1863,
the Governor-in-Chief, Mr. Dallas, reported to the Council, that
he had visited the principal camp of the Sioux at Sturgeon Creek,
and found there about five hundred men, women and children,
and more had since arrived; that he had found them in great
destitution and suffering, from want of food and clothing, and
that after consultation with Governor Mactavish, of the Province
of Assiniboia, he had offered sufficient provisions to enable them
to remove to such a distance from the settlement as would place
it beyond all danger and apprehension, and also offered to have
the provisions conveyed for them, and ammunition supplied them to
procure game, but they had positively refused to go away--giving
as a reason the inability of the old men, women and children, to
travel in the winter. The Governor was in consequence authorized
by the Council, to offer them the means of transport, for those
who were unable to walk. The Indians then removed to White Horse
Plains, a distance of twenty miles only from Fort Garry, and camped
there. A supply of food was given them, but no ammunition. The
United States military authorities in December, 1863, sent an envoy
to see the Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land, and the North-West
Territories, with a view to ordering the Sioux to return to United
States territory. The Governor was assured, that, though the
American authorities would punish such of the Sioux as had actually
been engaged in the massacre, they would furnish the innocent with
all needful supplies of food and clothing for the winter, in the
event of giving themselves up peaceably. The Council, on hearing
this statement, authorized the granting permission to the American
authorities to enter into negotiations with the Sioux in the
territories, on condition that they adopted no aggressive measures
against them, and that in the event of the Americans accepting the
proposed permission, they should protect themselves by a sufficient
guard to preclude the danger of attack from the Indians, and to
ensure the preservation of peace.
In January, 1864, the Council considered a despatch from Major
Hatch, in command of the American forces, representing that on the
approach of spring, he apprehended a renewal of the barbarous
scenes of 1862 and 1863, and asked authority to cross the national
boundaries and pursue and capture the murderers, wherever they
might be found. The Council accorded the permission asked, but it
was never acted on. It is not likely that a permission to cross our
borders in pursuit of a flying enemy would ever again be granted.
It was conceded in exceptional circumstances by an irresponsible
Government, but the growth of the Dominion of Canada has been such,
and its relations to the empire have become so intimate, that it
would not in my judgment be granted, if at all, except in concert
with the Imperal Government. The Governor also reported to the
Council, that the main body of the Sioux on the Missouri in the
United States had sent him a message asking his advice as to making
peace with the Americans, and expressing a desire to visit Red
River in spring, and that he had advised the Sioux to make peace
with the Americans, as otherwise, the war would be renewed with
increased vigor next summer. He had also counselled them not to
visit the Red River country. The Council warned the Sioux not to
visit the settlement, but in the summer of 1866, the advice was
disregarded. A band of Sioux came to Fort Garry and were leaving
quietly, with a number of Saulteaux, but when about a mile from the
Fort they were attacked by a band of Red Lake Saulteaux Indians,
who had just come into the settlement from the United States and
five of them were shot. The remainder fled for their lives.
The Council apprehended that the Sioux might congregate in force,
and a collision take place between the Sioux and the Saulteaux, and
therefore authorized the formation of a body of from fifty to one
hundred mounted armed men from among the settlers, to prevent the
Sioux from coming into the settlement. Fortunately they did not
return and a collision was avoided.
In 1866, the American authorities again opened up communications
with the Governor and Council of Assiniboia, through Colonel Adams,
who intimated that he had been authorized by Brevet Major-General
Corse, commanding the District of Minnesota, "to use every possible
means to induce the hostile Sioux to surrender themselves at Fort
Abercrombie, and to grant them protection and entire absolution for
all past offences in the event of giving themselves up," and asking
the aid of the Council, to endeavor to influence the Sioux to
accede to the proposals he made. The Council accordingly authorized
Judge Black and Mr. McClure to communicate to the Chiefs of the
Sioux, the letter of Colonel Adams, and endeavor to induce them to
accept of it, and to supply them with what provisions might be
necessary to carry the Sioux to Fort Abercrombie.
All efforts having that end in view failed, and the Sioux remained,
some in the Province of Assiniboia, and others in the territories
beyond. As time went on, in 1870, the country passed under the rule
of Canada, and when the Government of Canada was established in the
Province of Manitoba, which included the district of Assiniboia,
the Sioux were found living quietly in tents, in the parishes of
Poplar Point, High Bluff, and Portage la Prairie, in what became
the new Province of Manitoba. Immigrants from Ontario, had begun to
settle in that section of the Province, and the settlement rapidly
increased.
The Sioux were found very useful, and were employed as labourers,
cutting grain, making fence-rails, and ploughing for the settlers.
