D. C. Scott, Esq.,
Deputy Superintendent
General,
Department
of Indian Affairs,
Ottawa.
SIR,--I have the
honour to submit herewith the report on treaty made by me on authority
granted by Order in Council, dated March 14, last, as Commissioner to
negotiate a treaty with the Indians occupying the territory north of
the 60th parallel and along the Mackenzie river and the Arctic ocean.
I left Edmonton
on June 8, 1921, accompanied by Inspector W. B. Bruce, Constable Wood
and Constable Campbell, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Constable
Campbell acted as my clerk for the summer.
Arriving at Fort
McMurray on June 11, we left there on the 14th in a houseboat, the property
of the Hudson's Bay Company, which company had made all arrangements
for the transportation of the treaty party during the summer in the
North.
We arrived at Fort
Fitzgerald on June 18, crossed the portage to Fort Smith, and boarded
the ss. Mackenzie River on June 20 for Fort Providence, at which
place the first adhesion to Treaty 11 was to be taken. July 5 was the
date set for the meeting of the Indians and myself to take place at
Fort Providence, and, in order to arrive in good time, I thought it
better for me and my party to proceed there by the ss. Mackenzie
River, and let the houseboat take us up again at this point. The
transportation of the houseboat across the portage at Fort Smith took
several days.
On our arrival
at Fort Providence, on June 20, I found the Indians were not at the
post, as we were there before the date set for the meeting, so word
was sent of my arrival, and the majority of the Providence Indians living
at Willow Lake arrived on June 25, those at Trout Lake not till July
2. I had several meetings with them, and explained the terms of treaty.
They were very apt in asking questions, and here, as in all the other
posts where the treaty was signed, the questions asked and the difficulties
encountered were much the same. The Indians seemed afraid, for one thing,
that their liberty to hunt, trap and fish would be taken away or curtailed,
but were assured by me that this would not be the case, and the Government
will expect them to support themselves in their own way, and, in fact,
that more twine for nets and more ammunition were given under the terms
of this treaty than under any of the preceding ones; this went a long
way to calm their fears. I also pointed out that any game laws made
were to their advantage, and, whether they took treaty or not, they
were subject to the laws of the Dominion. They also seemed afraid that
they would be liable for military service if the treaty was signed,
that they would be confined on the reserves, but, when told that they
were exempt from military service, and that the reserves mentioned in
the treaty would be of their own choosing, for their own use, and not
for the white people, and that they would be free to come and go as
they pleased, they were satisfied.
Practically all
the bands dealt with wanted more provision for medical attendance at
each post, schools for their children, and supplies for their old and
destitute.
I pointed out that
they were still able to make their own living, and that Dr. A. L. McDonald,
of the Indian Department, was then with me, and that they could see
him, and that he would attend them free if they wished, but that it
was impossible for the Government to furnish regular medical attention,
when they were occupying such a vast tract of territory. Schools were
already established, and their children receiving free education, and
supplies were left at each point for the sick and destitute.
The treaty was
signed at Fort Providence on June 27, and the following were paid:--
Our houseboat arrived
on July 5, and we left Providence for Fort Simpson on the 7th, securing
adhesion to the treaty there on July 11.
Adhesions to the
treaty were obtained at Fort Wrigley on July 13.
1 Chief,
1 Headman, and
l69 others were paid.
At Fort McPherson
on July 28,--
1 Chief,
1 Headman, and
217 others were paid.
At Fort Rae on
August 22,--
1 Chief
2 Headmen, and
440 others were paid.
Practically all
the Indians were dealt with at Fort Providence, Simpson, Wrigley, Arctic
Red River and McPherson, and about 65 per cent at Fort Norman, Fort
Good Hope and Rae, the remainder of these Indians having been at these
posts in the spring and left word that they were willing to take treaty,
but had to return to their hunting grounds for their summer's work.
