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The Work of a Few Years

AMONG THl

iisriDX Jh.

MANITOBA and the NORTH-WEST
TERRITORIES, CANADA.

MAY, 1803.

D^MaiaiiMSlSlSMSJSJtlMaSMSMSMSMSMSMaa

/>'S(73'gi

The Work of a Few Years

AMOKG THE

I 0^ ID I -A. 3xr s

MANITOBA and the NORTH-WEST
TERRITORIES, CANADA.

MAY, 1S93.

RuperVs Land Indinn Fndvfitrutl School I'rvif.

% \ f HEN visitors to the Cliica^'o Expcsilioii learn tlmt
\. \. sncli of tlie Canadian Indian exliibits as evidence

civilization, come from Indians in Manitolia and

tiie North-west Territories, whose reclamation
virtnally commenced little more than a deca(Je of
years atro, and in some instances still more
recently, they will naturally desire to learn soiiie-
thinsi of the metliods hy which tribes, who but a
few years ujio were rcamin'r the prairies as
savajres, have made the de*jree of progress of
w Inch the evidences are on view.

It is to afford the information demanded hy such intelligent
interest, that the following brief outline of the policy adopted
and pursued by the Canadian Government in the treatment of
its Indians has been prepared.

In dealing with the aboriginal possessors of the country, a
i-lioiee of three courses was open to the people who dispossessed
them.

Tliese were to leave them, after a more or less prolonged
struggle, to perish before tlie advance of a civilization which
their utmost efforts could but serve to retard ; to maintain them
in ignorance and idleness and consequent vice on reservations;
or to endeavour to teach them to support themselves by in-
dustrious pursuits, and tirarlually transform them into hap|>y
and useful members of the commonwealth.

It would be a good thing if those (perhai)8 well meaning)
critics who question our right to impose upon Indians and
their children our civilization., would remember the only
alternatives opeu to us. Surely none who possess the germ of
charity can help rejoicing that the jieople of Canada, through
their Governmont and the Churches, elected to bring to bear
upon the Indian tribes the influences of a Cliristian civilization,
nor fail to sympathize with our gratitude for and pardonable
pride in the great measure of success already attained.

Till' W'lifl: iif a Fill' Ymrf^ (Dii'nifj til'

Even wiien viewed from the (^oinp-irutively law stantlarj of
eiNdioiny, the wisdom of tiie course eli,tted has been fully
demonstrated, for the experieiu-e of others has shown that the
direct cost of ii;:htin;r Indians has always been >j:reater than
that of oivilizin*; tiieni, without takinjr into consideration the
loss caused tliroujjii the comparatively tardy settlement of
distri(!ts meiiaced liy the presence of iiostile savages.

To review the history of our relations with our Indians from
the earliest date of contact would be (piite beyond the intended
scope of tiiis sliort outline, and probal)ly prove tedious to many
of those for wliose inform.ition it has be.Mi presented.

It is, moreover, (juite unnecessary t<» attempt anything ol the
kind, because the real ditliculties of tlie Indian (piestion are
l)eing met and solved in Manit;)l)a and tlie Nortli west Terri-
tories, and more particularly in tliat part of tlie latter known
as the great Fertile Belt, and it will be snibcnent to show Ikjw
the (jrovernment has dealt with the Indians within that tract
of territory.

The initial step was tlie ne^^otiation of treaties. It must be
noticed on the threshold that the word treaty has a tendency
to convey a wrong impression of the policy adopted in Canada,
suggesting the idea that the Indian tribes were treated with as
Independent nations or princi]xilities, which happily was not
the case.

The treaties and the records of proceedings attending their
negotiation, show that they were in reality agreeujentsby which
the title to the soil or right of occupancy, was extinguished on
liberal terms, and that such agreements were made by Her
Majesty the Queen with the Indians as her own subjects.

