COPY OF THE ROBINSON TREATY Made in the Year 1850 WITH THE OJIBEWA INDIANS OF LAKE HURON CONVEYING CERTAIN LANDS TO THE CROWN
Reprinted from the
edition of 1939 by
ROGER DUHAMEL,
F.R.S.C.
QUEEN'S PRINTER AND CONTROLLER OF STATIONERY
OTTAWA, 1964
Cat. No. Ci 72-1264
THIS AGREEMENT,
made and entered into this ninth day of September, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty, at Sault Ste. Marie, in the
Province of Canada, between the Honorable
WILLIAM BENJAMIN ROBINSON, of the one part, on behalf of HER
MAJESTY THE QUEEN, and SHINGUACOUSE NEBENAIGOCHING, KEOKOUSE,
MISHEQUONGA, TAGAWININI, SHABOKISHICK, DOKIS, PONEKEOSH, WINDAWTEGOWININI,
SHAWENAKESHICK, NAMASSIN, NAOQUAGABO, WABAKEKIK, KITCHEPOSSIGUN by
PAPASAINSE, WAGEMAKI, PAMEQUONAISHEUNG, Chiefs; and JOHN BELL,
PAQWATCHININI, MASHEKYASH, IDOWEKESIS, WAQUACOMICK, OCHEEK, METIGOMIN,
WATACHEWANA, MINWAWAPENASSE, SHENAOQUOM, ONINGEGUN, PANAISSY, PAPASAINSE,
ASHEWASEGA, KAGESHEWAWETUNG, SHAWONEBIN; and also Chief MAISQUASO
(also Chiefs MUCKATA, MISHOQUET, and MEKIS), and
MISHOQUETTO and ASA WASWANAY and PAWISS, principal
men of the OJIBEWA INDIANS, inhabiting and claiming the Eastern
and Northern Shores of Lake Huron, from Penetanguishine to Sault Ste.
Maire, and thence to Batchewanaung Bay, on the Northern Shore of Lake
Superior; together with the Islands in the said Lakes, opposite to the
Shores thereof, and inland to the Height of land which separates the
Territory covered by the charter of the Honorable Hudson Bay Company
from Canada; as well as all unconceded lands within the limits of Canada
West to which they have any just claim, of the other part, witnesseth:
THAT
for, and in consideration of the sum of two thousand pounds of good
and lawful money of Upper Canda, to them in hand paid, and for the further
perpetual annuity of six hundred pounds of like money, the same to be
paid and delivered to the said Chiefs and their Tribes at a convenient
season of each year, of which due notice will be given, at such places
as may be appointed for that purpose, they the said Chiefs and Principal
men, on behalf of their respective Tribes or Bands, do hereby fully,
freely, and voluntarily surrender, cede, grant, and convey unto Her
Majesty, her heirs and successors for ever, all their right, title,
and interest to, and in the whole of, the territory above described,
save and except the reservations set forth in the schedule hereunto
annexed; which reservations shall be held and occupied by the said Chiefs
and their Tribes in common, for their own use and benefit.
And
should the said Chiefs and their respective Tribes at any time desire
to dispose of any part of such reservations, or of any mineral or other
valuable productions thereon, the same will be sold or leased at their
request by the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs for the time
being, or other officer having authority so to do, for their sole benefit,
and to the best advantage.
And
the said William Benjamin Robinson of the first part, on behalf of Her
Majesty and the Government of this Province, hereby promises and agrees
to make, or cause to be made, the payments as before mentioned; and
further to allow the said Chiefs and their Tribes the full and free
privilege to hunt over the Territory now ceded by them, and to fish
in the waters thereof, as they have heretofore been in the habit of
doing; saving and excepting such portions of the said Territory as may
from time to time be sold or leased to individuals or companies of individuals,
and occupied by them with the consent of the Provincial Government.
The
parties of the second part further promise and agree that they will
not sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any portion of their Reservations
without the consent of the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs,
or other officer of like authority, being first had and obtained. Nor
will they at any time hinder or prevent persons from exploring or searching
for minerals, or other valuable productions, in any part of the Territory
hereby ceded to Her Majesty, as before mentioned. The parties of the
second part also agree, that in case the Government of this Province
should before the date of this agreement have sold, or bargained to
sell, any mining locations, or other property, on the portions of the
Territory hereby reserved for their use; then and in that case such
sale, or promise of sale, shall be perfected by the Government, if the
parties claiming it shall have fulfilled all the conditions upon which
such locations were made, and the amount accruing therefrom shall be
paid to the Tribe to whom the Reservation belongs.