At Fort Rae is
the largest band of Indians, about 800, and this is the most inaccessible,
being on the arm of Great Slave lake, difficulty in crossing this lake
being experienced, more especially in the late summer and fall on account
of storms, our party being stormbound at Hay River for five days prior
to crossing. These Indians hunt in every direction from the fort, some
as far as 200 miles, and only come to the post in spring to trade their
furs, so that, in future, I would suggest that this be the first post
visited when making payments.
We crossed the
lake from Hay River to Rae in the Hudson Bay schooner Fort Rae,
leaving our houseboat to take us up at Resolution, from which place
we went on August 25, arriving at Fort Smith on August 30, Fort McMurray
and Edmonton in September.
I much regret that
I was unable, owing to the lack of time, to visit Fort Liard, and secure
adhesion to the treaty by the Indians at that point, although they had
sent word to Fort Simpson of their willingness to accept the same. I
considered it advisable to proceed to Great Slave Lake, and cross to
Fort Rae at the first opportunity, as the season was getting late.
Dr. A. L. McDonald
joined the party at Fort Providence, and accompanied it to Good Hope,
at that place having to return to Fort Resolution on account of smallpox
having been reported, which report, fortunately, proved untrue. He joined
the party again at Hay River, and remained with it until arrival at
his headquarters at Fort Smith.
I was very glad
to be accompanied by His Lordship Bishop Breynat, O.M.I., who has considerable
influence with the Indians in the North, and would like here to express
my appreciation of the help and hospitality accorded to me and my party
in his missions, and I desire also to express my appreciation of the
services rendered by Inspector Bruce, of the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, and by his party. Constables Woods and Campbell performed their
duties in the most creditable manner.
H.
A. CONROY,
Commissioner, Treaty No. 11.
TREATY NUMBER ELEVEN
ARTICLES OF A TREATY
made and concluded on the several dates mentioned therein in the year
of Our Lord One thousand Nine hundred and Twenty-One, between His Most
Gracious Majesty George V, King of Great Britain and Ireland and of
the British Dominions beyond the Seas, by His Commissioner, Henry Anthony
Conroy, Esquire, of the City of Ottawa, of the One Part, and the Slave,
Dogrib, Loucheux, Hare and other Indians, inhabitants of the territory
within the limits hereinafter defined and described, by their Chiefs
and Headmen, hereunto subscribed, of the other part:--
WHEREAS, the Indians
inhabiting the territory hereinafter defined have been convened to meet
a commissioner representing His Majesty's Government of the Dominion
of Canada at certain places in the said territory in this present year
of 1921, to deliberate upon certain matters of interest to His Most
Gracious Majesty, of the one part, and the said Indians of the other.
AND WHEREAS, the
said Indians have been notified and informed by His Majesty's said commissioner
that it is His desire to open for settlement, immigration, trade, travel,
mining, lumbering and such other purposes as to His Majesty may seem
meet, a tract of country bounded and described as hereinafter set forth,
and to obtain the consent thereto of His Indian subjects inhabiting
the said tract, and to make a treaty, so that there may be peace and
good-will between them and His Majesty's other subjects, and that His
Indian people may know and be assured of what allowances they are to
expect and receive from His Majesty's bounty and benevolence.
AND WHEREAS, the
Indians of the said tract, duly convened in council at the respective
points named hereunder, and being requested by His Majesty's Commissioner,
to name certain Chiefs and Headmen, who should be authorized on their
behalf to conduct such negotiations and sign any treaty to be founded
thereon, and to become responsible to His Majesty for the faithful performance
by their respective bands of such obligations as shall be assumed by
them, the said Indians have therefore acknowledged for that purpose
the several chiefs and Headmen who have subscribed thereto.