Thus was avoided a fatal error by whicdi the Indians might
have been left without recognition of a legal status, exempt from
the operations of the law, to be variously treated as fi)reigner8,
wards, or subjects without rights.

In 1850 two treaties, known as the " Robinson Treaties," were
negotiated with the Indians for the extinguishment of their
rights to mineral lands on Lakes Superior ai»d Huron. These
only require luention here as the precursors of otiiers, and
because their main features, viz., Reserves for Indians,
annuities, liberty to hunt over the unoi;cupied domain of the
crown, were afterwards followed.

In 1862, by another treaty, the greater part of Muuitoulin
Island was surrendered.

In 1870 the Indian pro))lem, properly so-called, was nre-
sented to the Gove, nmont. Prior to the year 18U9-70, the date
of the acquisition by the Dominion Government of Manitoba
and the North-west Territories, the resident white population
(ionsisted of a few fur traders of the Hnds )n's Bay and the

Ivdiamt of M<niiioli(i arid the ?iorth-vi('t.

North-west Triulin*: Companies, and some ef)loiiists vvliom tlie
Eiirl i'f Selkirk lijul planted on the Ked River near liat is now
tlie fionrisliinu' City of WinnipeL'.

As soon, however, as tl e Dominion entered npr^n possession,
it beciime apparent that a hirge and swiftly travelling wave of
immi<.'ration won Id carry into tlie lavds hitherto occupied hy
the Indians a tide of settlement, jind the Goverinient wms
confronted with the necessity of devisiny means wherehy to
avoid impending conflict between the two races.

Many years before, the Oiihhewas aid Chippewas, or
Salteanx Indians, had removed from Eastern Canada and
taken up their Jihode in Keewatin and Manitoba.

In the North-west Territories were some of the san"' tribes,
who. with the Plain and Wood Crees, the Chippewayans, '.he
Black foot Nation /embraciuL' the Bloods, Piegans and Sarcees),
some Assiniboines (or Stonies), and refugee Sioux, constituted,
its Indian population.

To insure the friendship of these tril es, and extinguish their
riirht of occupancy, it w as determined to inaugurate a series of
treaties.

In 1871, Treaties Nos.l and 2 were entered into with the
r'hippewa and Swamjiy Cree tribes to secure tlie surrender of
lands within Manitoba.

Between 1873 and 1877, inclusive, Ave treaties were made,
hy which Salteanx, Ojibbeway, Cree, Chippewa, Swampy Cree,
Blackfoot, Blood, Piegan jnd Sarcee tribes surrendered lands,
comprising some 400,000 square miles, within the Nortli-west
Territories.

The following stipulations of Treaty No. 3 are given, because,
with slight modifications, they were followed in all subsequent
ones.

The Indians surrendered their lands, and undertook to
maintain peacefid relations between themselves, with other
tribes, and with the whites. They were promised in return
that reserves, not to exceed an area allowing one square mile
for each family of five persons, should be set apart for them
and maintained intact forever: that each soul should receive
a present of $12.00, to be followed by a perpetual annual
payment of $5.00; that each Chief should receive a flag and
silver medal, an annuity of $25.00; each Councillor or Head-
man an annuity of $15.00, with suits of clothing renewable
trienniallv ; th it a certain sum sliould be invested for them
annually in fishing tackle and ammunition; that each family
cultivating the soil should receive two hoes, one spade and
scythe; each group often families — one plough; each group
of 20 families — five harrows : each band — one a .e, one cross-cut
saw, one pit-saw and one grindstone, one chest of carpenter's

Tht Work of a Few Yt'am among the

tools, one yoko ofoxen, one hnll jmd fonr cows, tojretlter with
enoujrli of l>jirU\v, potatoes and oats to plant land actnally
broken for cnltivation ; all to bo Lriven oiuro and for all.

It was further au'reed that schools should be maintained,
intoxicants excluded, and the Indians allowed to hunt and Hsh
over unoccupied Crown domain.

