CHAPTER VI.
THE QU'APPELLE TREATY, OR NUMBER FOUR.
THIS treaty, is, so generally called, from having been made
at the Qu'Appelle Lakes, in the North-West Territories.
The Indians treated with, were a portion of the Cree and
Saulteaux Tribes, and under its operations, about 75,000
square miles of territory were surrendered. This treaty, was
the first step towards bringing the Indians of the Fertile Belt
into closer relations with the Government of Canada, and was a
much-needed one. In the year 1871, Major Butler was sent
into the North-West Territories by the Government of Canada,
to examine into and report, with regard to the state of affairs
there. He reported, to Lieutenant-Governor Archibald, that
"law and order are wholly unknown in the region of the
Saskatchewan, in so much, as the country is without any
executive organization, and destitute of any means of enforcing
the law." Towards remedying this serious state of affairs, the
Dominion placed the North-West Territories under the rule
of the Lieutenant-Governor and Council of the Territories, the
Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, being, ex officio, Governor
of the Territories. This body, composed of representative
men, possessed executive functions, and legislative powers.
They entered upon their duties with zeal, and discharged them
with efficiency. Amongst other measures, they passed a prohibitory liquor law, which
subsequently was practically adopted
by a Statute of the Dominion. They proposed the establishment
of a Mounted Police Force, a suggestion which was given force
to by the Dominion Cabinet, and they recommended, that, treaties
should be made, with the Indians at Forts Qu'Appelle, Carlton
78 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
and Pitt, recommendations, which, were all, eventually, carried
out. In the report of the Minister of the Interior, for the
year 1875, he states " that it is due to the Council to record the
fact, that the legislation and valuable suggestions, submitted
to your Excellency, from time to time, through their official
head, Governor Morris, aided the Government not a little in
the good work of laying the foundations of law and order, in
the North-West, in securing the good will of the Indian tribes,
and in establishing the prestige of the Dominion Government,
throughout that vast country." In accordance with these suggestions, the Government
of the Dominion, decided, on effecting a treaty, with the plain Indians, Crees and
Chippewas, who
inhabit the country, of which, Fort Qu'Appelle, was a convenient
centre, and entrusted the duty, to the Hon. Alexander Morris
then Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and the North-West
Territories, the Hon. David Laird, then Minister of the
Interior, and now Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West
Territories, and the Hon. W. J. Christie, a retired factor of
the Hudson's Bay Company, and a gentleman of large experience, among the Indian tribes.
In pursuance of this mission, these gentlemen left Fort
Garry in August, 1874, and journeyed to Lake Qu'Appelle (the
calling or echoing lake), where they met the assembled Indians,
in September. The Commissioners, had an escort of militia,
under the command of Lieut.-Col. Osborne Smith, C.M.G. This
force marched to and from Qu'Appelle, acquitted themselves
with signal propriety, and proved of essential service. Their
return march was made in excellent time. The distance, three
hundred and fifty miles having been accomplished in sixteen
and a half days.
The Commissioners encountered great difficulties, arising,
from the excessive demands of the Indians, and from the jealousies, existing between
the two Nations, Crees and Chippawas, but by perseverance, firmness and tact, they
succeeded
in overcoming the obstacles, they had to encounter, and
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 79
eventually effected a treaty, whereby the Indian title was extinguished in a tract
of country, embracing 75,000 square
miles of territory. After long and ammated discussions the
Indians, asked to be granted the same terms as were accorded
to the Indians of Treaty Number Three, at the North-West
Angle, hereinbefore mentioned. The Commissioners assented
to their request and the treaty was signed accordingly.
On the return, of the Commissioners to Fort Ellice, they met
there, the Chippawas of that vicinage, and made a supplementary treaty with them.
These Indians were included in
the boundaries of Treaty Number Two, but had not been
treated with, owing to their distance from Manitoba House,
where that treaty was made. In 1875, the Hon. W. J.
Christie, and Mr. M. G. Dickieson, then of the Department of
the Interior, and subsequently, Assistant Superintendent of
Indian affairs, in the North-West Territories, were appointed
to make the payments of annuities, to the Indians, embraced
in the Treaty Number Four, and obtain the adhesion of other
bands, which had not been present at Qu'Appelle, the previous
year. They met, the Indians, at Qu'Appelle (where six Chiefs
who had been absent, accepted the terms. of the treaty) and at
Fort Pelly and at Shoal River, where two other Chiefs, with
their bands, came into the treaty stipulations. A gratifying
feature connected with the making of this, and the other,
North-Western Treaties, has been the readiness, with which
the Indians, who were absent, afterwards accepted the terms
which had been settled for them, by those, who were able to
attend. I close these observations, by annexing, the reports of
Lieutenant-Governor Morris, to the Honorable the Secretary
of State of Canada, of date 17th October, 1874, giving, an
account, of the making of the treaties at Qu'Appelle and Fort
Ellice, and an extract, from that of Messrs. Christie and Dickieson, dated 7th October,
1875, describing its further completion,
and I also insert, accurate short-hand reports of the proceedings
at Qu'Appelle and Fort Ellice, which, were made, at the time,
80 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
by Mr. Dickieson, who, was present, at the treaty, as secretary
to the Commissioners. These will be found to be both interesting and instructive.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
FORT GARRY, MANITOBA, October 17, 1874.
Sir,âI have the honor to inform you that in compliance with the request
of the Government, I proceeded to Lake Qu'Appelle in company with the
Hon. David Laird, in order to act with him and W. J. Christie, Esq., as
Commissioners to negotiate a treaty with the tribes of Indians in that
region.
Mr. Laird and I left Fort Garry on the 26th of August, and arrived at
Lake Qu'Appelle on the 8th of September, Mr. Christie having gone in
advance of us to Fort Pelly.
We were accompanied on arriving by the escort of militia under the
command of Lieut. Col. W. Osborne Smith, who had preceded us, but
whom we had overtaken.
The escort took up their encampment at a very desirable situation on the
edge of the lake, the Indians being encamped at some distance.
The Commissioners were kindly provided with apartments by W. J.
McLean, Esq., the officer in charge of the Hudson Bay Company's Post.
After our arrival, the Commissioners caused the Indians to be summoned,
to meet them, in a marquee tent adjoining the encampment of the militia.
The Crees came headed by their principal Chief "Loud Voice," and a
number of Saulteaux followed, without their Chief, Coté. The Commissioners, having
decided that it was desirable that there should be only one
speaker on behalf of the Commissioners, requested me owing to my previous
experience with the Indian tribes and my official position as Lieutenant-
Governor of the North-West Territories, to undertake the duty, which I
agreed to do. Accordingly, I told the Indians the object of our coming and
invited them to present to us their Chiefs and headmen. " Loud Voice "
stated that they were not yet ready and asked for a delay till next day, to
which we assented.
0n the 9th, four Indian soldiers were sent to the Commissioners to ask
for two days delay, but we replied that when they met us in conference
they could prefer any reasonable request, but that we expected them to
meet us as agreed on the previous day, and further that the Saulteaux had
not conducted themselves with proper respect to the Commissioners, as
representatives of the Crown, as their principal Chief Coté had not met us.
Eventually, both the Crees and the Saulteaux met us, with their Chiefs,
when I addressed them. They asked time to deliberate and we appointed
the 11th at ten o'clock for the next conference.
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 81
The Crees then left the tent suddenly, under constraint of the Indian
soldiers, who compelled the Chiefs to go.
On the 11th we sent a bugler round to summon the Indians to the appointed
conference, but they did not come.
Instead the Saulteaux sent word that they could not meet us except in
their own soldiers tent, distant about a mile from the militia encampment,
but we refused to do so.
The Crees were ready to proceed to the marquee, but were prevented by
the Saulteaux, a section of whom displayed a turbulent disposition and
were numerically the strongest party. We sent our interpreter Charles
Pratt, a Cree Indian, who was educated at St. John's College here, and who
is a catechist of the Church of England, to tell the Indians that they must
meet us as agreed upon.
In consequence, about four o'clock in the afternoon, the Crees led by
" Loud Voice," came to the conference, but the Saulteaux kept away, though
a number were sent to hear and report. On behalf of the Commissioners, I
then explained to the Crees the object of our mission and made our proposals
for a treaty, but as they were not ready to reply, we asked them to return to
their tents and meet us next day.
On the 12th the Crees and Saulteaux sent four men from the soldiers tent
or council, which they had organized, to ask that the encampment of the
militia and the conference tents should be removed half way, towards their
encampment.
In consequence, we requested Lieut.-Col. Smith to proceed to the Indian
encampment and ascertain the meaning of this demand, authorizing him, if
necessary, to arrange for the pitching of the conference tent nearer the
Indians, if that would give them any satisfaction.
He reported, on his return, that the Indians wished the militia to encamp
with them, and that they objected to meet us anywhere on the reserve of
the Hudson Bay Company, as they said they could not speak freely there.
He refused to remove the militia camp, as it was a very desirable place
where it had been placed, but with the assent of the Indians selected a spot
adjoining the reserve and at a suitable distance from the Indian tents, on
which the conference tent was to be daily erected, but to be removed after
the conferences closed.
We then summoned the Indians to meet us at one o'clock, which they did
at the appointed place.
After the formal hand shaking, which ceremony they repeat at the beginning and close
of every interview, the Commissioners submitted their
terms for a treaty, which were in effect similar to those granted at the
North-West Angle, except that the money present offered was eight dollars
per head, instead of twelve dollars as there.
The Indians declined, however, to talk about these proposals, as they said
there was something in the way. They objected to the reserve having been
surveyed for the Hudson Bay Company, without their first having been
82 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
consulted, and claimed that the ÂŁ300,000 paid to the Company should be paid
to them. They also objected to the Company's trading in the Territory,
except only at their posts. The Commissioners refused to comply with their
demands, and explained to them how the Company had become entitled to
the reserve in question, and the nature of the arrangement, that had resulted
in the payment by the Government of Canada of the ÂŁ300,000.
The conference adjourned to Monday the 14th, on which day the Commissioners again
met them, but the Cree Chief "Loud Voice" asked for
another day to consider the matter, and " Coté " or "Meemay " the
Saulteaux Chief, from Fort Pelly, asked to be treated with, at his own place.
