what was the outcome of chief sweetgrass signing treaty 6

Michael Asch, On Being Here to Stay: Treaties and Aboriginal Rights in Canada (2014). Claiming lands for the sake of the tribe b. Please note that this form is not intended to provide customer service. Big Bear resisted signing of the treaty, hoping that he could hold out for a better deal with the Canadian government. He worked with other chiefs and bands to participate in raids with enemy tribes. The iconography on the commemorative medals for Treaty 6 symbolizes: A.Two sovereign nations making peace and sharing the land forever B.The equality of all peoples under God C.The transfer of land and resources for material goods D.The dominance of the British Crown in negotiations and afterward A When Sweet Grass became Chief, his tribe had already been in an uneasy peace with the Blackfoot (Milloy 1988, 111). Sweet Grass had also requested that the government provide supplies as needed so that they may sustain themselves when traditional hunting was not an option. It was a tough decision to make. He agreed that in the first three years of settlement on their reserves, the government would help in the sum of one thousand dollars to assist in planting their farms. This made the Plains Cree very nervous and they confronted the surveyors and warned them to stop what they were doing because the government had not met with them to discuss their concerns. Treaty 6, between the Queen and bands of Cree and Stoney First Nations, was negotiated and signed at Fort Carlton and Duck Lake in August, and at Fort Pitt in September, 1876. After explaining the treaty terms, the Duck Lake chiefs and headmen also signed the treaty. 1 What was chief mistawasis Role in Treaty 6? Sweet Grass believed that working alongside the government was one of the only solutions to the daily hardship the Cree were faced with. [21], Sweet Grass often worked closely with the fellow Cree chief Big Bear. [15] This figure held no real identity and did not appear to anyone in visions or contact. For almost two centuries the Cree, Assiniboine, and Saulteaux held a monopoly over European trade goods and weaponry in the western interior. Chief Sweetgrass and Ki-he-win sent this letter to Lieutenant-Governor Archibald: "Great Father, I shake hands with you, and bid you welcome. Since the signing of Treaty 6 in 1876, there have been disagreements between Indigenous signatories and the federal government, stemming from misunderstandings about the true meaning and intention of the treaty terms. Morris was determined to have Chief Beardy to sign the Treaty even though he was not present at the negotiations and sent a messenger with tobacco and provisions for Beardy to meet him after he left Fort Carlton. Morris addressed the crowd reassuring them that the Queen would look after them and the next two days were spent considering the words of Morris speaking on behalf of the Crown. Situated near the North Saskatchewan River, Fort Carleton was a trading post between 1810 and 1885, and the first site for Treaty 6 negotiations. [22] The attempted raid went wrong as Sweet Grass and Big Bear nearly stumbled upon Blackfoot main camp. In another significant difference from Treaty 6, Treaty 7 states that the Crown would pay for teachers salaries instead of the maintenance of school buildings. [22] Days of fighting ensued however, both chiefs managed to survive.[23]. 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. Wah-wee-kah-oo-tah-mah-hote was chief from 1876 to 1883: but he was deposed in 1884 and Young Sweet Grass became chief. In another significant difference from Treaty 6, Treaty 7 states that the Crown would pay for teachers salaries instead of the maintenance of school buildings. Currently the band controls 20,354.6 ha of land, the largest block of which is located 26 km west of North Battleford. However, over-trapping forced tribes to move west to find suitable forest areas. In Morris address he described the governments genuine concern for the welfare of their Indian brothers and sisters and asked them to take his words with much thought and to look to the future, what I will promise, and what I believe and hope you will take, is to last as long as the sun shines and yonder rivers flow. (Stonechild and Waiser 15). A reserve was surveyed west of Battleford in 1884 for the melded band members, who sold hay & wood and maintained gardens & livestock. Released early due to a health breakdown, Big Bear sought sanctuary amongst the remnants of his tribe of the Poundmakers and Little Pine Reserve. [57] In 2010 the Sweetgrass nation had over 1500 registered members who primarily live outside of the Sweetgrass Reserve.[55]. What is the difference between Treaty 6 and Treaty 7? Thirteen years later in 1889, the Lac La Ronge and Montreal Lake Bands adhered to Treaty Six which expanded the territory of Treaty Six. [39] The unpreparedness or perhaps unwillingness of the Canadian government to deal with the problems of indigenous peoples continued long after the signing of Treaty 6 but it was Sweet Grass firm belief that this was the best way to ensure that indigenous culture survived.[36]. What is the difference between Treaty 6 and 7? In the end, Chief Beardy agreed with the terms of the Treaty and signed it. In achieving this, the government had to get permission from the First Nations in the area to surrender their lands and in doing so had to negotiate a Treaty with them. It remained to be seen whether it was a bad omen. The treaty negotiations took days to complete at Fort Carlton. [55] In the years after settlement, the Sweetgrass reserve would continue to be affected by famine and disease. According to international law, a treaty: Is a legally binding agreement outlining the rights and duties of its signatures. The reserve was established as part of Treaty 6 when Chief Sweetgrass (Weekaskookwasayin) signed Treaty 6 on September 9, 1876. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Please have a look around. John A. Macdonald had to protect the west from American expansion after they bought Alaska in 1867 (Natural Resources Canada). The disagreement on Treaty 6 stems from three major issues; language barriers, verbal agreements made during the negotiation, and the rights for chiefs to sign the agreement. He attempted to take Sweet Grass's pistol and it accidentally discharged, resulting in his death.[5]. (Ray, Miller, and Tough 143). A representative from Chief Beardys group suggested they rent the land while others suggested they refuse the Treaty altogether. Morris statement about reserves was immediately met with resistance by Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker), a local leader who became a great chief in the 1880s. This propelled him to work with the Canadian and eventually sign Treaty Six. In addition to rights and provisions similarly enshrined in Treaties 1 to 5, Morris agreed to three terms brought forward by the chiefs that are not found in previous Numbered Treaties. The negotiations began at a traditional camping area the Crees called pehonanik or the waiting place, located a mile and half from the Fort (Stonechild and Waiser 12). In exchange for Indigenous title to their land (see Indigenous Territory), Treaty 6 provided: an annual cash payment of $25 per chief; $15 per headman and $5 for all other band members; a one-time cash payment of $12 for each band member; and reserve lands in the amount of one mile2 (about 2.5 km2) per family of five. All nations kept the rights to use the land for hunting. James Rodger Miller, Compact, Contract, Covenant: Aboriginal Treaty-making in Canada (2009). 10 How did Treaty 6 affect the First Nations? In the 1970s and 1980s, the Indian Association of Alberta and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations conducted reports that outlined elders views on the treaty and on the concept of land cession. They were unaware of the negotiations at Fort Carlton and thought they would not be coming for another month or so. To the Canadian delegation, the only legally binding contracts were what was written into the treaty. While traditions within tribes remained significant, the Cree became more receptive to different denominations of Christianity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT3EjLPW2uw. On 19 August, Morris was presented with chiefs, but he noticed the absence of the Duck Lake band leaders. He attempted to take Sweet Grasss pistol and it accidentally discharged, resulting in his death. Sweet Grass or Wikaskokiseyin was born in a Cree Camp in the area near Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan. [18] Chiefs within Cree society were chosen by the consent of the band. During one hunt Sweetgrass's horse was unable to remain calm, which was affecting the hunting of buffalo. Rather than promising schools on reserve, the only guarantee was that the government would pay the salary of teachers. If more than themselves was frustrated and treaties when trust have worked among . Chief Sweet Grass (Weekaskookwasayin) signed Treaty 6 on September 9, 1876, with the Fort Pitt Indians, but was killed about six months later. Sweet Grass along with three other Chiefs attempted to get ahead of government control by meeting with the representative of the Canadian government in the west Lieutenant Governor Archibald to petition the Hudson's Bay Company's (HBC) sale of land to the government. [5][44] His brother believed that they had given too much to the government in the treaty. [42] The result of this was more hostility from his people who had harassed Sweet Grass's Blackfoot guests. 6 territory. It is ours and we will take what we want.. He was unable to hold the band together, which began to splinter. A picture of Sweet Grass is in the archives of the Glenbow Museum. Cree Tribes would move according to their migration habits. On August 22, 1921, Chief Monfwi, representing all Tlicho, signed Treaty 11 with Canada. [3] Sweet Grass was ten years older, so Big Bear recognized him as the superior chief. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. + - This map is a work in progress. What Treaty 6 peoples are close to Edmonton? [16] This spirit did not provide aid or direct help in any way but instead provided guidance. The Indigenous peoples retained the right to pursue hunting, trapping and fishing on reserve lands. Alexander Morris spoke to those present, promising to offer the same terms as at Fort Carlton. [15] However, this almighty creator appeared to individuals through various sprits such as the bear and horse. At the beginning of 1870, buffalo were plentiful within the plains. The Cree made it clear that they would not tolerate any trespassers on their lands. Historians have divided them into six geographical groups: Woodland First Nations, who occupy forested areas of eastern Canada; Iroquoian First Nations (also known as the Haudenosaunee) in the fertile southern part of the country; Plains First Nations in the Prairies; Plateau First Nations, who live throughout Canadas . Michael Asch, Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in Canada (2011). While the convention was initially held to modify the existing Articles of Confederation, the eventual consensus was the drafting of a new constitution. However, Big Bear was found guilty of treason-felony by