THE ROBINSON TREATIES.
I cannot do better, in giving information with regard to these
treaties, than simply to reproduce the Report of Mr. Robinson to
the Honorable Colonel Bruce, Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, in which he
describes the course of his negotiations and communicates their results. A copy of
the treaties
will be found in the Appendix. The Report is as follows:
TORONTO, 24th September, 1850.
Sir:—I have the honor herewith to transmit the Treaty which on the
part of the Government I was commissioned to negotiate with the tribes of
Indians inhabiting the northern shore of Lakes Huron and Superior ; and I
trust that the terms on which I succeeded in obtaining the surrender of all
the lands in question, with the exception of some small reservations made by
the Indians, may be considered satisfactory. They were such as I thought
it advisable to offer, in order that the matter might be finally settled, without
having any just grounds of complaint on the part of the Indians.
The Indians had been advised by certain interested parties to insist on
such extravagant terms as I felt it quite impossible to grant; and from the
fact that the American Government had paid very liberally for the land surrendered
by their Indians on the south side of Lake Superior, and that our
own in other parts of the country were in receipt of annuities much larger
than I offered, I had some difficulty in obtaining the assent of a few of the
chiefs to my proposition. ,
I explained to the chiefs in council the difference between the lands ceded
heretofore in this Province, and those then under consideration, they were
of good quality and sold readily at prices which enabled the Government to
be more liberal, they were also occupied by the whites in such a manner as
to preclude the possibility of the Indian hunting over or having access to
them: whereas the lands now ceded are notoriously barren and sterile, and
will in all probability never be settled except in a few localities by mining
companies, whose establishments among the Indians, instead of being prejudicial, would
prove of great benefit as they would afford a market for any
things they may have to sell, and bring provisions and stores of all kinds
among them at reasonable prices.
Neither did the British Government contemplate the removal of the
Indians from their present haunts to some (to them) unknown region in the
far West, as had been the case with their brethren on the American side.
I told them that the two chiefs who were In Toronto last winter (Shinguacouse and
Nebennigoebing) only asked the amount which the Government
had received for mining locations, after deducting the expenses attending
their sale. That amount was about eight thousand pounds which the Government would
pay them without any annuity or certainty of further benefit;
or one-half of it down, and an annuity of about one thousand pounds.
18 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
There were twenty-one chiefs present, about the same number of principal
men, and a large number of other Indians belonging to the different bands,
and they all preferred the latter proposition, though two of them (Shinguacouse and
Nebennigoebing) insisted on receiving an annuity equal to ten
dollars per head.
The chiefs from Lake Superior desired to treat separately for their territory and
said at once in council that they accepted my offer. I told them
that I would have the treaty ready on the following morning, and I immediately proceeded
to prepare it; and, as agreed upon, they signed it cheerfully
at the time appointed.
I then told the chiefs from Lake Huron (who were all present when the
others signed) that I should have a similar treaty ready for their signature,
the next morning, when those who signed it would receive their money ; and
that as a large majority of them had agreed to my terms I should abide by
them.
I accordingly prepared the treaty and proceeded on the morning of the
ninth instant to the council-room to have it formally executed in the presence of
proper witnesses—all the chiefs and others were present. I told them
I was then ready to receive their signatures; the two chiefs, Shinguacouse
and Nebennigoebing, repeated their demand of ten dollars a head by way of
annuity, and also insisted that I should insert in the treaty a condition
securing to some sixty half-breeds a free grant of one hundred acres of land
each. I told them they already had my answer as to a larger annuity, and
that I had no power to give them free grants of land. The other chiefs came
forward to sign the treaty and seeing this the two who had resisted up to this
time also came to the table and signed first, the rest immediately following.
I trust his Excellency will approve of my having concluded the treaty on
the basis of a small annuity and the immediate and final settlement of the
matter, rather than paying the Indians the full amount of all moneys on
hand, and a promise of accounting to them for future sales. The latter
course would have entailed much trouble on the Government, besides giving
an opportunity to evil disposed persons to make the Indians suspicious of
any accounts that might be furnished.
Believing that His Excellency and the Government were desirous of leaving the Indians
no just cause of complaint on their surrendering the extensive territory embraced
in the treaty ; and knowing there were individuals
who most assiduously endeavored to create dissatisfaction among them, I
inserted a clause securing to them certain prospective advantages should the
lands in question prove sufficiently productive at any future period to enable
the Government without loss to increase the annuity.
* This was so reason
The Robinson Treaties. 19ble and just that I had no difficulty in making them comprehend it, and it
in a great measure silenced the clamor raised by their evil advisers.Â
In allowing the Indians to retain reservations of land for their own use I
was governed by the fact that they in most cases asked for such tracts as they
had heretofore been in the habit of using for purposes of residence and cultivation,
and by securing these to them and the right of hunting and fishing
over the ceded territory, they cannot say that the Government takes from
their usual means of subsistence and therefore have no claims for support,
which they no doubt would have preferred, had this not been done. The
reservation at Garden River is the largest and perhaps of most value, but as
it is occupied by the most numerous band of Indians, and from its locality
(nine miles from the Sault) is likely to attract others to fit, I think it was
right to grant what they expressed a desire to retain. There are two mining
locations at this place, which should not be finally disposed of unless by the
full consent of Shinguacouse and his band; they are in the heart of the village and
shew no indications of mineral wealth, they are numbered 14 and
15 on the small map appended to Messrs. Anderson and Vidal's report. I
pledged my word on the part of the Government that the sale of these locations should
not be completed, and as the locatees have not, I believe, complied with the conditions
of the Crown Lands Department there can be no
difficulty in cancelling the transaction.