They also endeavored to gain a subsistence, by killing game and
fur-bearing animals, and by fishing. They frequently applied to
Lieut.-Gov. Archibald, to be allowed to settle on a reserve, where
they might support themselves by farming, a step which that officer
favored. In 1873, they renewed the application to his successor,
Lieut.-Gov. Morris, who having obtained authority to do so,
promised to give them a reserve; upwards of one hundred of these
Sioux, resident within Manitoba, having waited upon him, and
represented "that they had no homes or means of living," and asked
for land and agricultural implements.
They were informed, that the case was exceptional, and that what
would be done, would be as a matter of grace and not of right,
which they admitted. They were also told that the reserve would be
for themselves alone, and that the Sioux now in the States must
remain there. A reserve was proposed to them on Lake Manitoba, but
they were unwilling to go there, being afraid of the Saulteaux, and
especially the Red Lake Saulteaux.
It is satisfactory to state, that after the treaty at the
North-West Angle, the Saulteaux having become bound to live at
peace with all people under Canadian authority, sent the aged Chief
Kou-croche to see the Lieutenant-Governor at Fort Garry, to
acquaint him of their desire to make peace with the Sioux. The
Chief said the words he had heard at the Angle were good, he had
promised to live at peace with all men, and he now wished to make
friends with the Sioux. The distrust between the two tribes had
been great, owing to past events. At the Angle, but for the
presence of the troops, the Chippewas would have fled, it having
been circulated among them, that the Sioux were coming to attack
them. Permission was given to the Chief to pay his visit to the
Sioux, and messengers were sent to them, in advance, to explain the
object of his visit.
The result of the interview was satisfactory, and the ancient feud
was buried. In 1874, two reserves were allotted the Sioux, one on
the Assiniboine River, at Oak River, and another still further
west, at Bird Tail Creek. These reserves were surveyed, the former
containing eight thousand and the latter seven thousand acres.
Settlements, were commenced, on both reserves, and cattle, seed and
agricultural implements were supplied to them. In 1875, the
Lieutenant-Governor finding that a large number still continued
their nomadic life, in the vicinity of Poplar Point and Portage la
Prairie, visited them, and obtained their promise to remove to the
reserves--which the majority eventually did. Kenneth Mackenzie,
Esq., M.P.P., a very successful farmer from Ontario, who had
largely employed Sioux laborers, kindly agreed to visit the
Assiniboine reserve and direct them from time to time as to the
agricultural operations. The Church of England undertook the
establishment of a mission and erected buildings there, while the
Presbyterians opened a mission at Bird Tail Creek, and obtained the
services of a native ordained Sioux minister, from the Presbytery
of Dakotah. The number of these Sioux is estimated at about fifteen
hundred. Both settlements give promise of becoming self-sustaining,
and in view of the rapid settlement of the country, some disposition
of them had become necessary.
During their sojourn of thirteen years on British territory, these
Indians have on the whole, been orderly, and there was only one
grave crime committed among them, under peculiar circumstances--the
putting to death of one of their number, which was done under their
tribal laws. An indictment was laid before the Grand Jury of
Manitoba, and a true bill found against those concerned in this
affair, but the chief actors in the tragedy fled. Had they been
tried, their defence would probably have been that the act was
committed in self-defence. The slain man having, as the Chief
represented, killed one of the tribe, cruelly assaulted another,
and threatened the lives of others. When the war broke out between
the Sioux and the American Government, the American Sioux,
endeavored to induce those in Canadian territory to join them,
but they refused. Precautionary measures were however taken, and
messengers sent to them, by the Lieutenant-Governor, to warn
them against taking any part. They disclaimed all intention to
do so, and said they meant to live peacefully, being grateful
for the kindness with which they had been treated. Besides these
Manitoban Sioux, there were two other bands in the North-West
Territories--one at Turtle Mountains, and another large party
in the bounds of the Qu'Appelle Treaty. In 1876 the latter sent
their Chiefs to see Lieut.-Gov. Morris and the Hon. Mr. Laird, at
Qu'Appelle, and asked to be assigned a home. They were told that
their case would be represented to the Canadian authorities. In
1877, the Sioux at the Turtle Mountains, sent two deputations to
the Lieutenant-Governor, to ask for a reserve in that region. They
said they had lived for fifteen years in British territory, they
wanted land to be given them and implements to cultivate the soil,
and seed to sow, and scythes and sickles to reap their grain, and
some cattle.