They demanded, that the Company should only be allowed to trade at their
own posts, and not to send out traders into the Territoryâwhich was of course
refused, it being explained to them that all Her Majesty's subjects had
equal right of trading. The Commissioners then agreed to grant a final
delay of another day, for further consideration. Up to this period the
position was very unsatisfactory.
The Crees were from the first ready to treat, as were the Saulteaux from
Fort Pelly, but the Saulteaux of the Qu'Appelle District were not disposed
to do so and attempted to coerce the other Indians.
They kept the Chiefs "Loud Voice" and "Coté" under close surveillance,
they being either confined to their tents or else watched by " soldiers," and
threatened if they should make any overtures to us.
The Saulteaux cut down the tent over the head of one of the Cree Chiefs
and conducted themselves in such a manner, that " Loud Voice " applied to
the Commissioners for protection, and the Crees purchased knives and
armed themselves.
The Saulteaux, one day went the length of placing six "soldiers," armed
with rifles and revolvers, in the conference tent to intimidate the other
Indians, a step which was promptly counteracted by Lieut.-Col. Smith,
calling in six of the militiamen who were stationed in the tent. In this
connection. I must take the opportunity of stating that the results proved
the wisdom of the course taken by the Commissioners in obtaining the escort
of the militia, as their presence exerted great moral influence, and I am
persuaded, prevented the jealousies and ancient feud between the Crees and
Saulteaux culminating in acts of violence.
The conduct of the whole force was excellent and, whether on the march or
in the encampment ground, they conducted themselves in a most creditable
manner.
Resuming, however, my narrative, on the 15th of September, the Commissioners again
met the Indians at eleven o'clock in the forenoon.
The Crees had, in the interval, decided to treat with us independently,
and the Saulteaux, finding this, came to a similar conclusion. After a
protracted interview, the Indians asked to be granted the same terms as
were given at the North-West Angle. The Commissioners took time to
consider and adjourned the conference until three o'clock.
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 83
In the interval, the Commissioners, being persuaded that a treaty could
not otherwise be made, determined on acceding to the request of the
Indians.
The Indians, having again met the Commissioners in the afternoon,
presented their Chiefs to them, when they asked to be informed what the
terms granted at the North-West Angle were. These were fully and
carefully explained to them, but after a request that all the Indians owed to
the Hudson Bay Company should be wiped out and a refusal of the Commissioners to entertain
their demands, they then asked that they should be
paid fifteen dollars per annum per head, which was refused, and they were
informed that the proposals of the Commissioners were final, and could not
be changed.
The Chiefs then agreed to accept the terms offered and to sign the treaty,
having first asked that the Half-breeds should be allowed to hunt, and
having been assured that the population in the North-West would be treated
fairly and justly, the treaty was signed by the Commissioners and the Chiefs,
having been first fully explained to them by the interpreter.
Arrangements were then made to commence the payments and distribution
of the. presents the next day, a duty which was discharged by Mr. Christie
and Mr. Dickieson, Private Secretary of the Hon. Mr. Laird.
I forward you to form an appendix to this despatch, a report marked "A"
and " B " extended from notes taken in short hand, by Mr. Dickieson, of the
various conferences and of the utterances of the Commissioners and the
Indians.
It is obvious that such a record will prove valuable, as it enables any
misunderstanding on the part of the Indians, as to what was said at the
conference, to be corrected, and it, moreover, will enable the council better
to appreciate the character of the difficulties that have to be encountered in
negotiating with the Indians.
On the 11th I left for Fort Ellice, in company with Mr. Laird, Mr. Christie
and Mr. Dickieson remaining to complete the payments, which were satisfactorily disposed
of.
Before leaving, the Chiefs "Loud Voice " and Cote called on us to tender
their good wishes, and to assure us that they would teach their people to
respect the treaty.
The Commissioners received every assistance in their power from Mr.
McDonald of Fort Ellice, in charge of the Hudson Bay Company District
of Swan River, and from Mr. McLean, in charge of the Qu'Appelle Post, âI
also add, that the Half-breed population were I believe generally desirous
of seeing the treaty concluded and used the influence of their connection
with the Indians in its favor.
I forward in another despatch a copy of an address I received from the
Metis, or Half-breeds, together with my reply thereto.
The treaty was taken charge of by the Hon. Mr. Laird, and will be by him
placed on record in his Department and submitted to council for approval.
84 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
I enclose herewith, however, a printed copy of it, marked " C," to
accompany this despatch.
The supplementary treaty made at Fort Ellice will form the subject of
another despatch.
Trusting that the efforts of the Commissioners to secure a satisfactory
understanding with the Western Indians will result in benefit to the race,
advantage to the Dominion, and meet the approval of the Privy Council,
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
ALEXANDER MORRIS,
Lieut.-Gov. N. W. T.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
FORT GARRY, MANITOBA, October 17th, 1874.
SIR,âReferring to my despatch of the 17th inst., (No. 211) I have the
honor to report that Mr. Laird and I arrived at Fort Ellice from Qu'Appelle
Lakes, on Saturday the 19th of September.
On Monday, we met the band of Saulteaux Indians, who make their
headquarters at Fort Ellice, and who had remained there, instead of going
to Qu'Appelle at our request.
This band have been in the habit of migrating between the region covered
by the Second Treaty and that comprehended in the Fourth, but had not
been treated with.
We proposed to them to give their adhesion to the Qu'Appelle Treaty and
surrender their claim to lands, wherever situated, in the North-West
Territories, on being given a reserve and being granted the terms on which
the treaty in question was made. We explained fully these terms and asked
the Indians to present to us their Chief and headmen. As some of the band
were absent, whom the Indians desired to be recognized as headmen, only
the Chief and one headman were presented. These, on behalf of the Indians
accepted the terms and thanked the Queen and the Commissioners for their
care of the Indian people. A supplement to the treaty was then submitted
and fully explained to them, by our acting interpreter, Joseph Robillard,
after which it was signed by Mr. Laird and myself, and by the Chief andÂ
head man.
The original of the supplementary treaty will be submitted for approval
by Mr. Laird, but I annex a printed Copy of it, as an appendix to this
despatch.Â
I also annex, notes of the conference with these Indians, extended from
the short hand report taken of the proceedings by Mr. Dickieson, Private
Secretary to the Hon. Mr. Laird.
In the afternoon, Mr. Christie and Mr. Dickieson arrived from Lake
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 85
Qu'Appelle, and shortly afterwards proceeded to make the payments to the
Indians, under the treaty.
It was satisfactory to have this band dealt with, as they asserted claims
in the region covered by the Manitoba Post Treaty, but had not been
represented at the time it was made.
On the 22nd of September the Commissioners left Fort Ellice and arrived
at Fort Garry on the afternoon of the 26th of that month, having been
absent a little over a month.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
ALEXANDER MORRIS,
Lieut.-Gov. N. W. T.
THE HONORABLE
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE PROVINCES,
Ottawa.
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, 7th October, 1875.
SIR,âWe have now the honor to submit, for your information, our final
report in connection with our missions to the Indians included in Treaty No. 4.
As former reports have made you fully acquainted with the arrangements
that had been entered into previous to our departure from this place, any
further reference to them is unnecessary.
Having left Winnipeg on the 19th August, we arrived at Fort Ellice on
the 24th, the day appointed for the meeting the Indians of that place. The
same evening we had an interview with, and fully explained the terms and
conditions of the treaty to some of the Indians who were net present when
the treaty was concluded last year. Next morning, by appointment, we met
all the Indians and explained to them the object of our mission, and, after
considerable discussion, made arrangements to commence paying the
annuities next day. This, however, was prevented by heavy rains, which
continued more or less to retard our operations on the two following days,
the 27th and 28th, but everything was satisfactorily concluded with this
band on the evening of the latter day, and on the following morning we
started for the Qu'Appelle Lakes, accompanied by an escort of fifteen men
of the Mounted Police Force, under the command of Sub-Inspector McIllree,
which had arrived at Fort Ellice on the evening of the 26th, and reached
our destination on the forenoon of the 2nd September.
As you are aware, we had heard before leaving Winnipeg, that the number
of Indians assembled at the Qu'Appelle Lakes would be very large, but we
did not anticipate that so many as we found (nearly five hundred lodges)
would be congregated.
We at once saw that the funds at our disposal to pay the annuities and
86 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
gratuities would be inadequate, and availed ourselves of the opportunity
presented by the return of Major Irvine to Winnipeg, to forward a telegram
on the 5th September, requesting a further amount of six thousand dollars.
to be placed to our credit; and we may state here, though out of the order of
time, as we found after the first two days payments that we had still underestimated
the number of Indians present, we transmitted a telegram to
Winnipeg by special messenger, on the 9th September, for a further credit
of fifteen thousand dollars.
On the 3rd September we met the Indians and explained the object of our
mission, and, for the benefit of those who were absent last year. the terms
and conditions of the treaty, and stated that we were now ready to fulfil so
many of the obligations therein contained as the Gpvernment were bound
to execute this year. The Indians declined saying anything on this occasion,
but wished to meet and confer with us the following day, as they had something they
wished to speak about. They accordingly met us on the 4th, and
made several demands, one of which was that the annuities be increased to
twelve dollars per head. We replied that the treaty concluded last year
was a covenant between them and the Government, and it was impossible
to comply with their demands; that all we had to do was to carry out the
terms of the treaty in so far as the obligations of the same required. An
idea seemed prevalent among the Indians who were absent last year
that no treaty had been concluded then; that all which had been done at
that time was merely preliminary to the making of the treaty in reality,
which they thought was to be performed this year. The prevalence of this
opinion amongst them operated very prejudicially to the furthering of our
business, and we saw that until this was done away with it would be
impossible to do anything towards accomplishing the real object of our
mission. After a great deal of talking on their part, and explanation on
ours, the meeting adjourned until Monday morning, as it was necessary that
provisions should be issued to the different bands that evening for the
following day.
