Keewatin v. Minister of Natural Resources

Part 5. The Ojibway Perspective - Ojibway History 42[233] Prior to the making of the Treaty and for some time thereafter, communication betweenthe Ojibway and Euro-Canadians was often facilitated by Métis who spoke both Ojibwe andEnglish or Ojibwe and French.European Contact[234] Chartrand gave evidence that compared to Aboriginal groups to the east and west, thenature of the Treaty 3 landscape had insulated the Treaty 3 Ojibway from regular Euro-Canadiancontact. Until the arrival of the Palliser and Hind Expeditions, their relationship with Euro-Canadians had for all intents and purposes been limited to contact with fur traders. At the time ofthe 1873 Treaty negotiations, the HBC had trading posts at Fort Frances [on the Rainy River nearRainy Lake] and at Rat Portage [on the Lake of the Woods.]The Contact with Palliser and Hind Expeditions2011 ONSC 4801 (CanLII)Palliser Expedition[235] On July 1, 1857, on behalf of the British expedition, Palliser recorded (Ex. 1, Vol. 3, tab44) that when he met with about 200 Ojibway in the neighbourhood of the HBC post at FortFrances, a number of them pressed forward to shake hands, in "such a manner as to leave itdoubtful whether the honour was done to us or by us:"An old chief spoke. "Perhaps," said he, "You wonder who I am that I should address you. My armsextend far back into time; my father and his father were the chiefs of this once mighty tribe. Theirgraves are in our lands ... All around me I see the smoke of the pale faces to ascend; but my territoriesI will never part with; they shall be my poor children's hunting fields when I am dead. .. You are ourequals, so do not deceive us, but inform us of the true reason for your visit and whither you are aboutto proceed from here."[236] The extent of the Ojibway information about events occurring elsewhere was remarkable.I have already mentioned hearings in Britain about the renewal of the HBC licenses and thepossible transfer of the HBC Territories to Canada. Palliser reported that the old Chief said: "Iwant you to declare to us truthfully what the great Queen of your country intends to do to uswhen she will take the country from the fur company's people."[237] Palliser represented (Ex. 1, Vol. 3, tab 44):We … were only passing through their country on our route to much further lands … if any body ofpeople should wrest their lands from them, our great Queen would send her soldiers to drive thosepeople back, and would restore their lands to them again.… I told him confidently that if he did not wish to part with his lands, and also if he and his peoplebehaved as always they had done, that is, quietly and peaceably, with the white faces, I would assurehim that The Queen would never send soldiers to deprive them of their lands by force.Hind Expedition[238] In July-August 1857, when the Hind expedition travelled from Canada West, some of itsmembers did not follow the classic fur trade route through the Treaty 3 territory. The Ojibwaystopped and questioned them about their activities, including the taking of rock and botanical