The Treaties of Canada with the Indians of Manitoba and the North-West Territories Part 37

KEE-JEE-GO-KAY. " x "

SHA-SHA-GANCE. " x "

SHAH-WIN-NA-BI-NAIS. " x "

AY-ASH-A-WASH. " x "

PAY-AH-BEE-WASH. " x "

RAH-TAY-TAY-PA-O-CUTCH. " x "

Signed by the Chiefs within named in presence of the following witnesses, the same having been first read and explained by the Honorable James McKay:--

(Signed) JAMES McKAY.

MOLYNEUX ST. JOHN.

ROBERT PITHER.

CHRISTINE V. K. MORRIS.

CHARLES NOLIN.

A. McDONALD, Captain commanding escort to Lieutenant-Governor.

JAMES F. GRAHAM.

JOSEPH NOLIN.

A. McLEOD.

GEORGE McPHERSON, SEN.

SEDLEY BLANCHARD.

W. FRED. BUCHANAN.

FRANK G. BECHER.

ALFRED CODD, M.D.

GORDON S. CORBAULT.

PIERRE LEVIELLER.

NICHOLAS CHATELAINE.

We hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original articles of treaty of which it purports to be a copy.

(Signed) ALEXANDER MORRIS, Lieutenant-Governor.

J. A. N. PROVENCHER, Indian Commissioner.

S. J. DAWSON, Indian Commissioner.

We having had communication of the treaty, certified copy whereof is hereto annexed, but not having been at the Councils held at the north-west angle of the Lake of the Woods, between Her Majesty's Commissioners, and the several Indian Chiefs and others therein named, at which the articles of the said treaty were agreed upon, hereby, for ourselves and the several bands of Indians which we represent, in consideration of the provisions of the said treaty being extended to us and the said bands which we represent, transfer, surrender and relinquish to Her Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors, to and for the use of her Dominion of Canada, all our right, t.i.tle and privilege whatsoever, which we, the said Chiefs, and the said bands which we represent, have held, or enjoy, of, in and to the territory, described and fully set out in the said articles of treaty and every part thereof, to have and to hold the same unto the use of Her said Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors for ever.

And we hereby agree to accept the several provisions, payments and reserves of the said treaty as therein stated, and solemnly promise and engage to abide by, carry out and fulfil all the stipulations, obligations and conditions therein contained, on the part of the said Chiefs and Indians therein named to be observed and performed, and in all things to conform to the articles of the said treaty, as if we our selves, and the bands which we represent had been originally contracting parties thereto, and had been present and attached our signatures to the said treaty.

In witness whereof, Her Majesty's said Commissioners and the said Indian Chiefs have hereunto subscribed and set their hands, this thirteenth day of October, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.

For and on behalf of the Commissioners, the Honorable Alexander Morris, Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories, Joseph Albert Norbert Provencher, Esq., and the undersigned:

(Signed) S. J. DAWSON, Commissioner.

PAY-BA-MA-CHAS. His x mark.

RE-BA-QUIN. " x "

ME-TAS-SO-QUE-NE-s.k.a.n.k. " x "

Signed by S. J. Dawson, Esq., one of Her Majesty's said Commissioners, for and on behalf, and with the authority and consent of the Honorable Alexander Morris, Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories, and J. A. N. Provencher, Esq., the remaining two Commissioners, and himself, and by the Chiefs within named on behalf of themselves and the several bands which they represent, the same and the annexed certified copy of articles of treaty having been first read and explained in presence of the following witnesses:

(Signed) THOS. A. P. TOWERS.

JOHN AITKEN.

A. J. McDONALD.

UNZZAKI.

JAS. LOGANOSH, His x mark, PINLLSISE.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER DAWSON

OTTAWA, 26th December, 1873.

Sir,--I beg leave to inform you that, after the treaty had been concluded with certain bands of the Saulteaux tribe of the Ojibbeway Indians, at the north-west angle of the Lake of the Woods, by arrangements made with my a.s.sociate Commissioners, His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories, and Mr. Provencher, I came eastward and convened the leading people of the remaining bands at Shebandowan where they also, through their Chiefs, accepted and signed the treaty.

I have much satisfaction in saying that these Indians were most friendly in their bearing, and desired me to convey to the Government their cordial expressions of loyalty to their Great Mother, Her Majesty the Queen.

