Keewatin v. Minister of Natural Resources

Part 7. The 1873 Negotiations 70Dominion, and they hold their councils the same as you hold yours. I wish to tell you that I am aservant of the Queen. I cannot do my own will; I must do hers. I can only give you what she tells meto give you. I am sorry to see that your hands were very wide open when you gave me this paper. Ithought what I promised you was just, kind and fair between the Queen and you. It is now three yearswe have been trying to settle this matter. If we do not succeed to-day I shall go away feeling sorry foryou and for your children that you could not see what was good for you and for them. I am ready todo what I promised you yesterday. My hand is open and you ought to take me by the hand and say,"yes, we accept of your offer." I have not the power to do what you ask of me. I ask you once more tothink what you are doing, and of those you have left at home, and also of those that may be born yet,and I ask you not to turn your backs on what is offered to you, and you ought to see by what theQueen is offering you that she loves her red subjects as much as her white. I think you are forgettingone thing, that what I offer you is to be while the water flows and the sun rises. You know that in theother country [United States] they only pay the Indian for 20 [twenty] years, and you come here todayand ask for ever more than they get for 20 [twenty] years. Is that just? I think you ought to acceptmy offer, and make a treaty with me as I ask you to do. I only ask you to think for yourselves, and foryour families, and for your children and children's children, and I know [that] if you do that you willshake hands with me to-day.2011 ONSC 4801 (CanLII)Chief – I lay before you our opinions. Our hands are poor but our heads are rich, and it is riches thatwe ask so that we may be able to support our families as long as the sun rises and the water runs.Governor – I am very sorry; you know it takes two to make a bargain; you are agreed on the one side,and I for the Queen's Government on the other. I have to go away and report that I have to go withoutmaking terms with you. [I doubt if] the Commissioner[s] will be sent again to assemble this nation. Ihave only one word more to say; I speak to the Chief and to the head men to recollect those behindthem, and those they have left at home, and not to go away without accepting such liberal terms andwithout some clothing.Chief – My terms I am going to lay down before you; the decision of our Chiefs; ever since we cameto a decision you push it back. The sound of the rustling of the gold is under my feet where I stand;we have a rich country; it is the Great Spirit who gave us this; where we stand upon is the Indians'property, and belongs to them. If you grant us our requests you will not go back without making thetreaty.Another Chief – We understood yesterday that the Queen had given you the power to act upon, thatyou could do what you pleased, and that the riches of the Queen she had filled your head and bodywith, and you had only to throw them round about; but it seems it is not so, but that you have onlyhalf the power that she has, and that she has only half filled your head.Governor – I do not like to be misunderstood. I did not say yesterday that the Queen had given me allthe power; what I told you was that I was sent here to represent the Queen's Government, and to tellyou what the Queen was willing to do for you. You can understand very well; for instance, one ofyour great chiefs asks a brave to deliver a message, he represents you, and that is how I stand with theQueen's Government.Chief – It is your charitableness that you spoke of yesterday – Her Majesty's charitableness that wasgiven you. It is our chiefs, our young men, our children and great grand-children, and those that are tobe born, that I represent here, and it is for them I ask for terms. The white man has robbed us of ourriches, and we don't wish to give them up again without getting something in their place.Governor – For your children, grandchildren, and children unborn, I am sorry that you will not acceptof my terms. I shall go home sorry, but it is your own doing; I must simply go back and report thefact that you refuse to make a treaty with me.