On Monday (the 6th) we again met the Indians, and as they evidently
wished to have another day's talking to urge the same demands they had
made on Saturday, we assured them all further discussion on the subject
was useless; that if they declined to accept the terms of the treaty we must
return and report to the Government that they had broken the promise made
last year. They then asked that we should report to the Government what
they had demanded. This we agreed to do. After some further explanation to those Chiefs
who had not signed the treaty, the payment of the
annuities and gratuities was commenced and continued by Messrs. Dickieson
and Forsyth on this and the three following days until completed, during
which time Mr. Christie conferred with the Chiefs as to the locality of their
reserves.
Six Chiefs who had not been present last year when the treaty was concluded, agreed
to accept the terms of the same, and signed their adhesion
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 87
previous to being paid. The instruments thus signed by them are transmitted
herewith. "
The suits of clothes, flags, medals and copies of the treaty were given to
the Chiefs and headmen as they were paid, and on the 10th the ammunition
and twine were distributed, also provisions to each band for the return
journey to their hunting grounds. * * * * * *
Report of the proceedings at the Conference between the Hon.
Alexander Morris, Lieut.-Governor of the North-West
Territories, the Hon. David Laird, Minister of the Interior, and W. J. Christie, Esq,
the Commissioners appointed by Order in Council to treat with the Indians
inhabiting the country described in the said Order in Council, the first conference
having been held at Qu'Appelle,
September 8th, 1874 :
FIRST DAY'S CONFERENCE.
At four o'clock the Commissioners entered the marquee erected
for the accommodation of themselves, and the Indians, who in
in a short time arrived, shook hands with the Commissioners,
the officers of the guard, and other gentlemen who were in the
tent, and took their seats.
It having been noticed that Cote, "the Pigeon" a leading
Chief of the Saulteaux tribe, had not arrived but that several of
his band were present and claimed that they had been sent to
represent him, His Honor the Lieut.-Governor instructed the
(acting) interpreter, William Daniel, to enquire why their
Chief had not come to meet the Commissioners, the white
chiefs ?
To this question they answered, that he had given no reason.
His Honor, through the interpreter, told them that the
88 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
Queen had sent him and the other Commissioners to see their
Chief and their nation, and that the least a loyal subject could
do would be to meet the messengers of the Queen.
His Honor then addressed the Crees as follows: "The Commissioners having agreed that
as Lieut.-Governor he should
speak to them, as we are sent here by the Queen, by the Great
Motherâthe Queen has chosen me to be one of her Councillors,
and has sent me here to represent her and has made me Governor of all her Territories
in the N orth-West. She has sent
another of her Councillors who has come all the way from
Ottawa. She has also sent with us Mr. Christie, whom you all
know, who has lived for a long time in this country, but who
had gone away from it to live in another part of the Dominion
of Canada. The Queen loves her Red children; she has always
been friends with them ; she knows that it is hard for them to
live, and she has always tried to help them in the other parts
of the Dominion. Last year she sent me to see her children at
the Lake of the Woods. I took her children there by the hand,
and the white man and the red man made friends for ever. We
have come here with a message from the Queen and want to
tell you all her mind. We want to speak to you about the
land and what the Queen is willing to do for you, but before
we tell you, we want you to tell us, who your Chiefs and headmen are who will speak
for you, while we Speak for the Queen,
and we want to know what bands of Crees are here and who
will speak for them. We wish to know if. the Crees are ready
to speak with us now ?"
KA-KU-SHI-WAY, THE LOUD VOICE,âSaid in reply: "I do
not wish to tell a lie. I cannot say who will speak for us ; it
will only be known after consultation."
HIS HONOR THE LIEUT.-GOV.â" By to-morrow you will
probably have chosen whom you will have to speak for you and
the Commissioners will be glad to meet you after you have
chosen your spokesmen, and will meet you at ten o'clock. We
want you to tell us openly what you want and we will speak to
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 89
you for the Queen in the same way. The Colonel will send a
man round to sound a bugle at ten o'clock to let you know."
To the Saulteaux His Honor said: "We are here with a
message from the Great Mother and want you to open my
mouth so that I can tell you what I have to say. If you and
your Chiefs will meet together in council and talk it over we
will be glad to meet you, if you bring your Chief to-morrow.
You must also choose your speakers who will come with your
Chief and speak for you."
LOUD VOICEâ" I will tell the message that is given me to
tell. I have one thing to say, the first word that came to them
was for the Saulteaux tribe to choose a place to pitch their
tents."
HIS HONORâ"This place was chosen because it is a good
place for my menâfor the soldiersâthere is plenty of water
and grass, and I will meet you here to-morrow. That is all at
present."
After the departure of the main body of Cree Indians, Saulteaux, from the Cypress
Hills, entered the tent saying that they
had no Chief, and did not want to go with the main body of the
nation, that they had plenty of friends on the plains.
His Honor said they would hear the Queen's message with
the rest of the Indians.
SECOND DAY'S CONFERENCE.
September 9, 1874.
The Indians, both Crees, Saulteaux and their Chiefs having
arrived, His Honor Lieut.-Governor Morris said: "I am glad
to see so many of the Queen's red children here this morning, I told those I saw yesterday
that I was one of the Queen's
councillors, and had another councillor with me from Ottawa
and that the Queen had sent Mr. Christie who used to live
amongst you to help us. Yesterday the Cree nation with
their Chief were here, the Saulteaux did not come to meet the
90 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
Queen's servants, their Chief was not here. I thought that
the Saulteaux could not have understood that the Queen had
sent her servants to see them, or they would have come to
meet them. If Loud Voice or any other Chief came down
to Fort Garry to see me, and I sent one of my servants to
meet them instead of shaking hands with them, would they
be pleased? I wanted you to meet me here to-day because I
wanted to speak to you before the Great Spirit and before the
world. I want both Crees and Saulteaux to know what I say.
I told those who were here yesterday that we had a message
from the Queen to them. Last year I made a treaty with the
Indians, 4,000 in number, at the Lake of the Woods. To-day
the Queen sends us here. I told you yesterday that she loves
her red children, and they have always respected her and
obeyed her laws. I asked you yesterday, and ask you now, to
tell me who would speak for you, and how many bands of each
nation are represented here. I have heard that you are not
ready to speak to me yet but do not know it, and I want you
to say anything you have to say before all, and I will speak in
the same way. What I have to talk about concerns you, your
children and their children, who are yet unborn, and you must
think well over it, as the Queen has thought well over it. What
I want, is for you to take the Queen's hand, through mine, and
shake hands with her for ever, and now I want, before I say
any more, to hear from the Chiefs if they are ready with their
men to speak for them, and if they are not ready if they will
be ready to-morrow."
CAN-A-HAH-CHA-PEW, THE MAN OF THE BOW,â"We are not
ready yet, we have not gathered together yet. That is all I
have to say."
PEICHETO'S SON
O-TA-HA-O-MAN,
THE GAMBLERâ" My dear
friends, do you want me to speak for you to these great men ?"
(the Indians signified their consent.) "I heard you were to
come here, that was the reason that all the camps were collected
together, I heard before-hand too where the camp was to be
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 91
placed, but I tell you that I am not ready yet. Every day
there are other Indians coming and we are not all together.
Where I was told to pitch my tent that is where I expected to
see the great men in the camp. That is all."
HIS HONORâ "With regard to the camp, the Queen sent one
of her chief men of our soldiers with us, and he selected the best
place for the men, the place where we are now, and I think it
is a good place. At first he thought to have encamped across
the river, but he thought this was better ground and chose it.
I think it just as well that our tents should be at a little distance from your braves
and your camp. 1 want to say to the
Indian children of the Queen that if their people are coming in,
that our men have walked a long way here, and must go back
again to Fort Garry, and I have other things to do. Mr. Laird
has to go back again to look after other things for the Queen
at Ottawa. I want to ask the Chiefs when they will be ready
to meet us to-morrow."
HIS HONORâ" Let them send me word through their Chiefs
when they are ready."
THIRD DAY'S CONFERENCE.
September 11, 1874.
The Crees and their Chiefs met the Commissioners. The
Saulteaux Chief was not present, though most of the tribe were
present.
An Indian, "the Crow," advised the assembled Crees, the
Saulteaux not having arrived, to listen attentively to what words
he said.
His Honor the Lieut.-Governor then arose and said : "I am
glad to meet you here to-day. We have waited long and began
to wonder whether the Queen's red children were not coming
to meet her messengers. All the ground here is the Queen's
and you are free to speak your mind fully. We want you to
92 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
speak to me face to face. I am ready now with my friends
here to give you the Queen's message. Are your ears open to
hear? Have you chosen your speakers ?"
HIS HONORâ" You have had time enough to select your
men to answer and I will give you the Queen's message. The
Queen knows that you are poor ; the Queen knows that it is
hard to find food for yourselves and children; she knows that
the winters are cold, and your children are often hungry ; she
has always cared for her red children as much as for her white.
Out of her generous heart and liberal hand she wants to do
something for you, so that when the buffalo get scarcer, and
they are scarce enough now, you may be able to do something
for yourselves."
THE LOUD VOICE (to the Indians)â"I wonder very much
at your conduct. You understand what is said and you understand what is right and
good. You ought to listen to that and
answer it, every one of you. What is bad you cannot answer."
HIS HONORâ" What the Queen and her Councillors would
like is this, she would like you to learn something of the cunning of the white man.
When fish are scarce and the buffalo
are not plentiful she would like to help you to put something
in the land ; she would like that you should have some money
every year to buy things that you need. If any of you would
settle down on the land, she would give you cattle to help you;
she would like you to have some seed to plant. She would like
to give you every year, for twenty years, some powder, shot,
and twine to make nets of. I see you here before me to-day.
I will pass away and you will pass away. I will go where my
fathers have gone and you also, but after me and after you will
come our children. The Queen cares for you and for your
children, and she cares for the children that are yet to be born.
She would like to take you by the hand and do as I did for her
at the Lake of the Woods last year. We promised them and
we are ready to promise now to give five dollars to every man,
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 93 Â
woman and child, as long as the sun shines and water flows.