judge Hugh Richardson. Issues arise from the mixed interpretations of the Treaty by both the Indigenous groups and the Government. What were the main terms of Treaty 6? Schools were to be established on reserves. At this point Erasmus was asked to translate for both sides, with the Chiefs supporting him. [55] Young Sweet Grass would eventually become chief and would name the new group the Sweetgrass First Nation in honour of his father. Other members of the negotiating team included treaty commissioners William Joseph Christie (an HBC officer) and. What was chief mistawasis Role in Treaty 6? From here the group made income from farming and lumber sale, supplemented with traditional methods as much as possible. Treaty 6 was signed by the commissioners and the head chiefs of the Carlton bands on 23 August 1876. He was unable to hold the band together, which began to splinter. As a well respected Cree leader during a time of strife, Sweet Grass attempted to lead his people as best as he could. For almost two centuries the Cree, Assiniboine, and Saulteaux held a monopoly over European trade goods and weaponry in the western interior. John A. Macdonald did not want to go to war with the First Nations as the Americans were in the south to attain lands. Commemorate the historic ties between the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and the City of Edmonton. Different tribes of the Cree held their own stories and traditions passed down orally through the generations. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The Plains Cree were not always the victims of this conflict. While the following is not a definitive list, adhesions were signed by Indigenous bands at: Fort Edmonton (August 1877); Blackfoot Crossing (September 1877); Carlton and Battleford (AugustSeptember 1878); Fort Walsh (July 1879 and December 1882) and Montreal Lake (1889). The signing of Treaty 6 was not the only reason for conflict between the Cree and other prominent Indigenous tribes in the region. The peoples of Treaty 6 also argue that the treaty needs to be interpreted in a modern context. It aims to protect treaty rights, support Indigenous self-government and assist in the socio-cultural, political, economic and spiritual advancement of their people. [20] It was not uncommon for there to be more than one chief who would have various levels of prestige. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. They agreed with much of what was being said, however, they wanted to ensure their survival, and that the Great Queen Mother would look after them. The First Nations were a proud and strong people but were facing an uncertain future. [29] Naturally, this angered many indigenous communities who were more inclined to fight back than work with the government. [35] Sweet Grass beliefs clashed with that of Big Bear who believed that a Confederacy needed to be formed as a united front in order to get the best terms for all. The talks then adjourned, and the Indigenous leaders spoke in council for the next two days. The treaty also provided twine and ammunition at a value of $1,500 per year, and agricultural implements, such as gardening tools, livestock, horses and wagons. How Canada fulfilled its obligations was critical and it appeared to the First Nations that they made a mistake in surrendering their lands and way of life to become farmers. In Cree culture, verbal agreements hold the same amount weight as any other agreements. Who negotiated Treaty 6? This treaty was called the Great Law of Peace of the People of the Longhouse and predates the year 1450. There are 2051 registered band members (as of Dec. 31/2019), 749 people live on reserve which includes non-first nation people as well as people from other first nations. The group would then move to capture Fort Pit. They created an iron alliance that enabled them to expand across the northern plains. He was sentenced to three years at Stony Mountain Penitentiary in Manitoba and converted to Christianity during imprisonment. The pipe stem was presented to the Governor and Treaty Commissioners where they stroked the stem. [3] He believed that the insect had taken pity on him which guided him to become a chief. Four days later, Morris met with the Duck Lake band. Wah-wee-kah-oo-tah-mah-hote was chief from 1876 to 1883; but he was deposed in 1884, and Young Sweet Grass became chief. The specific word used was stragglers which gave the impression that the government did not see these people as any more than falling behind in Canada's idealized picture of what life of Indigenous people would be. [17], The position of chief within the Cree varied from tribe to tribe and each had varying levels of authority over the band. Arthur J. Ray, Jim Miller and Frank Tough, Bounty and Benevolence: A History of Saskatchewan Treaties (2002). He recounted the important points the Chiefs expressed regarding their physical and cultural survival, recounted the moving speeches of Ahtahkakoop and Mistawasis, and the special provisions that they negotiated to be included. What was the outcome of Chief Sweetgrass signing Treaty 6? Treaty 6 included terms that had not been incorporated into Treaties 1 to 5, including a medicine chest at the house of the Indian agent on the reserve, protection from famine and pestilence, more agricultural implements, and on-reserve education. Despite it being a highly valuable horse Sweetgrass traded it for an inferior one, understanding the importance of the group over the individual. The days of bison hunting were coming to an end, and the Cree needed help adjusting to new modes of life; the treaty provided them with that opportunity. "Biography WIKASKOKISEYIN, ABRAHAM Volume X (1871-1880) Dictionary of Canadian Biography", "History from a Different Angle: Narrative Strategies in The Temptations of Big Bear", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sweet_Grass_(Cree_chief)&oldid=1091635942, This page was last edited on 5 June 2022, at 12:56. Historian Hugh Dempsey argues that Weekaskookwasayins acceptance of the treaty was likely influenced by Mistawasis and Ahtukuoops decision to sign Treaty 6, rather than a close reading of the treaty terms. The total area of the Treaty stretches from western Alberta, through Saskatchewan and into Manitoba; and inlcudes 50 First Nations. By 1870 Canada was made up of four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. 