treaties with first nations in the west canada owns north-west territories fee settlers in the...
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Treaties with First Nations in the West
Canada owns North-West Territories
• Fee settlers in the area; fear of Americans taking over land.
• Prime Minster Macdonald wants more settlers in Territories and he also wants to build his transcontinental railway.
Treaties with First Nations in the West
Canada needs to move settlers and railway crews into the territories
• Canada can not just move in; First Nations are living on this land and have been before the arrival of the Europeans
• Macdonald does not want the same conflicts that are going on between the First Nations and USA settlers.
• Arrangements had to be made to avoid conflict
Treaties with First Nations in the West
Law states that Canada did not have the right to take over the First Nations land without negotiating first
• Law created in 1763 by the King of England
• Royal Proclamation contained instructions on how BNA should be governed
• It stated that First Nations rights should be respected
Treaties with First Nations in the West
Macdonald sends government officials to make treaties with all nations of the North-West Territories
• 11 treaties signed between 1871 – 1921
Some lands would be kept in reserve for First Nations
Every Nation receives money from government each year, as well other support such as schools, farming supplies, and help in times of famine
Settlers would be allowed to live peacefully on First Nations traditional lands
Why did the First Nations Agree?
Some of the First Nations leader’s did not trust the Canadian government
• Thought it would be better for their people to not allow the new settlers on their lands
• Many debates in the communities
• Long talks with government representatives to sort out details
Why did the First Nations Agree?Continued
Most nations signed treaties • Many historians believe that the First Nations did
not have a choice
Late 1800s: First Nations people in the prairies experienced hardship• Buffalo was main source of food, shelter, and
clothing• The Buffalo was being killed off because of the
Europeans gun technology and they hunted the buffalo for sport
Why did the First Nations Agree?Continued
1/10th of First Nations’ population in the West died from starvation and Europeans diseases in 1883-1884 alone.
First Nations understood the importance of signing the treaties• They worked hard to make sure the treaties would give them
rights to their lands according to both First Nations and Canadian laws
• First Nations added other conditions to the treaties in order to make sure that their people would get what they needed to survive in this newly formed country
Red River & Métis
Overview
Red River Settlement
People: First Nations first Métis second, since
late 1700s• Central location for
supplying fur traders Lord Selkirk’s (1812)
Scottish colonists Settlers from Ontario
& Quebec most recent
Red River Settlement
Numbers: Total pop. 12 000 1600 Scottish
colonists, English Protestants (ON) and French Catholics (QE)
10 400 were Métis (French or British heritage)
Métis Nation
Separate people (Métis identity - history & culture)
Rights (based on First Nation heritage)
Early 1800s refer to themselves as nation
Protect identity and land right
Métis Language & Religion
Often spoke several languages
Red River Métis: French, English, one or more First Nation language, and Michif (French & Cree)
French -Catholic English/Scottish -
Protestant
Hello/Hi. Tánishi/boñjour. How are you? Tánishi kiya? I am fine. Nimiyou'ayan/zhi
baen. What is your name? Tánishi
eyishinikashoyan? My name is. Dishinikáshon.
Métis Buffalo Hunt
Main source of food Pemmican (dried
meat, fat, berries)• Keeps for years• Perfect long trips• Sold to fur traders
Hunt in Spring & Fall Well organized (like
army, strict rules)
Métis Farms
Farms were their homes Provided food sold to fur traders Farm work mostly done by women Never paid for land (no written - ownership) Hudson Bay Co. agreed to right to land (retired to farm)
http://www.metisresourcecentre.mb.ca/history/flag.htm