We are ready to promise to give $1,000 every year, for twenty
years, to buy powder and shot and twine, by the end of which
time I hope you will have your little farms. If you will settle
down we would lay off land for you, a square mile for every
family of five. Whenever you go to a Reserve, the Queen will
be ready to give you a school and schoolmaster, and the Government will try to prevent
fire-water from being sent among
you. If you shake hands with us and make a treaty, we are
ready to make a present at the end of the treaty, of eight dollars
for every man, woman and child in your nations. We are ready
also to give calico, clothing and other presents. We are ready
to give every recognized Chief, a present of twenty-five dollars,
a medal, and a suit of clothing. We are also ready to give the
Chief's soldiers, not exceeding four in each band, a present of
ten dollars, and next year and every year after, each chief will
be paid twenty-five dollars, and his chief soldiers not exceeding
four in each band, will receive ten dollars. Now I think that
you see that that the Queen loves her red children, that she
wants to do you good, and you ought to show that you think
so. I cannot believe that you will be the first Indians, the
Queen's subjects, who will not take her by the hand. The
Queen sent one of her councillors from Ottawa, and me, her
Governor, to tell you her mind. I have opened my hands
and heart to you. It is for you to think of the future of
those who are with you now, of those who are coming after
you, and may the Great Spirit guide you to do what is right.
I have only one word more to say. The last time I saw you I
was not allowed to say all I wanted to say until you went away.
What I wanted to say is this, I have put before you our message, I want you to go
back to your tents and think over what
I have said and come and meet me to-morrow. Recollect that
we cannot stay very long here. I have said all."
94 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
FOURTH DAY'S CONFERENCE.
September 12, 1874.
In the morning four Indians, two Crees and two Saulteaux,
waited on the Commissioners and asked that they should meet
the Indians half way, and off the Company's reserve, and that
the soldiers should remove their camps beside the Indian
encampment, that they would meet the Commissioners then
and confer with them ; that there was something in the way
of their speaking openly where the marquee had been pitched.
Their request was complied with as regarded the place of meeting only, and the spot
for the conference selected by Col. Smith
and the Indians.
The meeting was opened by the Lieut.-Governor, who said,
"Crees and Saulteaux,âI have asked you to meet us here today. We have been asking
you for many days to meet us and
this is the first time you have all met us. If it was not my
duty and if the Queen did not wish it, I would not have taken
so much trouble to speak to you. We are sent a long way to
give you her message. Yesterday I told the Crees her message,
and I know that the Saulteaux know what it was, but that there
may be no mistake, I will tell it to you again and I will tell
you more. When I have given my message understand that
you will have to answer it, as I and my friends will have to
leave you. You are the subjects of the Queen, you are her
children, and you are only a little band to all her other children.
She has children all over the world, and she does right with
them all. She cares as much for you as she cares for her white
children, and the proof of it is that wherever her name is spoken
her people whether they be red or white, love her name and are
ready to die for it, because she is always just and true. What
she promises never changes. She knows the condition of her
people here ; you are not her only red children ; where I come
from, in Ontario and in Quebec, she has many red children, and
away beyond the mountains she has other red children, and she
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 95
wants to care for them all. Last year I was among the Saulteaux ; we have the Saulteaux
where I came from. They were
my friends. I was the son of a white Chief who had a high
place among them, they told him they would do his work, they
called him Shekeisheik. I learned from him to love the red man,
and it was a pleasant duty and good to my heart when the
Queen told me to come among her Saulteaux children and I
expect the Crees and the Saulteaux to take my hand as they did
last year. In our hands they feel the Queen's, and if they take
them the hands of the white and red man will never unclasp.
In other lands the white and red man are not such friends as
we have always been, and why? Because the Queen always
keeps her word, always protects her red men. She learned last
winter that bad men from the United States had come into her
country and had killed some of her red children, What did
she say? This must not be, I will send my men and will not suffer
these bad men to hurt my red children, their lives are
very dear to me. And now I will tell you our message. The
Queen knows that her red children often find it hard to live.
She knows that her red children, their wives and children, are
often hungry, and that the buffalo will not last for ever and she
desires to do something for them. More than a hundred years
ago, the Queen's father said to the red men living in Quebec
and Ontario, I will give you land and cattle and set apart
Reserves for you, and will teach you. What has been the result?
There the red men are happy; instead of getting fewer
in number by sickness they are growing in number ; their children have plenty. The
Queen wishes you to enjoy the same
blessings, and so I am here to tell you all the Queen's mind,
but recollect this, the Queen's High Councillor here from
Ottawa, and I, her Governor, are not traders ; we do not come
here in the spirit of traders ; we come here to tell you
openly, without hiding anything, just what the Queen will do
for you, just what she thinks is good for you, and I want you
to look me in the face, eye to eye, and open your hearts to me
96 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
as children would to a father, as children ought to do to a
father, and as you ought to the servants of the great mother of
us all. I told my friends yesterday that things changed here,
that we are here to-day and that in a few years it may be we
will not be here, but after us will come our children. The
Queen thinks of the children yet unborn. I know that there
are some red men as well as white men who think only of today and never think of to-morrow.
The Queen has to think of
what will come long after to-day. Therefore, the promises we
have to make to you are not for to-day only but for to-morrow,
not only for you but for your children born and unborn, and
the promises we make will be carried out as long as the sun
shines above and the water flows in the ocean. When you are
ready to plant seed the Queen's men will lay off Reserves so as
to give a square mile to every family of five persons, and on
commencing to farm the Queen will give to every family cultivating the soil two hoes,
one spade, one scythe for cutting the
grain, one axe and plough, enough of seed wheat, barley, oats
and potatoes to plant the land they get ready. The Queen
wishes her red children to learn the cunning of the white man
and when they are ready for it she will send schoolmasters on
every Reserve and pay them. We have come through the
country for many days and we have seen hills and but little
wood and in many places little water, and it may be a long
time before there are many white men settled upon this land,
and you will have the right of hunting and fishing just as you
have now until the land is actually taken up. (His Honor
repeated the offers which had been given to the Saulteaux on the
previous day.) I think I have told you all that the Queen is
willing to do for you. It ought to show you that she has
thought more about you than you have about her. I will be
glad now to have those whom you have selected speak for you
and I again ask you to keep nothing back. This is the first
time you have had white chiefs, officers of the Queen, so high
in her Councils, so trusted by her among you. We have no
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 97
object but your good at heart, and therefore we ask you to
speak out to us, to open your minds to us, and believe that we
are your true and best friends, who will never advise you badly,
who will never whisper bad words in your ears, who only care
for your good and that of your children. I have told you the
truth, the whole truth, and now we expect to hear from the
two nations and any other tribe who may be represented here.
My friend Mr. Laird reminds me that he has come from an
Island in the far off sea, that he has go back to Ottawa and
then go to his own home, that he was asked specially to help
me in speaking to you and advising me. He is obliged to go
away as I am, and therefore we want you to answer us."
COTE, or
MEE-MAY (Saulteaux Chief)â" I cannot say anything to you. It is that man (pointing to Loud
Voice) will
speak."
LOUD VOICE (Cree Chief)â" If I could speak, if I could
manage to utter my feelings there is reason why I should
answer you back ; but there is something in my way, and that
is all I can tell you. This man (the Gambler) will tell you.
O-TA-KA-O-NAN, OR
THE GAMBLER.â" This morning I saw the
chief of the soldiers, who asked me what is in your way that
you cannot come and meet the Queen's messengers ; then I told
him what was in the way. And now that I am come in, what
do I see ? You were rather slow in giving your hand. You
said that the Queen spoke through you and spoke very plainly,
but I cannot speak about what you said at present ; the thing
that is in the way that is what I am working at."
LIEUT.-Gov. MORRISâ" We have come here for the purpose
of knowing what is in your mind. I held out my hand but
you did not do as your nation did at the Angle. When I
arrived there the Chief and his men came and gave me the
pipe of peace and paid me every honor. Why ? Because I
was the servant of the Queen. I was not slow in offering my
hand, I gave it freely and from my heart, and whenever we
found I could please you by coming here, we sent the chief of
98 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
the soldiers to select a suitable place to meet you. You tell
me there is something in your mind. If there is anything
standing between us, how can we take it away or answer you
unless we know what it is ?"
THE GAMBLERâ" I told the soldier master you did not set
your camp in order, you came and staid beyond over there,
that is the reason I did not run in over there. Now when you
have come here, you see sitting out there a mixture of Half-
breeds, Crees, Saulteaux and Stonies, all are one, and you were
slow in taking the hand of a Half-breed. All these things are
many things that are in my way. I cannot speak about them."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâWhy are you here to-day? because we
asked you to come, because it was a good place to speak with
them the reason we wished to see them. I am now quite willing to tell you all about
Fort Pelly. The Queen heard that
Americans had come into the country and were treating her
Indian children badly. I myself sent her word that twenty-
five of her Indian children, men, women and children, had been
shot down by the American traders, then she resolved to protect her red children,
for that reason she has determined to
have a body of men on horses as policemen to keep all bad
people, white or red, in order. She will not allow her red
children to be made drunk and shot down again as some of
them were a few months ago. Now you ought to be glad that
you have a Queen who takes such an interest in you. What
are they doing now up at Fort Pelly? The men must have
some place to live in this winter, they cannot live out of doors,
and some men have gone to Fort Pelly to build houses for
them, and the Queen expects that you will do all you can to
help them because they are your friends. There was a treaty
before and Indians are paid under it, but we were told as we
passed Fort Ellice that there were a few Indians there who
were not included in that treaty, and had never been paid, and
they agreed to meet us when we go back. I do not quite
understand another point. We have here Crees, Saulteaux,
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 99
Assiniboines and other Indians, they are all one, and we have
another people, the Half-breeds, they are of your blood and my
blood. The Queen cares for them, one of them is here an
officer with a Queen's coat on his back. At the Lake of the
Woods last winter every Half-Breed who was there with me
was helping me, and I was proud of it, and glad to take the
word back to the Queen, and her servants, and you may rest
easy, you may leave the Half-breeds in the hands of the Queen
who will deal generously and justly with them. There was a
Half-breed came forward to the table. He was only one of
many here. I simply wanted to know whether he was authorized by you to take any part
in the Council, as it is the Indians
alone we are here to meet. He told me you wanted him here
as a witness. We have plenty of witnesses here, but when I
heard that, I welcomed him as I had done you, and shook
hands with him, and he ought to have told you that. I have
given our answer and I have always found this that it is good
for men to try to understand each other, and to speak openly,
if they do that and both are earnest, if their hearts are pure,
they will and can understand each other."
