Women Witnesses
The Treaty 6 negotiations and signings saw the gathering
of thousands of people. Cree,
Assiniboine,
Saulteaux,
and Chipewyan chiefs and their
bands travelled from near and far to meet with Alexander Morris
and the Treaty Commission, who trekked hundreds of
kilometres to reach the designated sites. It is these men, men like James McKay
and Star Blanket, who have been forever immortalized as
the “treaty makers.” However, a closer look at the yellowing,
creased parchment reveals, just near the bottom, the signatures of witnesses Eliza Hardisty and
Mary McKay – the only two women to have participated in the official signing of Treaty 6.
History has left little trace of Hardisty and McKay’s presence at the treaty signing, aside from the
ink scrawl of their signatures. However, their signatures do tell us that the women were regarded with
some import, for they were given the honour of serving as official witnesses to this very momentous event.
Eliza McDougall was born in 1849, the fourth child of Methodist missionary George McDougall
and his wife, Elizabeth. In 1866, at the age of 17, she married Hudson’s Bay Company
fur-trader Richard Hardisty. They left the Victoria Settlement for their honeymoon at Rocky Mountain
House and Fort Edmonton. Richard later assumed the important title of Chief Factor at Fort Edmonton
and Eliza became the first woman to hold Christmas festivities attended by Aboriginal peoples there.
Eliza’s presence at the treaty signing on 9 September 1876, when she was 27 years old, seems natural
given the circles within which she traveled. Her father was well-known by the First Nations of the area,
and a year prior had been asked on behalf of the government, to spread the news amongst the First Nations
that treaty negotiations were imminent. The signature of her older brother, missionary John McDougall,
also appears on the treaty as a witness. Peter Erasmus, who had
guided Eliza and Richard during their honeymoon trip, provided translation during the treaty negotiations
and signings. It is likely that Eliza’s husband Richard was with her at Fort Pitt, although his signature
is not present on the treaty document. Given her relationships with a number of influential treaty-makers,
along with the likelihood of a relationship with the First Nations, it is no surprise that Eliza’s
signature appears on the treaty as an official witness.
Even less is known about Mary McKay; although she too, must have been held in high esteem by the
treaty officials. There were others present at the treaty signing with the last name of McKay,
including Treaty Commissioner James McKay; his brother the
Reverend John McKay, who acted as an interpreter; a Mr. W. McKay; and
Thomas McKay, whose name appears closest to Mary’s on the treaty document. It is possible that Mary
was the wife, daughter, sibling, or other relative of Thomas, though there is little record of him.
While there were other women present at Forts Carlton and Pitt in 1876, including the hundreds of
First Nations women who helped care for their families and communities while the treaty was negotiated,
the only two women to have left any tangible trace of their presence at the Treaty 6 proceedings were
Eliza McDougall Hardisty and Mary McKay. They are the only known official women witnesses.
Feature Article: "Eliza Mcdougall Hardisty: Prairie Pioneer"
The Heritage Community Foundation is pleased to present the feature article Eliza McDougall
Hardisty: Prairie Pioneer, researched and written by Ms. Gayle Simonson of Edmonton, Alberta.
The article won fifth place in the Wondrous Western Women Story Contest to Celebrate Alberta’s
Centennial, sponsored by the Famous 5 Foundation (www.famous5.org)
and Light Hearted Concepts (www.lightheartedconcepts.com).
It can also be found online
on the Light Hearted Concepts website.