In Treaty N •. 7, to me, ^t the different cinMimstances of t'le
Cuuntry and the p'^culiar tem|)erament of the Indians, provision
was made to ;zive more cattle in lieu of a<iricidtural imple-
ments; and, with the (exception of the Stonies, the tril)es
comprised m this treaty elected to retain minor Cliiefs, in
preference to bavin;.' (_"ouncillors or Headmen.

One stipulation made in the Treaty No. 0, deserves sjHM'ial
mention. It was: — "'i'hat in the event hereafter ot the
" Indians comprised within this treaty beinjr overtaken by
"any pestilence, or by a ireneral famine, the Queen, on beinir
" satisfied and certified then>of l)y her Indian aj^ent or ajrents.
" will jrrant to the Indians assistance of su(di ciiaracter and to
" such extent as her Chief Superintendent of Indian Affairs
" shall deem necessary and sufHcient to relieve Indians from
" the calamity that sliall have befallen them."

This is of special interest, as the l)asis of the rejrnlar system
of rationing Indians adopted throu>rhout the Territories after
the disap|>earance of the l)ufl'alo, which will be reverted to
later on.

From the forejfoin^ statement of stipulations, it will be
apparent to those ac()uainted with tlie history of tlie Ciovern-
ment's dealin^rs with the Indians, that all promises made have
been fully kept, and the most liberal po8sil)le construction in
the Indians' favor put upon most.

It will be observed, luoreover, that the (lovernment had
clearly recognized tliat it was its duty to put the Indiana into
a i)ositif)n in wliich they would be able to support them-
selves in a maimer consistent with their rapidly chan^iu};
surrounding's.

In the East the conditions were such that the Indians ('onld,
in their forests and alouj; their lakes, retain, without hurt to
settlers, their huntinj; irrounds, and follow the manner of life
Consistent with the pursuit of «rame for their subsistence.

In the Fertile Belt the case was widely different.

It be(!ame evident that the two races could not loup; refrain
from menaein;^ each other's existence, and that, as tlie advance
of settlers would drive away the ^ame upon whicdi the Indians
were dcpe/ident for their food supply, the latter (;ould but
proion*:, by depredation upon the former, a precarious existencie,
doomed at no distant date to destruction.

Iiiiliniiii of Mintitoho and tin- Xorth-uixl.

H(»Nv, then, wasexistoiice to he made po.ssiltle f(»rtlie Iiuliiin,
without (letriine;it to the iii('omin<r settlers ?

Tliose wlio have re. id what has hemi said of the treaty
stipulatioiis, will li.ive observe;! indications that the (tovern-
nieut Had already forecast its polii-y, and <letennii,jd that when
the ?iarth would no lonj/er furnish the Indians support thronirh
tlie transforiuin.: niedintn (if iranie. they should he taught to
extract it thniu^di tiie ajrriiMiltural methods pursued hy white
men.

An eminent (lernian botanist has remarked tiie following: —
"Corn precedes all civilization; with it is connected rest,
•' peace and domestic happiness, <»f wliicli the wanderinirsava<:e
•' knows nothin«r. In order to rear it, nations must take pos-
'• session of <'ertain lan«ls; and when their existence is thus
" firmly established, improvements in manners and customs
'' speeddy follow. They are no longer incline 1 for bloody wars,
" :)ut fight only to defend the fields from wiiich they derive
" their support. The cultivation of corn, while it furnishes
*' man with a supply of food for the greater part of the year,
" im|)oses upon him certain labours and restraints which have
'• a m(»st l)eneficial influence upon his charac^ter and habits."

Whether acquainted (jr not with the |)assage tpioted, the
(rover, unent recognized tlie great principle enunciated, and
determined to give Indians reservations upon \\hicii to pur-
sue sucli agricidtural industry as would attacdi them to their
reserves.