AND WHEREAS the
said Commissioner has proceeded to negotiate a treaty with the Slave,
Dogrib, Loucheux, Hare and other Indians inhabiting the district hereinafter
defined and described, which has been agreed upon and concluded by the
respective bands at the dates mentioned hereunder, the said Indians
do hereby cede, release, surrender and yield up to the Government of
the Dominion of Canada, for His Majesty the King and His Successors
forever, all their rights, titles, and privileges whatsoever to the
lands included within the following limits, that is to say:
Commencing at the
northwesterly corner of the territory ceded under the provisions of
Treaty Number Eight; thence northeasterly along the height-of-land to
the point where it intersects the boundary between the Yukon Territory
and the Northwest Territories; thence northwesterly along the said boundary
to the shore of the Arctic ocean; thence easterly along the said shore
to the mouth of the Coppermine river; thence southerly and southeasterly
along the left bank of said river to Lake Gras by way of Point lake;
thence along the southern shore of Lake Gras to a point situated northwest
of the most western extremity of Aylmer lake; thence along the southern
shore of Aylmer lake and following the right bank of the Lockhart river
to Artillery lake; thence along the western shore of Artillery lake
and following the right bank of the Lockhart river to the site of Old
Fort Reliance where the said river enters Great Slave lake, this being
the northeastern corner of the territory ceded under the provisions
of Treaty Number Eight; thence westerly along the northern boundary
of the said territory so ceded to the point of commencement; comprising
an area of approximately three hundred and seventy-two thousand square
miles.
AND ALSO, the said
Indian rights, titles and privileges whatsoever to all other lands wherever
situated in the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories or in any
other portion of the Dominion of Canada.
To have and to
hold the same to His Majesty the King and His Successors forever.
AND His Majesty
the King hereby agrees with the said Indians that they shall have the
right to pursue their usual vocations of hunting, trapping and fishing
throughout the tract surrendered as heretofore described, subject to
such regulations as may from time to time be made by the Government
of the Country acting under the authority of His Majesty, and saving
and excepting such tracts as may be required or taken up from time to
time for settlement, mining, lumbering, trading or other purposes.
AND His Majesty
the King hereby agrees and undertakes to lay aside reserves for each
band, the same not to exceed in all one square mile for each family
of five, or in that proportion for larger or smaller families;
PROVIDED, however,
that His Majesty reserves the right to deal with any settlers within
the boundaries of any lands reserved for any band as He may see fit;
and also that the aforesaid reserves of land, or any interest therein,
may be sold or otherwise disposed of by His Majesty's Government for
the use and benefit of the said Indians entitled thereto, with their
consent first had and obtained; but in no wise shall the said Indians,
or any of them, be entitled to sell or otherwise alienate any of the
lands allotted to them as reserves.
It is further agreed
between His Majesty and His Indian subjects that such portions of the
reserves and lands above indicated as may at any time be required for
public works, buildings, railways, or roads of whatsoever nature may
be appropriated for that purpose by His Majesty's Government of the
Dominion of Canada, due compensation being made to the Indians for the
value of any improvements thereon, and an equivalent in land, money
or other consideration for the area of the reserve so appropriated.
And in order to
show the satisfaction of His Majesty with the behaviour and good conduct
of His Indian subjects, and in extinguishment of all their past claims
hereinabove mentioned, He hereby, through his Commissioner, agrees to
give to each Chief a present of thirty-two dollars in cash, to each
Headman, twenty-two dollars, and to every other Indian of whatever age
of the families represented, at the time and place of payment, twelve
dollars.
HIS MAJESTY, also
agrees that during the coming year, and annually thereafter, He will
cause to be paid to the said Indians in cash, at suitable places and
dates, of which the said Indians shall be duly notified, to each Chief
twenty-five dollars, to each Headman fifteen dollars, and to every other
Indian of whatever age five dollars, to be paid only to heads of families
for the members thereof, it being provided for the purposes of this
Treaty that each band having at least thirty members may have a Chief,
and that in addition to a Chief, each band may have Councillors or Headmen
in the proportion of two to each two hundred members of the band.
FURTHER, His Majesty
agrees that each Chief shall receive once and for all a silver medal,
a suitable flag and a copy of this Treaty for the use of his band; and
during the coming year, and every third year thereafter, each Chief
and Headman shall receive a suitable suit of clothing.
FURTHER, His Majesty
agrees to pay the salaries of teachers to instruct the children of said
Indians in such manner as His Majesty's Government may deem advisable.