THE GAMBLERââ" I have understood plainly before what he
(the Hudson Bay Company) told me about the Queen. This
country that he (H. B. Co.) bought from the Indians let him
complete that. It is that which is in the way. I cannot
manage to speak upon anything else, when the land was staked
off it was all the Company's work. That is the reason I cannot
speak of other things'."
THE GAMBLERâ"I know what I have to tell you. Who
surveyed this land? Was it done by the Company? This is
the reason I speak of the Company, why are you staying in
the Company's house?"
LIEUT.-GOVERNOR MORRISâ" The Company have a right to
have certain lands granted them by the Queen, who will do
100 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
what is fair and just for the Company, for the Indians, for the
Half-breeds, and for the whites. She will make no distinction.
Whatever she promises she will carry out. The Company are
are nothing to her except that they are carrying on trade in
this country, and that they are subjects to her just as you are.
You ask then why I went to the Company's house? I came
here not at my own pleasure. I am not so strong as you are.
I never slept in a tent in my life before and was only too glad
to find a home to go to."
THE GAMBLERâ" I understand now. And now this Company man. This is the Company man (pointing to
Mr. McDonald). This is the thing I cannot speak of. The Cree does
not know, the Saulteaux does not know. It was never known
when this was surveyed, neither by the Cree nor the Saulteaux."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ"The Company are trading in this
country and they require to have places to carry out their trade.
If the Queen gives them land to hold under her she has a perfect right to do it, just
as she will have a perfect right to lay off
lands for you if you agree to settle on them. I am sorry for
you; I am afraid you have been listening to bad voices who
have not the interests of the Indians at heart. If because of
these things you will not speak to us we will go away with
hearts sorry for you and for your children, who thus throw
back in our faces the hand of the Queen that she has held out
to you."
THE GAMBLERâ" It is very plain who speaks; the Crees are
not speaking, and the Saulteaux is speaking, if the Queen's men
came here to survey the land. I am telling you plainly. I
cannot speak any other thing till this is cleared up. Look at
these children that are sitting around here and also at the tents,
who are just the image of my kindness. There are different
kinds of grass growing here that is just like those sitting
around here. There is no difference. Even from the American
land they are here, but we love them all the same, and when
the white skin comes here from far away I love him all the
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 101
same. I am telling you what our love and kindness is. This
is what I did when the white man came, but when he came
back he paid no regard to me how he carried on."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" I did not know till I came here that
any survey had been made because I had nothing to do with
it; but my friend, one of the Queen's Councillors, tells me it
was done by the authority of the Queen."
THE GAMBLERâ" I want to tell you the right story. I
waited very much for the Queen's messenger when I saw what
the Company did. Perhaps he may know why he did so.
Perhaps if I were to ask him now he would say. That is what
 I would think. This is the reason. I am so pleased at what
 I see here I cannot manage to speak because of the Company.
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ"We cannot see why you cannot speak
to the Queen's messengers because of the Company. The Company is no greater in her
sight than one of those little children
is in yours, and whatever she promises, either to the Company
 or the little child, she will do. The Company ought not to be a
wall between you and us; you will make a mistake if you send
us away with a wall between us, when there should be none."
THE GAMBLERâ" I do not send you away; for all this I am
glad. I know this is not the Queen's work. He (H. B. Co.)
is the head; he does whatever he thinks all around here, that
is the reason I cannot say anything."
THE GAMBLERâ" The Company have stolen our land. I
heard that at first. I hear it is true. The Queen's messengers
never came here, and now I see the soldiers and the settlers
and the policemen. I know it is not the Queen's work, only
the Company has come and they are the head, they are foremost; I do not hold it back.
Let this be put to rights; when
this is righted I will answer the other."
LIEUT. GOV. MORRISâ" The Company have not brought their
soldiers here. This man is not an officer of the Company. I
102 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
am not an officer of the Company. We did not come at the
request of the Company, but at that of the Queen. I told you
that the Queen had sent her policemen here. You see the flag
there, then know that we are the Queen's servants, and not the
Company's, and it is for you to decide on the message I have
delivered to you."
THE GAMBLERâ" When one Indian takes anything from
another we call it stealing, and when we see the present we
say pay us. It is the Company I mean."
THE GAMBLERâ" The earth, trees, grass, stones, all that
which I see with my eyes."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" Who made the earth, the grass, the
stone, and the wood? The Great Spirit. He made them for
all his children to use, and it is not stealing to use the gift of
the Great Spirit. The lands are the Queen's under the Great
Spirit. The Chippewas were not always here. They come from
the East. There were other Indians here and the Chippewas
came here, and they used the wood and the land, the gifts of
the Great Spirit to all, and we want to try and induce you to
believe that we are asking for the good of all. We do not
know how the division between us is to be taken away. We
do not know of any lands that were stolen from you, and if
you do not open your mouths we cannot get the wall taken
away. You can open your mouths if you will; we are patient
but we cannot remain here always.
THE GAMBLERâ" I cannot manage to speak of anything else.
It is this I am speaking. All the Indians know how the Company set their land in order
long ago. The Company is making
it more and that is the reason I am speaking."
LIEUT. -GOVERNOR MORRISâ" Many, many years ago, before
we were born, one of the Kings gave the Company certain
rights to trade in this country. The Queen thought that this
was not just neither to the white nor the red man. She con
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 103sidered that all should be equal; but when the Queen's father's
father's hand had been given she could not take it back without
the Company's consent; therefore she told the Company that
the time had come when they should no longer be the great
power in this country, that she would plant her own flag, that
she would send her own Governor and soldiers, and that they
must cease to have the only right to trade here (and I am
glad to know that some of you are good traders), the Queen
then told the Company that she would govern the country
herself, and she told them she would give them some land.
They had their forts, their places of trade where they raised
cattle and grain, and she told them they could keep them, and
she will no more break with them than she will with you.
There is no reason why you should not talk to us. The
Company have no more power, no more authority to govern
this country than you have, it rests with the Queen."
THE GAMBLERâ" This is the reason I waited for the Queen's
messengers to come here because I knew the Company was
strong and powerful, and I knew they would set everything in
order. Truly since the Company came here they have brought
me many things which are good, but the Company's work is in
my way and I cannot utter my words."Â
THE GAMBLERâ" The survey. This one (pointing to an
Indian) did not say so, and this Saulteaux and he was never
told about it. He should have been told beforehand that this
was to have been done and it would not have been so, and I
want to know why the Company have done so. This is the
reason I am talking so much about it."Â
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" I have told you before that the
Queen had promised to give the Company certain lands around
the forts and she gave them land around this fort. I have
told you that what she promised she will do. She has taken
all the lands in this country to manage ; they were hers ; they
104 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
were her fathers ; if she gives you reserves they will be yours
and she will let no one take them from you unless you want
to sell them yourselves. It will be a sorry thing if this nation
and that nation scattered all over the country are to suffer
because of this little piece of land I see around me. What
good is it going to do to raise up a question of this kind and
block the way to our understanding each other when the
Queen's hand, full of love and generosity is held out to you ?
The blame rests with you ; it is time for you to talk, to open
your mouth, because I cannot take away what shuts it, you
must do it yourselves."
THE GAMBLERâ"This is my chief, the Queen never told
this man. If this had been told him, I would not have said
what I said just now. The Company's store was only there at
first. I do not push back the Queen's hand. Let this be
cleared up.'
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRIS â" Once for all we tell you, whatever
number of acres the Queen has promised to the Company at
this post, they will receive no more and no less. We will
ascertain what was promised, and will take care to see that
what was promised and that only will be performed with
regard to the land around this Fort. We can give you no
other answer."
THE GAMBLERâ"I am telling you and reporting what 1
had to tell. The Company have no right to this earth, but
when they are spoken to they do not desist, but do it in spite
of you. He is the head and foremost. These Indians you see
sitting around report that they only allowed the store to be
put up. That is the reason I was very glad when I heard you
were coming. The Indians were not told of the reserves at all
I hear now, it was the Queen gave the land. The Indians
thought it was they who gave it to the Company, who are now
all over the country. The Indians did not know when the
land was given."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ"I am weary hearing about the
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 105
country. You might understand me now. You are stronger
than that little boy over there, and the Company is stronger
than a single trader, but the Company has its master, the
Queen, and will have to obey the laws as well as all others.
We have nothing to do with the Company. We are here to
talk with you about the land, I tell you what we wish to do
for your good, but if you will talk about the Company I cannot hinder you, I think
it is time now you should talk about
what concerns you all."
THE GAMBLERâ" That is the reason I waited so long. I
cannot speak of anything else, my mind is resting on nothing
else. I know that you will have power and good rules and
this is why I am glad to tell you what is troubling me."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" I have told you before and tell you
again that the Queen cannot and will not undo what she has
done. I have told you that we will see that the Company
shall obey what she has ordered, and get no more and no less
than she has promised. We might talk here all the year and
I could not give you any other answer, and I put it to you
now face to faceâspeak to me about your message, don't put it
aside, if you do the responsibility will rest upon your nation,
and during the winter that is coming, many a poor woman
and child will be saying, how was it that our councillors and
our braves shut their ears to the mouth of the Queen's messengers and refused to tell
them their words. This Company, I
have told you is nothing to us, it is nothing to the Queen, but
their rights have to be respected just as much as those of the
meanest child in the country. The Queen will do right between
you and them. I can say no more than what I have said and if
the Indians will not speak to us we cannot help it, and if the
Indians wont answer our message, we must go back and tell
the Queen that we came here and did everything we could to
show the Indians we were in earnest in proving her love for
them and that when there was a little difficulty, I came at
once to meet them half way. What prevents you from coming
106 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
out and speaking openly. I cannot take away the difficulty
you speak of, and. if you will not answer us, there is no use in
talking."