Kvents have fully vindicated the policy of locating these
reserves at a distance from each other, instead of iierding
Indians in large numbers on a few reservations, and employing
soldiers to watch tliem, a course whicii has not infrequently
l>een advocated.

The advantages of the system, briefly stated, are the
following: —

The reservations do not arrest the mandi of settlement
in any one direction, and consecpiently do not to any
great extent excite the cuj)idity of settlers.
The Indians, vvlien congregated in small luimbers, cliivg
less tenaciously to tlieir habits, customs and modes of
thought, and are in every way more amenable to the
influences of cm vi ligation.
They have less opportunity for devising mischief, and lack

the combination nec-essary to carry it into operation.
The danger of quarrels among hereditary enemies is

avoided.
The game w hich contributes towards the Indians' main-
tenance does not disappear with such rapidity as in
the presence of large numbers of hunters.

iU,

The Work of n Ft'iv Yfiivi amorxj thf

The Iivlians tin 1 ji market tor prodiute and for labour
wlieii (iistribnted tlirou^di various settlecl districts,
and settlers in turn share ecjually in anv advanta<re to
be gained through furnishing sueh supplies as beef
and flour, vvhidi can be purcliased locally.

The first step was, of course, t»» settle the Indians upon tlieir
reserves, and in accotnplishing this, tiie Government was
greatly aided by thedisappearant .^ of tite bnfialo, although tbe
startling suddenness of this event added ten-fold to the difti-
culties of the position in some otiier respects.

The vast herds of butfalo which used to graze over the
cotuitrv formed the main source of the Indians' natural
su|)ply, at any rate in the Fertile Belt.

Of the buffalo's skin, the Indian made iiis dwelling.
nioc(;asins and saddle. Cut into strips and twisted together, it
rurnished liim with rope, and its sinews formed a suitable
tliread for the kinds of ntaterial he had to work int(» garuients.

The robes served him for bedding and protection against the
V)itter cold of winter. From tiie horns hepn^-ured his powder-
flask and drinking-cu[).

The flesh, at the season when it c(»uld be fresh killed and
eaten, supplied him witli an ali-sutticing fo<»d. such as his soul
loved, and of which when hungry he could consume some
eight to ten pounds at a sitting.

For use at other seao"s, he cure I thetlesh by cutting it into
strips and drying it in the sun. Again, by pounding down ail
but tiie boubs, hoofs and liides, adding an admixture of dried
berries and the melted fat, he produced his penimican, an
ii.N.ihial'le form of food to one whose habits necessitated llie
coi'ipression of the maximum of nourishment intit tiie
uiinimuu; of of space.

In /jict, !«• • g as the buffalo <'Ould be found in i)lenty. tlie
InJuin \vxd in, jipiirements in his natJiral condition abnn-
dai'iHy sr.pp'.c ', 'Uid to his complete satisfaction.

Tiic MvUiifu'-of hu(ral<» was so enormous that when left to
th Mt^v^N>» e iulians could make no material impression
on iinu I d so had nothing to chec!; the indiscriminate
slaughter wiiich tended to encourage that improvidence whicii
is one (»f the characteristics most dilficult to eradicate.

When, however, in about the year 1870, American railways
penetrated the ))uffalo regions, there (Xtmmenced the begin-
ning of the end. It was found that robes and bides
commanded ready and lucrative sale, and a horde of white
hunters, or rather butchers, swarmed in. Hundreds of
thousands of hides reached the markets, each of winch
represented the slaughter of several animals, the (Carcasses of
whi(;h had been left to rot upon the prairies.

Jr.

Jv(ii(()tf> of Mui'tthd (ivd tin hnlJ.-vnt.

*^.

'I'itiie WHS iiot^iveii the cioonied animals evfis to bre<Ml. It
has hetMi estimateti hy (•(.iii|K'tert aiith( rity tl at in the Unite<l
Kates, <i' riii}^ the tlirce years (f lS71'-78-74, at least five
inilliuns ot hnftuhies were slau»;litered lor their hides.

