Keewatin v. Minister of Natural Resources

Part 7. The 1873 Negotiations 72"Manito-biness" saidWe have councilled in regard to this. we have come to the conclusion that $20 for chiefs $15 for ourwarriors and lieutenants.- We have now laid down the conclusion of our council and all are of onemind."Can-ta-go-wa-[?]iny" saidIf you grant us what is asked for in that paper we will talk about the reserves. If you grant us what iswritten there, to-day the treaty will be made.-Gov. Morris saidIf we don't shake hands to-day I don't know when it will be done. You told me that you understood Irepresented the Queen here and that I had opened my heart. You must remember there is anothercouncil larger than yours and governed as yours. I am only a servant of the Queen and can only givewhat she tells me. I am sorry to say that your hands were very wide open when you gave me thispaper. I thought that what I promised you was just and fair between the Queen and you. Three yearswe have been trying to settle this matter. If we don't succeed to-day I will go away sorry for you andyour children. I am ready to do what I promised yesterday and you ought to take me by the hand andaccept. I have no power to do more. I ask you once more to think what you are doing and not to turnyour backs on what I offered justly. I think you are forgetting that what I offer you is while the waterflows and the sun rises. You know that in the other Country they only pay for 20 years and now youask as much for ever as they do for that time2011 ONSC 4801 (CanLII)"Can-ta-go-wa-[?]iny" saidI am come to lay before you the opinions of our chiefs. Our hands are [?] our [?] are rich and whatwe ask is to support our families as long as the waters run.Gov. Morris saidIt takes two to make a bargain. You wont accept my terms and I will be obliged to go away and tellmy friends that your ideas were too rich, and I do not know that we shall ever assemble again to meetthis nation. I have only one word more to say and speak to the chiefs and headmen, not to go awaywithout agreeing to such favorable terms.--"Posh-king-on" saidIt was the Great Spirit that gave us this property and it belongs to the Indians. If you were to grantour requests we would make a treaty."Canta-go-wa-[?]iny" saidThey understood yesterday that the Queen had given him all the power she had.Gov. Morris saidI don't like to be misunderstood. I would be very sorry to say that the Queen had given me all herpower. What I said was "to tell you what the Queen was willing to do for you".--One of our greatChiefs gives a Brave a message. He does as he is told. That is the way I stand."Can-ta-go-wa-[?]iny" saidWe make this demand because Her Majesty has given you her charitableness. It is our chiefs – ourwarriors – our young men I represent here and it is for them we present our demands.Gov. Morris saidI think for you and your children and am sorry for you. I will go back and report that you refuse tomake a treaty with me.--