THE GAMBLERâ"I told the chief of the soldiers what was
in our way, what was troubling us and now we are telling you.
It is that I am working at."
PIS-QUA (the plain) pointing to Mr. McDonald, of the
Hudson's Bay Companyâ" You told me you had sold your land
for so much money, ÂŁ300,000. We want that money."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRIS-" I wish our Indian brother had
spoken before what was in his mind. He has been going here
and there, and we never knew what he meant. I told you that
many years ago the Queen's father's father gave the Company
the right to trade in the country from the frozen ocean to the
United States boundary line, and from the Atlantic Ocean to
the Pacific. The Company grew strong and wanted no one
to trade in the country but themselves. The Queen's people
said, "no, the land is not yours, the Queen's father's father
gave you rights to trade, it is time those rights should stop."
You may go on and trade like any other merchant, but as it
was worth money to you to say to this trader you shall not
buy furs at any post, the Queen would not act unjustly to the
Company. She would not take rights away from them any
more than from you; and to settle the question, she took all
the lands into her own hands and gave the Company a sum of
money in place of the rights which she had taken from them.
She is ready to deal with you justly. We are here to-day to
make to you her good offers. We have nothing to hide,
nothing to conceal. The Queen acts in daylight. I think it is
time you are going to talk with us about the offers we have
made. "
THE GAMBLERâ" I have made up about no other article. I
suppose, indeed, I would make the thing very little and very
small. When I get back I will think over it."
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 107
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" I have a word to say to you. In
our land we worship the Great Spirit, and do not work on
Sunday. I am glad to see that you are going back into
council, and I will only ask you to think of these things with
single hearts desiring only to do what is right and trusting my
words. On Monday morning we will be glad to meet you
here and hope we will find then that your heart has come to
ours, that you will see that it is for your children's good, to
take our hands and the promises we have given. As I told you
before we would be glad to stay longer with you, but we are
obliged to go away. We ask you then to meet us on Monday morning and Mr. Pratt will
tell you so that there may be
no mistake as to what we have promised. He has it written
down so that it may not be rubbed out."
The conference then ended.
FIFTH DAY'S CONFERENCE.
September 14.
Both nations, Crees and Saulteaux, having assembled, His
Honor Lieut.-Governor Morris again addressed them :â
" Children of our Great Mother, I am glad to see you again
after another day. How have you come to meet us ? I hope
you have come to us with good thoughts, and hearts ready to
meet ours. I have one or two words to say to you. It is
twenty days to-day since we left the Red River. We want to turn
our faces homewards. You told me on Saturday that some of
you could eat a great deal. I have something to say to you
about that. There are Indians who live here, they have their
wives and children around them. It is good for them to be
here, and have plenty to eat, but they ought to think of their
brothers ; they ought to think that there are men here who
have come from a distance, from Fort Pelly and beyond, whose
very wives and children are not here to eat, and they want to be at
home with them. It is time now that we began to understand
108 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
each other, and when there is something troubles us, I believe
in telling it. When you told us you were troubled about the
situation of this tent, we had it moved. Now we want you to
take away our trouble, or tell us what you mean. We are
troubled about this. We are servants of the Queen ; we have
been here many days giving you our message, and we have not
yet heard the voice of the nations. We have two nations here.
We have the Crees, who were here first, and we have the
Ojibbeways, who came from our country not many suns ago.
We find them here ; we won't say they stole the land and the
stones and the trees ; no, but we will say this, that we believe
their brothers, the Crees, said to them when they came in here:
"The land is wide, it is wide, it is big enough for us both ; let
us live here like Brothers ;" and that is what you say, as you
told us on Saturday, as to the Half-breeds that I see around.
You say that you are one with them ; now we want all to be
one. We know no difference between Crees and Ojibbeways.
Now we want to ask you are you wiser, do you know more,
than the Ojibbeway people that I met last year? You are a
handful compared with them ; they came to me from the Lake
of the Woods, from Rainy Lake, from the Kaministiquia, and
from the Great Lake. I told them my message, as I have
told you ; they heard my words and they said they were good,
and they took my hand and I gave them mine and the presents ;
but that is not all. There was a band of Ojibbeways who
lived at Lake Seul, to the north of the Lake of the Woods,
400 in number, and just before we came away we sent our
messenger to them. He told them I had shaken hands for
the Queen with all the Ojibbeways down to the Great Lake.
He told them what we had done for these, and asked them if
they found it good to take the Queen's hand through our
messenger; they were pleased ; they signed the treaty ; they
put their names to it, saying, We take what you promised to
the other Saulteaux ; and our messenger gave them the money,
just as our messengers will give your brothers who are not
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 109
here the money if we understand each other. Now, we ask
you again, are you wiser than your brothers that I have seen
before? I do not think that you will say you are, but we
want you to take away our last trouble. What I find strange
is this: we are Chiefs; we have delivered the message of our
great Queen, whose words never change, whose tongue and
the tongues of whose messengers are never forked ; and how is
it that we have not heard any voice back from the Crees or
Saulteaux, or from their Chiefs? I see before me two Chiefs ;
we know them to be Chiefs, because we see you put them
before you to shake hands with us. They must have been
made Chiefs, not for anything we are talking about to-day, not
for any presents we are offering to you, not because of the
land ; then why are they chiefs? Because I see they are old
men ; the winds of many winters have whistled through their
branches. I think they must have learned wisdom ; the words
of the old are wise ; why then, we ask ourselvesâand this is
our troubleâWhy are your Chiefs dumb? They can speak.
One of them is called "Loud Voice." He must have been
heard in the councils of the nation. Then I ask myself, why
do they not answer? It cannot be that you are afraid; you
are not women. In this country, now, no man need be afraid.
If a white man does wrong to an Indian, the Queen will
punish them. The other day at Fort Ellice, a white man, it is
said, stole some furs from an Indian. The Queen's policemen
took him at once; sent him down to Red River, and he is
lying in jail now ; and if the Indians prove that he did wrong,
he will be punished. You see then that if the white man
does wrong to the Indian he will punished ; and it will be the
same if the Indian does wrong to the white man. The red
and white man must live together, and be good friends, and
the Indians must live together like brothers with each other
and the white man. I am afraid you are weary of my talking.
Why do I talk so much? Because I have only your good at
heart. I do not want to go away with my head down, to send
110 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
word to the Queen, "Your red children could not see that
your heart was good towards them ; could not see as you see
that it was for the good of themselves and their children's
children to accept the good things you mean for them." I
have done. Let us hear the voice of the people. Let us hear
the voice of your old wise men."
COTEâ" The same man that has spoken will speak yet."
KA-KIE-SHE-WAY (Loud Voice)âThis is the one who will
speak ; after he speaks I will show what I have to say."
Lieut.-Gov. MORRISâ" Understand me, what I want to
know is, does he speak for the nations. If you prefer to speak
by the voice of an orator I am glad. All we want is to hear
the voice of the people, and I asked you at first to choose
among yourselves those who would speak for you ; therefore I
am glad to hear the man you have chosen, and I am glad to
hear that after he has done the Chief will speak to us."
THE GAMBLERâ" Saturday we met, we spoke to each other,
we met at such a time as this time, and again we said we
would tell each other something ; now, then, we will report to
each other a little again. This Company man that we were
speaking about, I do not hate him; as I loved him before I
love him still, and I also want that the way he loved me at
first he should love me the same; still, I wish that the Company would keep at his
work the same as he did ; that I want
to be signed on the paper. I want you to put it with your
own hands. After he puts that there it is given to the
Indians, then there will be another article to speak about.
The Indians want the Company to keep at their post and
nothing beyond. After that is signed they will talk about
something else."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ"I told you on Saturday that I had
nothing to do with the Company. The Company have a right
to trade. I cannot make them buy goods and bring them
here, or stop them from bringing them. I dare say some of
you are traders ; you do not ask me whether you shall buy
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 111
goods and sell them again, and I do not stop you. It is the
same way with the Company. If they make money in bringing goods here they will bring
them just as they used to do ;
and I want you to understand it fully, the Company may have
a little more money than the white traders, or the Half-
breeds, or the Indians, but they have no more right, they have
no more privileges, to trade than the Indians, or the Half-
breeds, or the whites ; and that is written with a higher hand
than ours, and we have no power to write anything, or to add
anything, to what is written and remains in the Queen's house
beyond the sea."
THE GAMBLERâ" I do not want to drive the Company anywhere. What I said is, that they are to remain
here at their
house. Supposing you wanted to take them away, I would
not let them go. I want them to remain here to have nothing
but the trade. I do not hate them ; we always exchange with
them, and would die if they went away."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" I do not know whether we rightly
understand or not. I think you have spoken wise words ; the
Company helps you to live, and they have a right to sell goods
as other traders. I do not know that I understand you rightly,
that you do not want them to sell goods anywhere except at
the posts; to keep at their posts there. If that is what you
mean, I cannot say yes to that ; they have the same right to
sell goods anywhere that you have. They are no longer as
they were once. The Government of the country, I think I
told you that beforeâunderstand me distinctlyâthe Government have nothing to do with
the Company, but the Company
and all their servants are subjects of the Queen and love and
obey her laws. The day has gone past when they made the
laws. They have to hear the laws the Queen makes, and like
good subjects submit to them.
THE GAMBLERâ" The Company is not to carry anything out
into the country, but are to trade in the Fort. That is what we
want signed on the paper ; then we will talk on other subjects."
112 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" I have told you before, and I tell
you again, that the Company as traders have the right to sell
goods anywhere they please, just as you have, just as the
whites have, just as the Half-breeds have, and we have no
power to take it away from them. If the Company were to
ask me to say to you that you were not to trade anywhere
except in their Fort by the lake, you would think it very hard,
and I would say to the Company, No, you shall not interfere
with the Indians throughout our land. I would like to give
you pleasure but I cannot do wrong; we won't deceive you
with smooth words. We will tell you the simple truth what
we can do and what we cannot. do, but we cannot interfere as
you ask us."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" No; the Queen has signed the great
paper, and the Company have no more rights than any one
else, but they have the same."