Willie this externiiiatiou was in process a<ross "tl e Line,"
the butialo were coming- to this i-ouiitry in nnnders sc reduced
as to seriously alarm the Indians; hut it was not until 1879
that the few left on the other side were heideo and prevented
from ci:()Ssinu into the Canadian Territoi'ies, ai d the butfalo
entirely and permanently disappeared.

Amoui: sonie of the Indians in the earlier treaties, some
small l,e<>inning had heen made tcnvards <iettin<: them to
settle down and betake themselves to farming, but in the
later treaties, in which tite Indians were pra(^tically
dependent upon the buflahi, hut little beyond a partial
distribution of cattle and impleme: ts had I een acciinjtlished.

The Blackfoot tribes had only come ii to treaty in 1<S77,
and were, by the sudden disapj)earar( e of the ])uffalo,
confronted with starvation.

When visited in X^IM they were found to be in a most
pitiable pli«>ht. The old and infirm liad largely perished,
strong young braves were re inced to sivelelons, their ponies
traded ofr for food, their dogs eaten ; they w ere dependent for
suutenance on what gophers, mice and so foith, thev could
find.

'I he gravity of the position can hardly be exaggerated. The
natural source of sup[)ly cut ofl befi re ai.y appreciable step
had been taken towards the provision of a sul)stitute. This,
too, at a time w hen means of transport were'limited largely to
the use of tiie <jld lied River carts over a country almost
destitute of roads.

Looking back now upon the situation, it seems nuirvellous
how the difliculties were overcome, and how the condition of
affairs existing to-day has been arrived at.

The Government, however, undisniayed, set its face with
determination to the task presented to it.

In doing this, it did urt satisfv itself witli measures merely
calculated to tide over tlie tem|)orary ditliculties, but
recognized the true scope and far-reaching charat'ter of the
duty imposed upon it.

It is (luestionable whether Iiidians have ever yet been
thoroughly understood l)y anyone; but the Government tlien
knew so much, at any rate, that it had to deal with savages
naturally impatient of control, quick to take offence, and swift
to avenge an injury, real or imaginary, surrounded by
hereditary enemies, disinclined for monotonous and. in their
eyes, degrading toil, uuinured by lial)it to sustaitied and

The Work of a Few Yian^ omovg the

laborious exfertion. It is fortunate tlmt no less lofty aim than
the transfurmatif n of sin'h people into useful members of the
conunonwealth was adopted.

It is not for a moment claimed that this transformation has
been ('om|)leted, but such marvellous protrress has been already
made as to assure, sooner or later, a full measure of success.

The machinery employed by the (rovernment to achieve its
ends will be briefly described a little later on. but in the mean-
time it will be intercstinjr to notice wherein has lain the real
secret of success. As already said, the Government's aim was
a lofty one, and it recognized that it could only be reached by
securing the friendship and the (lonfidence of its imtutored
wards. It was necessar\ to appeal to the Indian's self-interest,
and to make him reiMgnize that what was re<piired of him
was for h^s own benefit.

His peculiarities had to Iw studied, and when he proved
fractious, petulant and childish, the endeavor always was
to assume his point of view, and consider how matters would
appear to us were we in his positiim.

He has been taugiit, moreover, that while amenable to the
saine law as white men, that law, which is far-reaching and
strong to punish crime, is equally pdtent and ready to protect
his rights.