They took some time to deliberate over the provisions of the treaty and asked me occasionally to explain certain pa.s.sages, more especially those in relation to the reserves.

Before signing it they comprehended perfectly the nature of the obligations into which they were about to enter, that the surrender of their territorial rights would be irrevocable, and that they were to stand forever afterwards in new relations to the white man.

This, the Chiefs themselves stated with great solemnity to their people, in short but impressive speeches, as they each in turn advanced to touch the pen.

One cause of delay at the Lake of the Woods arose from the circ.u.mstance of there being a number of aspirants to the office of Chief; but at Shebandowan I had no such difficulty, for the whole of the bands east of the narrows of Rainy Lake, are under three princ.i.p.al Chiefs, whose authority is unquestioned.

The names of these Chiefs and their respective districts are as follows:

Pay-ba-ma-chas, Chief of the country intervening between the narrows of Rainy Lake and Sturgeon Falls, and of the region drained by the River Seine and its tributary streams, between the latter place (Sturgeon Falls) and Lac des Mille Lacs. This is a very extensive district, and in it are many valuable groves of pine.

Ke-ba-quin, Chief of the region intervening between the present line of the Red River route and the United States boundary line, east of Rainy Lake and west of the height of land. The gold bearing country is in this Chief's district.

Metas-so-que-nes-hauk, Chief of Lac des Mille Lacs and the district to the north, lying along the height of land between that lake and the waters of the Nipegon and Lac Seul. This Chief is a very intelligent man, and has already begun, to make his people clear land and grow crops.

Each of these three princ.i.p.al Chiefs will have a staff of Lieutenants or subordinate Chiefs, not exceeding three to their respective bands, as provided for in the treaty but they preferred not to name them at once, saying that the selection was a matter of some delicacy to them, and requiring a little time.

In regard to the reserves provided for in the treaty, I shall as soon as possible submit a scheme which I think will meet the circ.u.mstances, and at the same time draw attention to some experience gained in negotiating with these Indians, which may be of use in similar negotiations in the future.

[Footnote: In 1874 Mr. Dawson and Mr. Pither were appointed to meet the Indians and arrange the position of the reserves, which they did; but subsequently, the Indians claiming that they had not fully understood the exact location or extent of some of the reserves, Colonel Dennis, then Surveyor-General, now Deputy Minister of the Interior, was instructed to visit the Indians comprised in Treaty Number Three, and finally adjust the question of reserves. Colonel Dennis undertook this duty in 1875 and satisfactorily arranged a scheme of reserves for the different bands of the Lake of the Woods.

Colonel Dennis submitted a comprehensive report of the results of his mission, and suggested the appointment of sub-agents, the fixing of a specific day for payment to the Indians of their annuities in each agency district, that the necessary funds and the articles for distribution should be provided and in the agents' hands in good time.

He advised that the local agents should have some practical knowledge of agriculture, as he believed that the Indians would succeed in raising quant.i.ties of stock, though the character of the country prevented their general success as farmers. He suggested further the erection of halls at each agency and the employment of young Indians by the builders entrusted with their construction, "as they are so quick in perception and handy in the use of tools that they would speedily become very expert." The author regrets that he did not obtain communication of this valuable report until this work had advanced too far to admit of its being incorporated with it.]

The copy of the treaty signed by these Chiefs is enclosed herewith and to it is attached a doc.u.ment signed by the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories, and Mr. Provencher, empowering me to act for them in their absence, in their capacity of Indian Commissioners.

I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) S. J. DAWSON.

THE HONORABLE THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR, Ottawa.

ADHESION OF LAC SEUL INDIANS

LAC SEUL, 9th June, 1874.

We, the Chiefs and Councillors of Lac Seul, Seul, Trout and Sturgeon Lakes, subscribe and set our marks, that we and our followers will abide by the articles of the treaty made and concluded with the Indians at the north-west angle of the Lake of the Woods, on the third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, between Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, by Her Commissioners, Hon. Alexander Morris, Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories, Joseph Albert, N. Provencher and Simon J.

Dawson, of the one part, and the Saulteaux tribes of Ojibewa Indians, inhabitants of the country as defined by the Treaty aforesaid.