They were told that they had no claim on the Queen, as they were
not British Indians, unless she chose to help them out of her
benevolence. This they cheerfully admitted, but hoped that they
would be helped. They were further informed, that if a reserve was
granted them, it could not be near the boundary line as they
wished, and that they must avoid all interference with the American
trouble with their nation. This they willingly promised and said
"they had already taken care to have nothing to do with the
matter." These Sioux were very intelligent and superior Indians,
and were well dressed. A reserve was subsequently allotted to them
in the year 1876, in the vicinity of Oak Lake, about fifty miles
due north of Turtle Mountains, allowing them the same quantity of
land, which had been given the Manitoba Sioux, viz., 80 acres to
each band of five persons, and they will doubtless follow the
example of their brethren on the other two reserves. With regard to
the Sioux to whom reserves have been assigned, the then Minister of
the Interior, the Hon. David Mills, thus reported in 1877: "The
report of the Deputy Superintendent-General in 1877 gives some
details respecting the operations of the Manitoba Sioux on their
reserves, during the past year. He says: 'Upon the whole, they
appear to have made fair progress in cultivating the land, and
their prospects for the future, had they the advice and assistance
of some good farmers, for a few years, would be encouraging.
Indeed, the Sioux generally, who are resident in Canada, appear to
be more intelligent, industrious, and self-reliant, than the other
Indian bands in the North West.'"
While the authorities were thus successfully dealing with the
problem of how to provide a future for these wandering Sioux, a
grave difficulty presented itself by the incursion into the
North-West Territories of a large body of American Sioux (supposed
to be under the lead of what is now an historic name, the Sitting
Bull), who had fled from the American troops. The Minister of the
Interior, the Hon. David Mills, in 1877, thus alluded to this
difficult subject:
"The presence of Sitting Bull and his warriors in Canada is a
source of anxiety both to the Government of Canada and the United
States. These Indians harbor feelings of fierce hostility towards,
and thorough distrust of, the United States people and Government.
These feelings may be traced to two principal causes, the
dishonesty of Indian agents and the failure of the Federal
authorities to protect the Indian reservations from being taken
possession of by an adventurous and somewhat lawless white
population. The officers of the North-West Mounted Police have been
instructed to impress upon Sitting Bull and his warriors the
necessity of keeping the peace towards the people of the United
States, and there is no reason for supposing they will not heed the
warnings which have been given them. It is not, however, desirable
to encourage them to remain on Canadian territory, and Col. McLeod
has been accordingly instructed to impress them with their probable
future hardships after the failure of the buffalo, should they
elect to remain in Canada; that the President of the United States
and his Cabinet are upright men, willing and anxious to do justice
to the Indians; and should they return peacefully they will be
properly cared for, and any treaty made with them will be honestly
fulfilled. It is desirable that as wards of the United States they
should return to that country, upon the Government of which morally
devolves the burden and the responsibility of their civilization."
The Sioux have since continued within the borders of Canada, and
the Minister of the Interior, Sir John Macdonald, reported in 1878,
"That it is only just to them to say, that they have behaved
remarkably well ever since they crossed into Canada." Their
presence in the North-West Territories has, however, been attended
and will be followed, in any event, by serious consequences. The
natural food supply of our Canadian Indians, the Crees, Chippewas,
Assiniboines and Blackfeet, of the Plain Country, viz., the
buffalo, was rapidly diminishing, and the advent of so large a body
of foreign Indians has precipitated its diminution, so that the
final extinction of the buffalo is fast drawing near. Already the
Government of Canada, in the discharge of a national obligation,
which has ever been recognized by all civilized authorities, has
been obliged to come to the aid of the Blackfeet and other Indians
to avert the danger and suffering from famine. The Sioux are
already feeling the hardships of their position, and it will tax
the skill and energies of the Government of Canada to provide a
remedy. Already, at the instance of the Hon. David Mills, then
Minister of the Interior (who visited Washington for the purpose),
an effort was made by the American Government to induce the Sioux
to return to their homes. Envoys were sent to them from the United
States, but they declined to accept the overtures made to them. On
the previous occasion of the flight into our territories of the
Sioux, the American Government, as has been before recited, after
an interval of nearly four years, offered them protection on their
return journey from British territory to their homes in the United
States and "entire absolution for all past offences". This forms a
precedent which should be invoked and would doubtless be accepted
by the Sioux if they can be induced to believe in the good faith of
the American Government towards them. Every effort should be made
to bring about so desirable a result, and the subject will
doubtless engage in the future, as it has done in the past, the
anxious consideration and wise action of the Canadian Government,
who have a right to appeal to the President of the United States
and his advisers, to relieve them from the incubus of the presence
in our territories of so many of the wards of that Government, and
who are without the means or opportunities of obtaining a
livelihood for themselves.