liy this means have crime and conflict l)e<Mi avoided. Our
Indians have, on tiie wliole^ prove<l themselves, under ju<li-
cious handling, to l)e a law-abiding people, and crime hits
been very much less [)revalent among them than among
communities uf wliite {leople of ecjual numbers. The know-
ledge gained by •experience that the law would certainly
|)rotect them in their rights and do them full justice, has
inclined them to await with patience the issue of disputes
with settleirs, and hetweon the two races no serious trouble
has ever arisen, excepting on the solitary occasion when, in
1H85, a few of the worst, who were not all really settled upon
reservations, were instigated to join in the rebellion, wliich
condu(!t has l)een duly repent^nl f)f, forgiven and pni^tically
forgotten. Here a passing tribute may be paid to the excellent
service rendered in maintaining peace l)etween the trihes
themselves, the Indians and the settlers, in the suppression of
crime, and more particularly the prevention of wliisky trading
with the Indians, rendered by that splendid body of men, the
North-west Mounted Police. When first established, the
strength of tiie force was only ."^OO men ; however, as increasing
settlement found more work for them to do, it was augmented
to r)fH), and later on to its present strength of 1000 men.

What their presence in the country may havtoprevente<I can,
of course, be never known, but nndoubteiily it has had the

^'->'-

Ivflianf of Mfniitahd atirl Ihv I^^orth-uypt.

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most salutary influenee npon all classes of the community, and
trom the day the red coat first appeared npon the plains, it
may he asserted that life and property became practically
secure. The great secret of their success with the Indians
has been that the latter quickly learned that, while prompt
and firm in bringinjr offenders to justice, the well-behaved
c/)uld always rely upon their friendship and active sympathy
in case of need.

Another secret of success in dealing with our Imlians has
been the respect paid to one of their most marked peculiarities
in their dealings with white men, viz., their unrelenting and
literal exaction of the fulfilment of any promise made.

Indians have a most iKU'uliar '"ode of morals. "^ heir honesty,
in some respects, excites admiration and surprise. The absence
of doors and locks in their natural surroundings created a
sacred regard for eacli otlier's property, necessarily left unpro-
tected; and one is often astonished to find how scrupulous they
are in respecting property even under circumstances which
would seem abnost to justify a different course. On the other
hand, in order to gain an advantage over a white man, they
would not, as a rule, hesitate to make the falsest statements;
and yet, as already said, they expect a white man to fulfil to
the letter any pnmiise made to them.

An Indian does not understand a conditional promise, nor
will he make allowances for unforeseen difficulties which may
have prevented or delayed fulfilment. There is, moreover, a
great danger of his regarding as a promise something whi(^h
may have never l^een intended by the speaker to bear such
lonstruction. A large proportion of grievances can be traced
to this source, and so much importance has been attached to
the exact fulfilment of anything regarded as a promise, that,
with a view to avoid trouble, subordinate oflrtcers visiting
reserves are not allowed to hold meetings and li.s> n to com-
plaints and bring on discussions which might lead to mis-
conception on the part of the Indians as to what had been
promised them.

Before passing away from the general features of the policy
whicii has turned out so well, it would be unfair to leave
iinacknowledged the extent to which, in dealing with the
Indians now under raview, the road had been cleared by the
Huds(Mi's Bay Company, which, by an uninterrupted course of
fair dealing, had pre[)ared the Indians to put confidence in the
justice and friendly intentions of the white man.

The half-breed population, too, served as a go-between, and
although their influence may not have invariablv been for
good, on the whole it has been very beneficially exerted
between the Indians and the (Tovernment.

The Woric of « Few Yeorsi amohg the

To turn to psirtievilars, the first step was, as already stated,
to «ret the Indians settled on their reserves and at work.

The fart tliat the disappearance of tlie buffalo aided in snch
settlement has already (i?en noticed, as well as the advantaj:es
resulting from tlie division of Indians over reserves separated
hy some distance from ea<'li otlier.

Althouj^h the general policy had lieen clearly defined, the
methods of carrying it ont were necessarily tentative, and one
of tlie first things discovered was the need of ample and
constant supervision, such as would enable each Indian tol»e
knovvn and dealt with individually. Agencies were established
with fanners in charge of reserves iherein, and, as the
advantages (»f closer supervision became apparent, these
aveiicies have been increased and subdivided.

