"Mr. Ross.had gone on by trail from Edmonton, partly in order to
inspect it, and managed to reach the lake before us, which was fortunate,
since Indians and half-breeds had collected in large numbers, and he was
thus able to allay their irritation and to distribute rations pending the
arrival of the other members of the Commission. During the previous
winter, upon the circulation in the North of the news of the coming
treaty, discussion was rife, and every cabin and teepee rang with
argument. The wiseacre was not absent, of course, and agitators had been
at work for some time endeavouring to jaundice the minds of the people -
half breeds, it was said, from Edmonton, who had been vitiated by contact
with a low class of white men there - and, therefore, nothing was as yet
positively known as to the temper and view of the Indians. But whatever
evil effect these tamperings might have had upon them, it was felt that a
plain statement of the proposals of the Government would speedily
dissipate it, and that, when placed before them in Mr. Laird's customary
kind and lucid manner, they would be accepted by both Indians and
half-breeds as the best obtainable, and as conducing in all respects to
their truest and most permanent interests." [continue]
Reprinted from Through the Mackenzie Basin: An Account of
the Signing of Treaty No. 8 and the Scrip Commission, 1899 by Charles
Mair. |