KA-KIE-SHE-WAY (Loud Voice)â" I would not be at a loss,
but I am, because we are not unitedâthe Crees and the
Salteauxâthis is troubling me. I am trying to bring all
together in one mind, and this is delaying us. If we could
put that in order, if we were all joined together and everything
was right I would like it. I would like to part well satisfied
and pleased. I hear that His Excellency is unwell, and I
wish that everything would be easy in his mind. It is this
that annoys me, that things do not come together. I wish for
one day more, and after that there would not be much in my
way."
COTEâ" You wanted me to come here and I came here. I
find nothing, and I do not think anything will go right.
I know what you want ; I cannot speak of anything here concerning my own land until
I go to my own land. Whenever
you desire to see me I will tell you what you are asking me
here. Now I want to return."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" We asked the Chief to come here.
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 113
He has as much right to be here as another Indian. We
cannot go there and ask the people of the two great tribes to
meet in one place as they have done when they were asked to
meet us. You have had many days to talk together. If the
Saulteaux are determined that they want an agreement to prevent the Company from trading,
it cannot be given. I think
the Chief here spoke wisely. He says he is in trouble because
you do not understand each other. Why are you not of one
mind? Have you tried to be of one mind ?' Must we go back
and say we have had you here so many days, and that you
had not the minds of menâthat you were not able to understand each other? Must we
go back and tell the Queen that
we held out our hands for her, and her red children put them
back again? If that be the message that your conduct to-day
is going to make us carry back, I am sorry for you, and fear it
will be a long day before you again see the Queen's Councillors
here to try to do you good. The Queen and her Councillors
may think that you do not want to be friends, that you do not
want your little ones to be taught, that you do not want when
the food is getting scarce to have a hand in yours stronger
than yours to help you. Surely you will think again before
you turn your backs on the offers ; you will not let so little a
question as this about the Company, without whom you tell me
you could not live, stop the good we mean to do. I hope that
I am perfectly understood ; when we asked the chief here we
wanted to speak with him about his lands at his place ; when
we asked "Loud Voice " here we wanted to speak with him
about the land at his place ; so when we asked the other
chiefs here we wanted to speak with them about the lands at
their places. Why? because we did not want to do anything
that you would not all know about, that there might be no
bad feelings amongst you. We wanted you to be of one mind
and heart in this matter, and that is the reason you are here
to-day. Now it rests with you; we have done all we could.
Have you anything more to say to us, or are we to turn our
114 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
backs upon you, and go away with sorry hearts for you and
your children? It remains for you to say."
THE GAMBLERâ" We do not understand you and what you
are talking about. I do not keep it from you ; we have not
chosen our Chiefs; we have not appointed our soldiers and
councillors ; we have not looked around us yet, and chosen our
land, which I understand you to tell us to choose. We do not
want to play with you, but we cannot appoint our Chiefs and
head men quickly; that is in the way. Now it is near midday, and we cannot appoint
our Chiefs. This Chief who got
up lastâthe Queen's name was used when he was appointed
to be Chiefâhe wants to know where his land is to be and see
it. what like it is to be, and to find the number of his children ;
that is what is in his mind. He says he came from afar, he
had a good mind for coming, and he takes the same good mind
away with him. I have not heard him say to the Saulteaux to
keep back their land."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" I think I understand you. We do
not want to separate in bad feeling, or to avoid any trouble in
coming to an understanding with you ; because I do not believe
that if we do not agree it will ever be my good fortune to
endeavor to do so again. "Loud Voice," the Chief, has told us
he wants a day to think it over. The Chief "Cote," from the
north, would like to go home, but I am sure he will stop a day
and try to understand his brothers, and agree as the others did
at the Lake of the Woods. I put my name, and the Chiefs and
the head men put theirs, and I gave the Chief a copy, and I
told him when I went home to Red River I would have it all
written out, a true copy made on skin, that could not be
rubbed out, that I would send a copy to his people so that
when we were dead and gone the letter would be there to
speak for itself, to show everything that was promised ; and
that was the right way to do. I did so, and sent a copy of the
treaty written in letters of blue. gold, and black to the Chief
"Maw-do-pe-nais," whom the people had told to keep it for
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 115
them. He who speaks for the Saulteaux tells us they have
not made up their minds yet about the landâhe tells us they
have not decided to refuse our hands. I am glad to hear him
say that, and if it will please my Indian brethren here we will
be glad to wait another day and meet them here to-morrow
morning, if they will promise me with the words of men that
they will look this matter straight in the face ; that they will
lay aside every feeling except the good of their people, and try
to see what is right, and that they will come back and say,
'We have done our best, we have tried to be of one mind, and
consideled what was best for now, and to-morrow, and the
years that are to come when we have all passed away. This is
our answer. We are very much in earnest about this matter.'
The Chief said I was not very well, yet I am here. Why?
Because the duty was laid upon me. I was afraid of the
journey ; but when a Chief has a duty to do he tries to do it,
and I felt that if I could do you any good, as I believed I
could, I ought to be here. I tell you this, trust my words,
they come from the heart of one who loves the Indian people,
and who is charged by his Queen to tell them the words of
truth."
SIXTH DAY's CONFERENCE.
The Crees having come and shaken hands, His Honor Lieut.-
Gov. Morris rose and said :
"My friends, I have talked much ; I would like to hear
your voices, I would like to hear what you say."
KA-KU-ISH-MAY, (Loud Voiceâa principal chief of the Crees)
â" I am very much pleased with that, to listen to my friends,
for certainly it is good to report to each other what is for the
benefit of each other. We see the good you wish to show us.
If you like what we lay before you we will like it too. Let
us join together and make the Treaty ; when both join together
it is very good."
116 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
The Saulteaux arrived at this juncture, when the Lieut.-Governor said :Â
" I will say to the two tribes what I said to the Crees before
the Saulteaux came. You have heard my voice for many days,
you know its sound. You have looked in my face, you have
seen my mind through my face, and you know my words are
true and that they do not change. But I am not here to talk
to-day, I am here to listen. You have had our message, you
have had the Queen's words. It is time now that you spoke.
I am here to listen, my ears are open. It is for you to speak."
KAMOOSESâ" Brothers, I have one word and a small one,
that is the reason I cannot finish anything that is large. You
do not see the whole number of my tribe which is away at my
back, that is the reason I am so slow in making ready."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ"I want to hear the voice of those
who are here, they can speak for themselves and for those who
are away."
CHE-E-KUK (the Worthy One)â" My ears are open to what
you say. Just now the Great Spirit is watching over us ; it
is good, He who has strength and power is overlooking our
doings. I want very much to be good in what we are going to
talk about, and our Chiefs will take you by the hand just now."
The Chiefs now rose and shook hands with the Commissioners.
KA-HA-OO-KUS-KA-TOO (he who walks on four claws)â" It is
very good to meet together on a fine day, father. When my
father used to bring me anything I used to go and meet him,
and when my father had given it to me I gave it to my mother
to cook it. When we come to join together one half at least
will come."
CHE-E-KUK (the Worthy)â" Now I am going to tell you, and
you say .your ears are open. You see the Qu'Appelle Lake
Indians that you wished to see, you hear me speak but there
are many far away, and that is the reason I cannot speak for
these my children who are away trying to get something to
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 117
eat ; the Crees my child is not here, the Saulteaux my child is
not here, the Young Dogs are not here, the Stonies my children
are not here ; this is not the number that you see ; I am only
telling you this, I think I have opened my mind."
LIEUT.-GOV MORRISâ" I know you are not all here. We
never could get you all together, but you know what is good
for you and for your children. When I met the Saulteaux last
year we had not 4,000 there, but there were men like you who
knew what was good for themselves, for their wives, for their
children, and those not born. I gave to those who were there,
and they took my hand and took what was in it, and I sent to
those who were away, and I did for them just as I did for
those who were present. It is the same to-day. What we are
ready to give you will be given to those who are not here.
What is good for you, what you think will be good for you
will be good for them. It is for you to say, not for us ; we
have done all that men who love their red brothers can do ; it
is for you now to act, on you rests the duty of saying whether
you believe our message or not, whether you want the Queen
to help you or not, whether or not you will go away and let
the days and the years go on, and let the food grow scarcer, and
let your children grow up and do nothing to keep off the hunger
and the cold that is before them. It is for you to say that,
not for us; if we had not your good at heart we would not have
been here, and we would not have labored these many days, if
our hearts were not warm towards you, and if we did not
believe what we are doing, would be for your good as children
of our Queen. I have said all."
KAN-OO-SESâ "Is it true you are bringing the Queen's
kindness? Is it true you are bringing the Queen's messenger's kindness? Is it true
you are going to give my
child what he may use? Is it true you are going to give
the different bands the Queen's kindness? Is it true that you
bring the Queen's hand? Is it true you are bringing the
Queen's power ?"
118 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
Liet.-Gov. MORRISâ" Yes, to those who are here and those
who are absent, such as she has given us."
KAMOOSESâ" Is it true that my child will not be troubled
for what you are bringing him ?"
KAMOOSESâ" Now, I am going to ask you that the debt
that has been lying in the Company's store, I want that to be
wiped out. I ask it from the great men of the Queen."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ"I told you before we have nothing
to do with the Company, we have nothing to do with its debts.
I have told you what we will do for you, What the Queen will
do for you forever. But the money that the Indian owes the
Company is just like the money that the Indians owe to each
other or to any trader and is not due to the Queen. We have
no power to put money in your hands and your children's to
pay your debts, and it would not be right for the Queen to
come in and take away either what is between you and the
Company, or what is between you and the traders, or what is
betwen you and each other. If one of you owes the Chief is it
right that the Queen should wipe it out? I would be very
glad if we had it in our power to wipe out your debts, but it is
not in our power. All we can do is to put money in your
hands and promise to put money in the hands of those who are
away, and give you money every year afterwards, and help
you to make a living when the food is scarce. I have told
you from the first that whether my words please you or not I
will tell you only the truth, and I will only speak as far as
the Queen has given us power."
(He who walks on four claws)â" Whenever you give to
these my children what they desire, then you will get what
you want."