The control of rations has i>een the only lever beyond moral
suasion available to compel Indians, naturally averse to it, to
work. The principle laid down has been to help the Indian
t • help himself, to support liim just to tlie extent necessary to
enable 1 iin to lecomc self-supporting In theory this principle
is Sound, but many dit^ii'Uties have been encountered relative
to reducing it to practi<e.

The doctrine inculcateid has been the Apostolic one; that if
a man will not work, he shall not eat.

At first sight it miubt apiHMr that the contri)! of rations
would provide a pretty effective method of coercion, but the
Indian is shrewd enough to discover that it would not lie used
beyond a certain point, and were he not so, there are always
plenty of white men ready to assure him of it.

In view of such inade(juaie coercive means, and the necessity
for relying ahm st entirely npt>n moral suasion, it will he
readily recognized how necessary it has been to employ in the
work men possessed of energy, firmness, patience, tact,
decision, fertility of resource in dealing w ith emergencies, and
such knowledge of the Indian character as can be gained by
experience alone.

There is now resident in the North-west Territ(»ries a
Dignitary of one of the Churches, who some few years ago
took charge of one t)f our agencies for a time.

This gentleman had been born and had sper.t the greater
part of his life among Indians as a Missionary, and not
unnaturally thoug^ht he was in [jossession of all that was to be
known about tliem, but when handling them as an agent of
the Government, he felt compelled to admit that under their
idianged conditions they presented an aspect quite new, and
very hard to deal with.

In faw of 8U» h evidence (and much more of like kind might
be adduced), it can readily be understood how utterly unfi*

fiidiariK of Mtinitdhn and the North-weH.

iiiexpHrienced men, liowever estimable and capable in otiier
directions, are to manage Indians.

It, has, therefore, been fortnnate tliatthe foresight of Canada's
greatest statesnian, the late Hon. Sir John A. MacDonald.
determined himonaconrse by wiiich politi(!8 slionld not be
idlowed to interfere witii tlie appointment of those entrnsted
witli carrying otit the details of the Department's Indian
poli<!y.

On the vvliole, the D.^i.irtmei.t'a servants iiave d<ine their
duty faithfully and well.

Few not engaged in tlie service in its earlier days know
how agents and instructors, faithful to the Departmeiit, and to
the best interests of the Indians themselves, have risked their
lives, refusing supplies to, anrl in other ways resisting idle or
refractory Indians, and in no way is judgment more severely
tested than in deteimining when to give way and when to
hold out.

Agents and farmers, however, are but men, and grow weary
sometimes of the struggle. It is no wonder that they may he
inclined to adoi)t the re.idiest method of keeping the Indians
in good humour and having all go sinootldy, vvhicli, it need
Inirdly be stiid, is giving liberal issues of supplies.

Still less Wonder that when they have succeded in making a
marked advan<e, tiiey are prone to rest u[)on their oars. Hut
natural as they may be, those methods will not serve to
rea(;h the goal, and tiie Department from tbe first retrognized
the necessity of having soineone in autliority to represent it
on tbe spot. It appointed a Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
and, as the work became more elaborate and extensive, his
staff necessarily increased.

Tlie true wisdom and etionomy of the course cannot be over-
estimated. It is not alone, what has been done, in compelling
the exenMse of every possible economy in working the
agencies, in insisting upon tlie extraction from the Indians, of
all possible assistance towards their own maintenance, that
must be considered. The very sense of security to life and
property, enabling the comparatively rapid settlement of the
(Country, has largely depended upon the presence of a repre-
sentative of the Department, easily accessible to Indians who
would refrain from taking into their own hands matters in
dispute between themselves and their overseers, or the
settlers, which they knew they could promptly refer to liim.

