"The adjustment with the half-breeds depended, of course,
upon a successful treaty with the Indians, and, this having been
concluded, the latter at once, upon receipt of their payments, left for
their forests and fisheries, leaving the half-breeds in full possession of
the field. It was estimated that over a hundred families were encamped around us,
some in teepees, some in tents, and some in the open air, the willow
copses to the north affording shelter, as well, to a few doubtful members
of Slave Lake society, and to at least a thousand dogs. The 'Scrip tent,'
as it was called, a large marquee fitted up as an office, had been pitched
with the other tents when the camp was made and in this the half-breeds
held a crowded meeting to talk over the terms and to collate their own
opinions as to the form of scrip issue they most desired. In this they
were singularly unanimous, and, in spite of advice to the contrary urged
upon them in the strongest manner by Father Lacombe, they agreed upon 'the
bird in the hand' - viz., upon cash scrip or nothing. This could be
readily turned into money, for in the train of traders, etc., who followed
up the treaty payments, there were also buyers from Winnipeg and Edmonton,
well supplied with cash, to purchase all the scrip that offered, at a
great reduction, of course, from face value. Whether the half-breeds were
wise or foolish it is needless to say. One thing was plain; they had made
up their minds. Under the circumstances it was impossible to gainsay their
assertion that they were the best judges of their own needs.
All preliminaries having at last been settled, the taking of
declarations and evidence began on the 23rd of June, and, shortly
afterwards, the issue of convertible scrip certificates, or scrip
certificates for land as required, took place to the parties who had
proved their title." [continue]
Reprinted from Through the Mackenzie Basin: An Account of
the Signing of Treaty No. 8 and the Scrip Commission, 1899 by Charles Mair. |