FURTHER, His Majesty
agrees to supply once and for all to each Chief of a band that selects
a reserve, ten axes, five hand-saws, five augers, one grindstone, and
the necessary files and whetstones for the use of the band.
FURTHER, His Majesty
agrees that, each band shall receive once and for all equipment for
hunting, fishing and trapping to the value of fifty dollars for each
family of such band, and that there shall be distributed annually among
the Indians equipment, such as twine for nets, ammunition and trapping
to the value of three dollars per head for each Indian who continues
to follow the vocation of hunting, fishing and trapping.
FURTHER, His Majesty
agrees that, in the event of any of the Indians aforesaid being desirous
of following agricultural pursuits, such Indians shall receive such
assistance as is deemed necessary for that purpose.
AND the undersigned
Slave, Dogrib, Loucheux, Hare and other Chiefs and Headmen, on their
own behalf and on behalf of all the Indians whom they represent, do
hereby solemnly promise and engage to strictly observe this Treaty,
and also to conduct and behave themselves as good loyal subjects of
His Majesty the King.
THEY promise and
engage that they will, in all respects, obey and abide by the law; that
they will maintain peace between themselves and others of His Majesty's
subjects, whether Indians, half-breeds or whites, now inhabiting and
hereafter to inhabit any part of the said ceded territory; that they
will not molest the person or property of any inhabitant of such ceded
tract, or of any other district or country, or interfere with, or trouble
any person passing or travelling through the said tract or any part
thereof, and that they will assist the officers of His Majesty in bringing
to justice and punishment any Indian offending against the stipulations
of this Treaty, or infringing the law in force in the country so ceded.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
His Majesty's said Commissioner and the said Chiefs and Headmen have
hereunto set their hands at the places and times set forth in the year
herein first above written.
SIGNED AT PROVIDENCE
on the twenty-seventh day of June, 1921, by His Majesty's Commissioner
and the Chiefs and Headmen in the presence of the undersigned witnesses,
after having been first interpreted and explained.
SIGNED at Simpson
on the eleventh day of July, 1921, by His Majesty's Commissioner and
the Chiefs and Headmen in the presence of the undersigned witnesses,
after having been first interpreted and explained.
SIGNED at Wrigley
on the thirteenth day of July, 1921, by His Majesty's Commissioner and
the Chiefs and Headmen in presence of the undersigned witnesses, after
having been first interpreted and explained.
SIGNED at Norman
on the fifteenth day of July, 1921, by His Majesty's Commissioner and
the Chiefs and Headmen in the presence of the undersigned witnesses,
after having been first interpreted and explained.
SIGNED at Good
Hope on the twenty-first day of July, 1921, by His Majesty's Commissioner
and the Chiefs and Headmen in the presence of the undersigned witnesses,
after having been first interpreted and explained.
SIGNED at Arctic
Red River on the twenty-sixth day of July, 1921, by His Majesty's Commissioner
and the Chiefs and Headmen in the presence of the undersigned witnesses,
after having been first interpreted and explained.
SIGNED at McPherson
on the twenty-eighth day of July, 1921, by His Majesty's Commissioner
and the Chiefs and Headmen in the presence of the undersigned witnesses,
after having been first interpreted and explained.
SIGNED at Liard
on the day of, 1921, by His Majesty's Commissioners and the Chiefs and
Headmen in the presence of the undersigned witnesses, after having been
first interpreted and explained.
Witnesses:
SIGNED at Rae on
the twenty-second day of August, 1921, by His Majesty's Commissioner
and the Chiefs and Headmen in the presence of undersigned witnesses,
after having been first interpreted and explained.