6 was signed on August 23, 1876 at Fort Carlton in Saskatchewan. Treaty 6 peoples have also protected their treaty rights through land claims and lawsuits. [25] The lack of trapping territory, along with the decline of the buffalo left the Cree helpless. This took much time but the Chiefs appeared to be satisfied with what the government was offering. John A. Macdonald had to protect the west from American expansion after they bought Alaska in 1867 (Natural Resources Canada). They believed that their people would suffer if they did not negotiate a treaty with the federal government. Chief Sweet Grass (Weekaskookwasayin) signedTREATY 6on September 9, 1876, with the Fort Pitt Indians, but was killed about six months later. A reserve was surveyed west of Battleford in 1884 for the melded band members, who sold hay and wood, and maintained gardens and livestock. What was the outcome of Chief Sweetgrass signing Treaty 6? Big Bear was adamant in his request to the government to create laws to regulate the hunting of the buffalo. 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. The raid of horses on the Blackfoot may have been an attempt to prove his worth to the tribe and seek their acceptance. 6 Recognition Day to commemorate the signing of the treaty in 1876. [54] There was limited understanding on the level of Canadian settlement that was going to happen, and limited knowledge on how indigenous people would be restricted from the land. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. There were also village elders and warriors. They felt the treaty did not do enough to protect the Cree 'way of life' and forced assimilation into European culture and 'way of life'. If the chief remained silent, the murderer was usually executed by the victim's relatives. [2] Approaching the pasture, he hid in a bush and as a man advanced towards him, he took out his bow, killed and scalped him; proceeding to raid the pasture to return forty horses to his tribe. Like the earlier agreements this treaty called on the natives to surrender their aboriginal title to the lands they inhabited In return they were promised reserves education and farming supplies and the right to hunt trap and fish as well as annual cash payments. [10], The Cree were located in the plains of Canada. [17] After death, the soul would wonder the earth for four days, and then would travel to the land of the dead, which was believed to be in the Milky Way. After resisting sending children into the Canadian school system, the Cree living on the reserve received no food rations, until they capitulated. University of SaskatchewanDisclaimer|Privacy|Accessibility, Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan, Big Island Lake First Nation (Joseph Big Head), Hatchet Lake Denesuline Nation (Lac la Hache), Indian Policy and the Early Reserve Period, Island Lake Band (Ministikwan Indian Reserve), Mosquito, Grizzly Bears Head, Lean Man First Nations, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, Young Chipeewayan First Nation (Stony Knoll). The Chiefs hired Peter Erasmus, a Mtis, to interpret for them during the proceedings and his role became integral to both sides. [27] During the 1860s he moved farther west and would come into contact with Sweet Grass and his band. Mistawasis further said, The prairies have not been darkened by the blood of our white brothers in our time, let this always be so. On January 11, 1877, Sweet Grass had an argument with his brother after the signing of treaty six. He died January 17, 1888 and is buried in the Poundmaker cemetery. 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). Gov. Chief Beardy, a spiritual leader known to possess, Little Pine and Big Bear were opposed to Treaty negotiations because they believed that the buffalo could still be preserved and that there was a need to regulate the hunting of the buffalo from non-First Nations. What benefits did the Newcomers receive through Treaty Six? Christie, the officer in charge of the Hudsons Bay Company for the Saskatchewan District. Until recent memory, the Plains Cree were masters of their territory, which included much of present-day central Saskatchewan and Alberta. [3] After being forced to set up camp along a river due to a snow storm, a member of their war party left to collect food and spotted a lone member of the Blackfoot on foot rounding up horses. In 150 we had entered into the Robinson Huron Treaty to protect. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Gov. They wanted assurance of their spiritual and physical survival (Price 20). The Sweetgrass Nation was settled into the land West of the township Battleford, Saskatchewan in 1884. This is our land, not a piece of pemmican to be cut off and given in little pieces. But the Canadian government insisted that its grudging distribution of rations was a matter of favour, not a treaty obligation.

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