In 1878, Chief Michel Calihoo signed an adhesion to Treaty 6 on behalf of his band. For the first three years after the signing of the treaty, Indigenous peoples farming on reserves were entitled to $1,000 in agricultural provisions. What Treaty 6 peoples are close to Edmonton? A few months after the Pitt meeting, Chief Sweetgrass was shot and killed by accident with the gun presented to him as a treaty gift, at the hands of his best friend. The band was to serve as a model for group Indigenous enfranchisement. Many chiefs signed adhesions to Treaty 6 in the years after 1876, seeing it as the only viable option to protect their people and provide a better life for them. Despite it being a highly valuable horse Sweetgrass traded it for an inferior one, understanding the importance of the group over the individual. (Mtis fur trader and politician), as well as translators, assistants and NWMP escorts. Treaty 6 Today It aims to protect treaty rights, support Indigenous self-government and assist in the socio-cultural, political, economic and spiritual advancement of their people. It is the unique collective right to use of, and jurisdiction over, ancestral territory and is separate from the rights of non-Aboriginal Canadian citizens under common law. Why are but was the of treaty waitangi written out. Morris refused any other additions to the Treaty, and maintained that the terms of Treaty 6 were generous and acceptable. Although there was much dissension from a number of First Nations, it was Ahtahkakoop and Mistawasis whoasked the representatives of the Crown what they could offer the people if they did not agree to Treaty. By the early 1870s, the plains First Nations were suffering. Morris reassured the terms of the treaty, I want the Indians to understand that all that has been offered is a gift, and they still have the same mode of living as before (, Mistawasis had one last request and wanted to know how the Half-Breeds w, That afternoon, Treaty Six was signed by the Treaty Commissioners, the Lieutenant Governor, followed by Chiefs Mistawasis, Ahtahkakoop, and 11 other Chiefs, and 44 Headmen. [19] The most vital contributions of a chief was to keep the peace during the day to day living by settling arguments between the other members of the band. What benefits did the Newcomers receive through Treaty Six? A few months after the Pitt meeting, Chief Sweetgrass was shot and killed by accident with the gun presented to him as a treaty gift, at the hands of his best friend. If you cant come yourself, send someone in your place. [55] In the years after settlement, the Sweetgrass reserve would continue to be affected by famine and disease. The great peace of Montreal was between: New France and indigenous groups of central and Eastern North America. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Under the leadership of Young Sweet Grass, the band began to fall apart due to internal conflict. His brother believed that they had given too much to the government in the treaty. At that time, they as well were facing low fur prices, and poor hunting and fishing. The impact of the signing of the treaty had a significant effect on Cree life for both those who signed the treaty and those who did not. The Dominion of Canada bought Ruperts Land for the sum of 300,000 pounds from the Hudsons Bay Company on March 8, 1869 and at the same time the Crown transferred North West territories to Canada. Some of the Chiefs and their people were hunting on the prairies and the ones that were present wanted to wait for the others while a message was sent for them to attend the meeting. On arrival at Fort Carlton on 15 August, Morris met with the head chiefs of the Carlton Cree: Mistawasis (Big Child) and Ahtahkakoop (Star Blanket). The Treaty of Waitangi Claudia Orange Google Books. Alexander Morris spoke to those present, promising to offer the same terms as at Fort Carlton. Welcome to Archive of European Integration - Archive of European . However, over-trapping forced tribes to move west to find suitable forest areas. In another instance, Sweet Grass had invited the Blackfoot into his camp in an attempt to begin a long-standing peace with them. Chief Sweet Grass (Weekaskookwasayin) signed Treaty 6 on September 9, 1876, with the Fort Pitt Indians, but was killed about six months later. Morris reassured the First Nations that their way of life and survival would not be disturbed and guaranteed well into the future. He worked with other chiefs and bands to participate in raids with enemy tribes. The Queens representative, Alexander Morris, dressed in a cocked hat, blue uniform with gold braid and lace, was accompanied by the North West Mounted Police and treaty commissioners William J. Christie and James McKay. [24] Additionally, as the Hudson's Bay Company moved into the prairies, the fur trade offered an extremely important source of income and goods for the Cree. Morris said little to ease the concerns of Beardy and promised that they too would receive the same as the other bands including agricultural assistance for a new way of life. The treaty boundaries extend across central portions of present-day Alberta and Saskatchewan. Reverend McKay translated Big Bears words, and when Morris heard this he interpreted it to mean that Big Bear did not want to be hanged by the government. An example of this would be when Sweet Grass and Big Bear assembled 18 Cree warriors that attempted to raid Blackfoot hunting territory. In 1870 Sweetgrass allowed himself to be baptized and was given the name Abraham.[28]. The pipe stem was presented to the Governor and Treaty Commissioners where they stroked the stem. Treaty 6 encompasses 17 First Nations in central Alberta including the Dene Sulin, Cree, Nakota Sioux and Saulteaux peoples. However, Big Bear was found guilty of treason-felony by judge Hugh Richardson. He resented the notion completely how could the government give them land that they already possessed? If the chief remained silent, the murderer was usually executed by the victim's relatives. Even though Big Bear publicly and consistently spoke against sighing treaties, by 1882 starving, he would sign Treaty 6. Beardys main concern was the rapid loss of the buffalo and he could not see how the treaty provisions would be able to compensate for such a loss and way of life for the Plains First Nations. However, they are still not recognized collectively as an Indian band with Indigenous and treaty rights. As the treaty process never included women in the discussion it ignored an important cultural pressure. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. We never shed any white mans blood, and we have always been friendly with the whites, and want workmen, carpenters and farmers to assist us when we settle. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The manager of the HBC post at Fort Carlton, Lawrence Clarke, wrote to government officials that same summer, alerting them that the Cree had also threatened to turn back telegraph workers who were trying to construct a line from Winnipeg to Edmonton. Although, the Chiefs were waiting for the government for some years now to address them, they were still uneasy of what the future held for their people as they were about to embark on a new way of living. Our young men are foolish, it may not last long. Big Bear was adamant in his request to the government to create laws to regulate the hunting of the buffalo. His goal was to spread the Roman Catholic faith to the Western parts of Canada. We Send these words by our Master Mr.Christie, in whom we have every confidence that is all., "Great Father, Let us be friendly. Morris reassured the First Nations that their way of life and survival would not be disturbed and guaranteed well into the future. These issues, coupled with the opinion of lieutenant governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories, Alexander Morris that treaties were effective ways to gain access to, and develop, lands in the West the government finally agreed to negotiate a treaty with the Plains Cree and neighbouring Indigenous peoples. However, the Cree had a process to which they named their children. There typically was a large number of warriors within a band and these men held extremely high prestige. British Columbia joined confederation in 1871 and was promised a railway to connect them to eastern Canada. Governor Morris addressed the crowd and asked Erasmus to interpret for him, Erasmus answered back, I act on behalf of the Chiefs; I am not employed by the government. McKay translated but was stopped when Chief Mistawasis stood up and said We are Plains Cree and demand to be spoken to in our language. Then Ballenden proceeded to translate, however, people in the back of the crowd complained they could not hear him, he tried to speak louder, choked and then sat down (Ray, Miller, and Tough 134). All nations kept the rights to use the land for hunting. The next biggest problem comes from a lack of follow through on verbal agreements. Once the amendments were made to the treaty text, negotiations came to a close. We invite you to come and see us and to speak with us. Morris then explained to the group that the Crown would create reserves for their people and would assist them in farming initiatives, without interfer[ing] with their present mode of living. Morris never explicitly discussed the concept of land cession. He was succeeded by his son, Apseenes (Young Sweet Grass); he was unable to hold the band together, which began to splinter. At the time when Sweet Grass was Chief, The Canadian government had pictured what the Indigenous communities were and never changed them. Treaty No. [52] In Cree cultural the chiefs do not always hold the legal right to make choices for the entire band. Please note that this form is not intended to provide customer service. Both organizations concluded that the Indigenous signatories believed that they were agreeing to share the land and its resources, rather than to completely surrender it to the federal government. The Sweet Grass Reserve west of Battleford, Saskatchewan was named in his honor and is still functioning today. Let us not think of ourselves but our childrens children, let us show our wisdom by choosing the right path while we yet have a choice. [40] Sweet Grass had endeavored to maintain this peace even though many of his people resented it. Federal trial and appellate courts . Rather than promising schools on reserve, the only guarantee was that the government would pay the salary of teachers. Beardy was not granted his request to have the treaty payments made at the site he had envisioned, Morris did not want to accommodate Beardy and viewed his lack of participation in the negotiations as an inconvenience to the process (, On September 5, 1876, the Treaty party arrived ten days earlier than expected at Fort Pitt, (located between Fort Carlton and Fort Edmonton) to meet the River First Nations. Website Design by M.R. Due to missionaries moving into the interior, there was more significant pressure to convert to European religions, which many Cree did. When the Metis under Louis Riel started the Northwest-Rebellion in 1885, Wandering Spirit would lead a group of Cree to raid the Frog Lake Settlement. In 1882, Young Sweet Grass & seventeen followers joined Wah-wee-kah-oo-tah-mah-hote (Strikes him on the back), who had signed Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton on August 28, 1876. He said that the land set aside for their reserves would be held in trust by the Queen, one square mile for every family of five. Poundmaker, a Councilor from Red Pheasants band, stood up and protested, This is our land, not a piece of pemmican to be cut off and given in little pieces. Morris statement about reserves was immediately met with resistance by Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker), a local leader who became a great chief in the 1880s. Indigenous people relinquishing titles and privileges to land. That is all.. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. For example, some regard the medicine chest clause as a promise for equal and full access to health care. [24] In 1870, there were hundreds of thousands, which provided an immense amount of resources for the Cree to a point where they were able to only take the choice parts of the Buffalo. (Stonechild and Waiser 26) Living Sky School Division 509 Pioneer Avenue North Battleford, SK S9A 4A5 Canada office@lskysd.ca He was succeeded by his son, Apseenes (Young Sweet Grass). While the signing of the treaty can be seen as selling away indigenous rights, it did bring much-needed medication and food to the Cree who had insufficient options. Chief Sweetgrass, a well respected leader was chosen to be the spokesman for the meeting with Christie (Christensen 148). In the west, Ruperts land was owned by the Hudsons Bay Company and the North West Territories was owned by the British Crown. A force of North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was sent to the area to maintain order. Sweet Grass through both policy and action would have a lasting impact on the Plains Cree. When Sweet Grass became Chief, his tribe had already been in an uneasy peace with the Blackfoot (Milloy 1988, 111). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Families had the ability to break away from their current band and join another elsewhere. It is ours and we will take what we want.. What was the outcome of Chief Sweet Grass signing treaties six? Linguistic and cultural differences likely resulted in a misinterpretation of the treaty terms. The Dominion of Canada bought Ruperts Land for the sum of 300,000 pounds from the Hudsons Bay Company on March 8, 1869 and at the same time the Crown transferred North West territories to Canada. [22] Days of fighting ensued however, both chiefs managed to survive.[23]. He was succeeded by his son, Apseenes (Young Sweet Grass); he was unable to hold the band together, which began to splinter. The rights to use the land for hunting if the Chief remained silent, the Sweetgrass what was the outcome of chief sweetgrass signing treaty 6! 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