ORDER IN COUNCIL
RATIFYING TREATY
No. 11
P.C. 3985
PRIVY COUNCIL CANADA
AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE AT OTTAWA,
SATURDAY,
the 22nd day of October, 1921.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY
THE GOVERNOR GENERAL IN COUNCIL
WHEREAS the Superintendent
General of Indian Affairs submits herewith Treaty Number Eleven made,
in accordance with the terms of Order in Council of 14th March, 1921
(P.C. 686), by Henry Anthony Conroy, Esquire, who was appointed a Commissioner
by the said Order in Council, to negotiate with the Slave, Dogrib, Loucheux,
Hare and other Indians for the cession by the said Indians to the Crown
of all their rights, titles and privileges whatsoever in the territory
north of the sixtieth parallel and along the Mackenzie river and the
Arctic ocean in the Dominion of Canada.
THEREFORE His Excellency
the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Superintendent
General of Indian Affairs, is pleased to ratify the said Treaty Number
Eleven, made and negotiated as hereinbefore recited, and the same is
hereby ratified and confirmed accordingly.
RODOLPHE
BOUDREAU,
Clerk of the Privy Council.
The Honourable
The Superintendent
General of Indian Affairs.
Owing to the death
of Commissioner Conroy on April 27, 1922, and to the fact that he had
not had an opportunity during the summer of 1921 of obtaining the adhesion
to the Treaty by the Slave Indians of the Liard district, it was necessary
to make other arrangements. Accordingly the authority of His Excellency
the Governor General in Council was obtained for the appointment of
T. W. Harris, Indian agent at Fort Simpson, N.W.T., as Commissioner
to secure this adhesion.
Following is a
copy of the Order in Council:--
P.C. 993
CERTIFIED COPY
of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council approved
by His Excellency
the Governor General on the 9th May, 1922
The Committee of
the Privy Council have had before them a Report, dated 2nd May, 1922,
from the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, submitting, with
reference to Order in Council of the 14th March, 1921, under which Mr.
H. A. Conroy, Inspector for Treaty No. 8, was authorized to act as Commissioner
to negotiate a Treaty (known as Treaty No. 11) with the Indians occupying
the territory north of the 60th parallel and along the Mackenzie river
to the Arctic coast, that owing to lack of time Mr. Conroy was unable
to visit the Fort Liard Indians last year with a view to securing their
adhesion to the treaty.
The Minister states
that owing to Mr. Conroy's death, which occurred on the 27th April,
1922, it is essential that someone should be deputed to complete the
treaty negotiations.
The Minister, therefore,
recommends that Mr. T. W. Harris, Indian agent at Fort Simpson, N.W.T.,
be authorized to complete the work entrusted to the late Mr. Conroy
in connection with the treaty above mentioned.
The Committe concur
in the foregoing recommendation and submit the same for approval.
RODOLPHE
BOUDREAU,
Clerk of the Privy Council.
The Honourable
The Superintendent
General of Indian Affairs.
Accordingly Commissioner
Harris, accompanied by His Lordship Bishop Breynat and Reverend Father
Moisan, visited Fort Liard on July 17th. The terms of the treaty having
been explained by the Commissioner, the Chief and Headmen, who had previously
been elected, signed the treaty on behalf of the Indians as indicated
in the following Indenture:--
SIGNED at Liard
on the seventeenth day of July, 1922, by His Majesty's Commissioner
and the Chiefs and Headmen in the presence of the undersigned witnesses,
after having been first interpreted and explained.
ORDER IN COUNCIL
RATIFYING ADHESION TO
TREATY No. 11
March
29, 1923.
The Committee of
the Privy Council, on the recommendation of the Superintendent General
of Indian Affairs, submit herewith for ratification and confirmation
by Your Excellency in Council, an instrument, in duplicate, containing
the adhesion to Treaty No. 11 of the Indians of Fort Liard taken the
seventeenth day of July, 1922, by Mr. T. W. Harris, who was appointed
by an Order of Your Excellency in Council of 9th May, 1922 (P.C. No.
993), as His Majesty's Commissioner to take the said adhesion; one copy
of the instrument to be returned to the Department of Indian Affairs
and the other to be kept on record in the Privy Council Office.
(Sgd.)RODOLPHE
BOUDREAU,
Clerk of the Privy Council.
The Honourable
The Superintendent General
of Indian Affairs.
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