Keewatin v. Minister of Natural Resources

Part 7. The 1873 Negotiations 79Chief – I will now show you a medal that was given to those who made a treaty at Red River bythe Commissioner. He said it was silver, but I do not think it is. I should be ashamed to carry it on mybreast over my heart. I think it would disgrace the Queen my Mother to wear her image on so base a metalas this. [Here the Chief held up the medal and struck it with the back of his knife. The result was anythingbut the "true ring" and made every man ashamed of the petty meanness that had been practised.] Let themedals you give us be of silver – medals that shall be worthy of the high position our Mother the Queenoccupies.Governor – I will tell them at Ottawa what you have said, and how you have said it.Chief – I wish you to understand you owe the treaty much to the half-breeds.Governor – I know it. I sent some of them to talk with you, and am proud that all the half-breedsfrom Manitoba, who are here, gave their Governor their cordial support.The business of the treaty having now been completed, the Chief Mawedopenais, who, withPowhassan, had with such wonderful tact carried on the negotiations, stepped up to the Governor and said--Now you see me stand before you all; what has been done here to day has been done openlybefore the Great Spirit, and before the nation, and I hope that I may never hear any one say that this treatyhas been done secretly; and now, in closing this council, I take off my glove, and in giving you my hand, Ideliver over my birth-right and lands; and in taking your hand, I hold fast all the promises you have made,and I hope they will last as long as the sun goes round and the water flows, as you have said.The Governor then took his hand and said: I accept your hand and with it the lands, and will keepall my promises, in the firm belief that the treaty now to be signed will bind the Red man and the whitetogether as friends forever.A copy of the treaty was then prepared and duly signed, after which a large amount of presents,consisting of pork, flour, clothing, blankets, twine, powder and shot, etc., were distributed to the severalbands represented on the ground.On Saturday, Mr. Pether, Local Superintendent of Indian affairs at Fort Frances [Francis], andMr. Graham of the Government Works, began to pay the treaty money – an employment that kept thembusy far into the night. Some of the Chiefs received as much as $170 [one hundred and seventy dollars]for themselves and families. [The total amount disbursed was $.]…One very wonderful thing that forced itself on the attention of every one was the perfect order thatprevailed throughout the camp, and which more particularly marked proceedings in the council. Whetherthe demands put forward were granted by the Governor or not, there was no petulance, no ill-feeling,evinced; but everything was done with a calm dignity that was pleasing to behold, and which might becopied with advantage by more pretentious deliberative assemblies.…The Governor and party left on Monday morning, the troops, under command of Capt. [Captain]McDonald … having marched to Fort Garry on Saturday morning.2011 ONSC 4801 (CanLII)[Underlining added. Bolding added where indicated. Most bolding and all italics in original.][367] Dawson's Notes for October 3 contain the following:Oct. 3 rd"Manitobiness," said, I am going to lay before you the opinions of those you see before you.We want to see your power – we want to know your most liberal terms and give us your utmost. Thisis all.Gov. Morris said: I am glad to meet the chiefs once more and I hope it will be the last meeting.That I can go back and report that I have put in the hands of my Indian friends what will make themand their children more comfortable. I will give you my last words. When I held out my hand at thefirst I did not want to bargain with you but to give you what was right and just. I was very muchpleased yesterday with the words of Sa-ga-the-way and that his people had begun to farm and that hewishes me to hold out my hand to help them. I think we should do everything to help you to growfood so that in case of ill success in fishing & hunting you would have something for those at home.If you had not asked it the Government would have done it all the same. When a Band settles down &