The
said William Benjamin Robinson, on behalf of Her Majesty, who desires
to deal liberally and justly with all her subjects, further promises
and agrees, that should the Territory hereby ceded by the parties of
the second part at any future period produce such an amount as will
enable the Government of this Province, without incurring loss, to increase
the annuity hereby secured to them, then and in that case the same shall
be augmented from time to time, provided that the amount paid to each
individual shall not exceed the sum of one pound Provincial Currency
in any one year, or such further sum as Her Majesty may be graciously
pleased to order; and provided further that the number of Indians entitled
to the benefit of this treaty shall amount to two-thirds of their present
number, which is fourteen hundred and twenty-two, to entitle them to
claim the full benefit thereof. And should they not at any future period
amount to two-thirds of fourteen hundred and twenty-two, then the said
annuity shall be diminished in proportion to their actual numbers.
The
said William Benjamin Robinson of the first part further agrees, on
the part of Her Majesty and the Government of this Province, that in
consequence of the Indians inhabiting French River and Lake Nipissing
having become parties to this treaty, the further sum of one hundred
and sixty pounds Provincial Currency shall be paid in addition to the
two thousand pounds above mentioned.
Schedule of
Reservations made by the above-named subscribing Chiefs
and Principal Men.
FIRST
--Pamequonaishcung and his Band, a tract of land to commence seven miles,
from the mouth of the River Maganetawang, and extending six miles east
and west by three miles north.
SECOND
--Wagemake and his Band, a tract of land to commence at a place called
Nekickshegeshing, six miles from east to west, by three miles in depth.
THIRD--Kitcheposkissegan
(by Papasainse), from Point Grondine westward, six miles inland, by
two miles in front, so as to include the small Lake Nessinassung a tract
for themselves and their Bands.
FOURTH---
Wabakekik, three miles front, near Shebawenaning, by five miles inland,
for himself and Band.
FIFTH--Namassin
and Naoquagabo and their Bands, a tract of land commencing near Qacloche,
at the Hudson Bay Company's boundary; thence westerly to the mouth of
Spanish River; then four miles up the south bank of said river, and
across to the place of beginning.
SIXTH
--Shawenakishick and his Band, a tract of land now occupied by them,
and contained between two rivers, called Whitefish River, and Wanabitaseke,
seven miles inland.
SEVENTH
--Windawtegawinini and his Band, the Peninsula east of Serpent River,
and formed by it, now occupied by them.
EIGHTH
--Ponekeosh and his Band, the land contained between the River Mississaga
and the River Penebewabecong, up to the first rapids.
NINTH
--Dokis and his Band, three miles square at Wanabeyakokaun, near Lake
Nipissing and the island near the Fall of Okickandawt.
TENTH
--Shabokishick and his Band, from their present planting grounds on
Lake Nipissing to the Hudson Bay Company's post, six miles in depth.
ELEVENTH
--Tagawinini and his Band, two miles square at Wanabitibing, a place
about forty miles inland, near Lake Nipissing.
TWELFTH
-- Keokouse and his Band, four miles front from Thessalon River eastward,
by four miles inland.
THIRTEENTH
-- Mishequanga and his Band, two miles on the lake shore east and west
of Ogawaminang, by one mile inland.
FOURTEENTH
-- For Shinguacouse and his Band, a tract of land extending from Maskinongé
Bay, inclusive, to Partridge Point, above Garden River on the front,
and inland ten miles, throughout the whole distance; and also Squirrel
Island.
FIFTEENTH
-- For Nebenaigoching and his Band, a tract of land extending from Wanabekineyunnung
west of Gros Cap to the boundary of the lands ceded by the Chiefs of
Lake Superior, and inland ten miles throughout the whole distance, including
Batchewanaung Bay; and also the small island at Sault Ste. Marie used
by them as a fishing station.
SIXTEENTH
-- For Chief Mekis and his Band, residing at Wasaquesing (Sandy Island),
a tract of land at a place on the main shore opposite the Island; being
the place now occupied by them for residence and cultivation, four miles
square.
SEVENTEENTH
-- For Chief Muckatamishaquet and his Band, a tract of land on the east
side of the River Naishconteong, near Pointe aux Barils, three miles
square; and also a small tract in Washauwenega Bay -- now occupied by
a part of the Band -- three miles square.
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