LIEUT-Gov. Morris---"We will give them what we have
power to give. We are ready to hear."
KAMOOSESâ" Yes, I understand and my heart also, but it is
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 119
not large, it is small, and my understanding is small ; that is
the word I tell you."
LIEUT-GOV. MORRISâ" I have told you what we are ready
to do for you. Your understanding is large enough to know
what is good for you. We have talked these many days, and
I ask you now to talk straight, to tell me your mind, to tell
me whether you wish to take our offers or not, it is for you to
say."
KEE-E-KUKâ" Twenty dollars we want to be put in our hand
every year, this we have heard from the others. Twenty-five
dollars to each chief."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" If I understand you aright you are
mistaken. The Saulteaux did not get twenty-five dollars per
head. They get five dollars every year. We promised them
five dollars every year, and a messenger was sent this year to
pay them that sum. I may tell you that my children at the Lake
of the Woods had big hearts to ask. You say you have small.
I told them that if the Queen gave them all they asked I
would have to ask her to allow me to become an Indian, but I
told them I could not give them what they asked, and when
they understood that, and understood the full breadth and width
of the Queen's goodness, they took what I offered, and I think
if you are wise you will do the same."
(A proposition was made here by an Indian that they should
receive five dollars per head every second year for fifty years,
but he must have done so without authority as it was not
acceded to by the other Indians who expressed their dissent
strongly as soon as the offer was made.)
KAMOOSESâ" I am going to speak for Loud Voice and for
tho other chiefs. Some chiefs are not here, they are absent,
hereafter you will see them. I myself will tell them, and my
child that is at my back will tell them also. \Vill you receive
that which I am asking? I want to clear up what the Indians
and I want to try and put it right, what my child will say.
Well, can you give me that. We Want the same Treaty you
120 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
have given to the North-West Angle. This I am asking for."
LIEUT.-Gov. Morrisâ"Who are you speaking for? Is it'
for the whole of the Indians? (They expressed their assent.)
Are you ready to carry it out? (They again assented.) Are
your chiefs ready to sign this afternoon if we grant you these
terms? (The Indians assented unanimously.) It is now after
twelve, we will speak to you this afternoon."
The Conference here ended to allow the Commissioners time
to consult.
AFTERNOON CONFERENCE.
The Indians having assembled, presented the Chiefs, Whose
names appear on the Treaty to the Commissioners as their
Chiefs.
KAMOOSESâ" To-day we are met together here and our
minds are open. We want to know the terms of the North-
West Angle Treaty."
LIEUT.-Gov. Morrisâ"Do we understand that you want
the same terms which were given at the Lake of the Woods.
(The Indians assented.) I have the Treaty here in a book.
You must know that the steamboats had been running through
their waters, and our soldiers had been marching through their
country, and for that reason we offered the Ojibbeways a larger
sum than we offered you. Last year it was a present, covering
five years ; with you it was a present for this year only. I paid
the Indians there a present in money down of twelve dollars
per head. I have told you why we offered you less, and you
will see there were reasons for it. That is the greatest difference between what we
offered you and what was paid them,
but on the other hand there were some things promised you
that were not given at the Lake of the Woods. (His Honor
then explained the terms granted in that Treaty.) We
promised there that the Queen would spend $1,500 per year to
buy shot and powder, ball and twine. There were 4,000 of
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 121
them. I offered you $1,000 although you are only one-half
the number, as I do not think you number more than 2,000.
Your proportionate share would be $750 which you shallreceive.
Then at the Lake of the Woods each Chief had their head men;
we have said you would have four who shall have fifteen dollars each per year, and
as at the Lake of the Woods each Chief
and head man will receive a suit of clothing once in three
years, and each Chief on signing the treaty will receive a medal
and the promise of a flag. We cannot give you the flag now,
as there were none to be bought at Red River, but we have
the medals here. Now I have told you the terms we gave at
the North-West Angle of the Lake of the Woods, and you
will see that the only difference of any consequence between
there and what we offered you is in the money payment that
we give as a present, and I have told you why we made the
difference, and you will see that it was just. We had to speak
with them for four years that had gone away. We speak to
you only for four days. It was not that we came in the spirit of
traders, but because we were trying to do what was just
between you and the Queen, and the other Indians who would
say that we had treated you better than we had treated them
because we put the children of this year on the same footing
as these children through whose land we had been passing and
running our steamboats for four years. You see when you ask
us to tell you everything, we show you all that has been done,
and I have to tell you again that the Ojibbeways at Lake
Seul who number 400, when I sent a messenger this spring
with a copy of those terms made at the North-West Angle
with their nation, took the Queen's hand by my messenger and
made the same treaty. I think I have told you all you want
to know, and our ears are open again."
KAMOOSESâ" I want to put it a little light for all my children around me, something more on
the top. For my chief
thirty dollars, for my four chief head men twenty dollars, and
each of my young children fifteen dollars a year."
122 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" I am afraid you are not talking
to us straight ; when we went away you asked us to give you
the terms given at the Lake of the Woods; you asked to know
what they were, and the moment I told you, you ask three
times as much for your children as I gave them. That would
not be right; and it is well that you should know that we have
not power to do so ; we can give you no more than we gave
them. We hope you are satisfied. I have one word more to
say, we are in the last hours of the day you asked us for and
we must leave you. The utmost we can do, the furthest we
can go or that we ought to go is, to do what you asked, to give
you the terms granted last year at the Lake of the Woods.
We can do no more, and you have our last words. It is
for you to say whether you are satisfied or not."
KAMOOSESâ" We ask that we may have cattle."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" We offered you cattle on the first
day, we offered your Chief cattle for the use of his bandânot
for himself, but for the use of his band; we gave the same at
the Lake of the Woods. We can give no more here."
KAMOOSESâ" We want some food to take us home."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" When you sign the treaty, provisions will be given to take you home. Now I ask
you, are
you ready to accept the offer, the last offer we can make, you
will see we have put you on the same footing as the Indians
at the Lake of the Woods, and we think it is more than we
ought to give, but rather than not close the matter we have
given it, we have talked long enough about this. It is time
we did something. Now I would ask, are the Crees and
the Saulteaux and the other Indians ready to make the treaty
with us. Since we went away we have had the treaty written
out, and we are ready to have it signed, and we will leave a
copy with any Chief you may select and after we leave we
will have a copy written out on skin that cannot be rubbed
out and put up in a tin box, so that it cannot be wet, so that
The Qu'Appelle Treaty. 123
you can keep it among yourselves so that when we are dead
our children will know what was written."
KAMOOSESâ" Yes, we want each Chief to have a copy of
the treaty, we ask that the Half-breeds may have the right of
hunting."
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" We will send a copy to each Chief.
As to the Half-breeds, you need not be afraid ; the Queen will
deal justly, fairly and generously with all her children."
The Chiefs then signed the treaty, after having been assured
that they would never be made ashamed of what they then
did.
One of the Chiefs on being asked to do so signed ; the second
called on said he was promised the money when he signed,
and returned to his seat without doing so. The Lieutenant-
Governor called him forwardâheld out his hand to him and
said, take my hand ; it holds the money. If you can trust us
forever you can do so for half an hour; sign the treaty. The
Chief took the Governor's hands and touched the pen, and the
others followed. As soon as the treaty was signed the Governor
expressed the satisfaction of the Commissioners with the Indians, and said that Mr.
Christie and Mr. Dickieson, the Private Secretary of the Minister of the Interior,
were ready to
advance the money presents, but the Indians requested that
the payment should be postponed till next morning, which was
acceded to. The Chiefs then formally approached the Commissioners and shook hands
with them, after which the conference
adjourned, the Commissioners leaving the place of meeting
under escort of the command of Lieut.-Col. Smith, who had
been in daily attendance.
124 The Treaties of Canada with the Indians.
Report of the interview at Fort Ellice between the Indian
Commissioners and certain Saulteaux Indians not present
at Qu'Appelle, and not included in Treaty Number Two,
the Chief being Way-wa-se-ca-pow, or "the Man proud
of standing upright :"
Lieut.-Governor Morris said he had been here before, and since
that time he had met the Crees and Saulteaux nations, and had
made a treaty with them. The Indians there were from Fort
Pelly and as far distant as the Cypress Hills. He wished to
know the number of the Saulteaux to be found in this locality.Â
The Chief said there were about thirty tents who were not
at Qu'Appelle, and ten who were there.
LIEUT.-Gov. MORRISâThe Commissioners here are representing the Queen. I made a treaty with the Saulteaux
last year at
the Lake of the Woods. They were not a little handful; but
there were 4,000 of themâand now we have made a treaty
with the Crees and Saulteaux at Qu'Appelle. There is not much
need to say muchâit is good for the Indians to make treaties
with the Queenâgood for them and their wives and children.
Game is getting scarce and the Queen is willing to help her
children. Now we are ready to give you what we gave the
Saulteaux at the Lake of the Woods and the Saulteaux and
Crees at Qu'Appelle. It will be for you to say whether you
will accept it or not." His Honor then explained the treaty
to them.
" What we offer will be for your good, as it will help you, and
not prevent you from hunting.
"We are not traders. I have told you all we can do and all
we will do. It is for you to say whether you will accept my
hand or not. I cannot wait long. I think you are not wiser
than your brothers. Our ears are open, you can speak to us."
LONG CLAWS-â"My fatherâI shake hands with you, I shake
hands with the Queen."
The Fort Ellice Treaty. 125
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" I forgot to say that we will be able
to give you a small present, some powder and shot, blankets
and calicoes. Each band must have a Chief and four headmen,
but you are not all here to-day. I want to-day to know the
Chief and two headmen.
"Now I want to know will you take my hand and what is
in it."
The Indians came up and shook hands in token of acceptance.
LIEUT.-GOV. MORRISâ" I am glad to shake hands with you ;
the white man and the red man have shaken hands and are
friends. You must be good subjects to the Queen and obey
her laws."
The Indians introduced as their Chief, Way-wa-se-ca-pow;
and as their headmen, Ota-ma-koo-euin and Shaponetung's first
son.
His Honor then explained the memorandum to them, when
it was signed.
Cet individu a participé aux :