The chiefs are desirous that their several reservations should be marked
by proper posts or monuments, and I have told them the Government
would probably send some one next spring for that purpose. As I know
many of the localities I shall be able to give the necessary information when
required.
When at Sault Ste. Marie last May, I took measures for ascertaining as
nearly as possible the number of Indians inhabiting the north shore of the
two lakes; and was fortunate enough to get a very correct census, particularly of
Lake Superior. I found this information very useful at the council,
as it enabled me successfully to contradict the assertion (made by those who
were inciting the chiefs to resist my offers) that there were on Lake Superior
alone, eight thousand Indians. The number on that lake, including eighty-
four half-breeds, is only twelve hundred and forty—and on Lake Huron,
about fourteen hundred and twenty-two, including probably two-hundred
half-breeds; and when I paid the Indians they acknowledged they knew of
no other families than those on my list.
The number paid, as appears on the pay list, does not show the whole
strength of the different bands, as I was obliged at their own request to
omit some members of the very large families. I have annexed to this
Report the names of the chiefs, their localities, and number of souls in each
band as recognized by me in apportioning the money, thinking it will be useful when
paying the annuity hereafter.
This information may I believe be fully relied on for Lake Superior, but the
census for Lake Huron is not so perfect; and I would suggest that Captain
20 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
Ironside should be furnished with copies of that document and also of the
 pay-lists, in order that he may correct, in time, any errors that are found to
exist.  Â
 As the half-breeds at Sault Ste. Marie and other places may seek to be recognized
by the Government in future payments, it may be well that I should that
state here the answer that I gave to their demands on the present occasion.
I told them I came to treat with the chiefs who were present, that the money
would be paid to them—and their receipt was sufficient for me—that when
in their possession they might give as much or as little to that class of claimants
as they pleased. To this no one, not even their advisers, could object,
and I heard no more on the subject. At the earnest request of the chiefs
themselves I undertook the distribution of the money among their respective
bands, and all parties expressed themselves perfectly satisfied with my division of
their funds.
On my arrival at Penetanguishene I found the chiefs Yellowhead and
Snake, from Lake Simcoe, and Aissance, from Beausoleil's Island, waiting to
see me, to prefer their claim to a small tract of land between Penetanguishene and
the vicinity of the River Severn. I was aware of their intending on
to make such a claim and took the precaution of asking the chiefs assembledÂ
in council at the Sault whether it was well founded, they emphatically
declared that those chiefs had no claim on Lake Huron, that they had long
since ceded their lands and were in the receipt of a large annuity, this I
believe to be the case, and Captain Anderson, whom I met there, is of the same opinion;
but I promised to inquire into it and give them an answer,
and I will therefore thank you to cause the necessary information from your office
to be furnished to me on the subject. Should it appear that these chiefs have any
claim I think I could get their surrender of it for a small amount, and there remain
sufficient funds at my disposal for the purpose.
The Canadians resident on the lands just surrendered at Sault Ste. Marie
are very anxious to obtain titles to the land on which they have long resided
and made improvements; they applied to me after the treaty and I advised
them to memorialize the Government the usual way, setting forth the manner in which
they were put in possession by the military authorities of the
time, and that I had little doubt that the Government would do them justice. I think
the survey of the tract should be made so as to interfere as
little as possible with their respective clearings and that those who can show
a fair claim to the favorable consideration of the Government should be liberally
dealt with.
It will be seen on referring to the treaty that I have kept within the
amount at my disposal. Of the ÂŁ4,160 agreed by me to be paid to the
Indians of both lakes, there remains ÂŁ75 unexpended. I could not from the
information I possessed tell exactly the number of families I should have to
pay, and thought it prudent to reserve a small sum to make good any omissions, there
may still be a few who will prefer claims, though I know of
none at present. If not, the amount can be paid next year with the annuity
The Robinson Treaties. 21
to such families as are most deserving; or it may be properly applied in
extinguishing the claim made by the Lake Simcoe Indians, should it appear
on inquiry to be just.
The whole amount given to me in August was ÂŁ5,033 6s. 8d., of this sum
their remains ÂŁ800, which I have placed in the Bank of Upper Canada
to the credit of the Receiver-General, and I have prepared a detailed account
of the whole, which, with the proper vouchers, I shall deliver to the Accountant of
the Crown Lands Department.
I have much pleasure in acknowledging the valuable assistance afforded
me by all the officers of the Honorable the Hudson's Bay Company resident
on the lakes; and the prompt manner in which their Governor, Sir George
Simpson, kindly placed their services at my disposal.
The report made last year by Messrs. Anderson and Vidal I found of
much use to me, and the long services and experience of the former gentleman in Indian
affairs enabled him to give me many valuable suggestions.
Captain Cooper and his officers by attending at the council, and otherwise,
gave me most cheerfully all the aid in their power; and Captain Ironside, of
your Department, with his assistant, Assickinach, were of essential service
to me.
I found it absolutely necessary to have the aid of some one in taking the
census of the Lake Huron Indians at the time they were receiving their
presents at Manitoulin; and as Captain Ironside was fully occupied in
attending to his own duty, I requested Mr. Keating, who had long known
the Indians on that lake, to give me his assistance. This he cheerfully and
very efficiently did, and afterwards was with me in distributing and paying
out the money.
I have, in course of my negotiations with the Indians on the present
occasion, collected some information which may be useful to your Department and will
at an early day send it to you.
I will thank you to lay the two treaties accompanying this Report before
His Excellency, and trust they may meet with his approval.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) W. B. ROBINSON.
The Hon. COL. BRUCE,
Superintendent-General, Indian Affairs.