The Commissioner has always been in close touch with
every agency. A very elaborate system of communication has
been kept up by having monthly rejxirts and diaries from ea(!h
agent and fanner sent to his oHice. Regular returns, account-
ing for the issue of all sorts of supplies, are received, others

Tlif Work of a Fni: YcatH aimmg the

Hhowiiig the rate of us-sistiiuce given to edch baud, the amount
.){ work perlbrnied, so tiuit a complete check is ke[)t upon ,ill
property, and tiie Commissioner's Ultimate ac(piaiutaiice with
the circumstances ot all Indians, enables him to tell whether
tlie rule re.juiriiig that only suiilcient hel]) to enable tliem to
help themselves is being adhered to.

The policy governing the iirMans' agricultural operatiouH is
t(* contine tiiem to what they can handle witii sm-h sinipk^
implements as are likely to be witliin tlieir reacli when they
come to be thrown on their <twn resources, and to keep tiiem
all useluily employed. Tlie use ot labour-saving maciiinery,
unless under exceptional circumstances, is discouraged. -

Every eriort is put lorth to devise means by whicli the
Indians can be enabled to earn laoney, wliether by hiring out
tlieir services, selling hay, tirewood. burning lime or clian-oal,
tanning hides, or any other of a dozen ditlerent ways. They
are reijuired, moreover, as tliey become sudicie.itly advanced,
to manufacture their own hay-racks, bobsleiglis, harness, ox-
coilars, axe and fork handles, and so forth, at which they soon
become very expert.

To encourage the care of cattle, and teach the Indians tlieir
value, animals are given to them under what is known as the
" Loan System." By this, a certain time is allowed in which
to return the animal originally lent, (»r one, eipially good, from
the progeny, wlii(di, in turn, is gi\en out to another uiid^r like
conditions, and tlius a system is gradually lirought about at a
less cost than would be otherwise incurred. To eiurourage the
Indian, as soon as a few animals have been ac([uired, he is
allowed to sell a steer, part of the })roceeds being given him to
expend, the balance devoted to the purchase of a young heifer,
with a view to yet further increasing his stock. Hy such
metliods, under careful supervision, some bands have already
become practically self-supporting, wiiile all are making rapid
strides in the same direction. During all this time a main
feature of the Department's policy had never for a moment
l)een lost sight of, viz., the inculcation of a spirit of indi-
vidualism, or preparation for citizenship.

The special legislation necessary for the [irotection of the
Indians' interests against the superior business acumen of
unsciupulous white men militates against this consummation,
but nothing would be gained by conferring the lull status of a
citizen before the retMpient had been carefully {)repared to
bear it, and the legislation refei -ed to makes ample lorovision
for the Indian's enfranchisement in due time.

The first step in ihe course cf this education is to overcome
the iii'diuation engendered by their natural manner of living,
in which the industrious has to share the nrodui'ts of his

6riSSJ&3

Indiana of Manitobn. and the J^orth-wffit.

industry witli his hizy and thriftless neij^hbours. By carefully
<'onflnin»; the assistance <j;iven, so as to render it absolutely
.ler^essary to linsband his own resonnres, this tendency is soon
overcome. As he becomes more s^lf-supporting, he finds
himself more comfortable and independent, and so a stride
lias been male to the point at which a spirit of proper pride
and self respect can be awakened.

At tliis stage, by continuing to give him such assistance as
will leave him a margin for, and l)y inducing him to make
investments in property, su;!h as waggons, harness, impie-
inents, and so on, he develops into the status of a property
holder, and begins to feel a seise of superiority to those who
are com{>elled to rely for everything upon the charity of the
Government.

What he has been purchasing secures to him the means of
assured independence, and his position arouses a spirit of
emulation in his less industrious brother.

Nothing tends so strongly as the ac([uisition of property to
render Indians averse to having the existing order of things
disturbed, for with them, as in white communities, the lawless
and revolutionary element is to be found among those who
have nothing to lose, but nuiy perhaps gain by upsetting law
and order.

When so far prepared, effect cdn l^e given to the provision
made lor the subdivision into farms, to be held in severalty, of
the reserve so far occupied .in common. Assured that the
benefits will thus be secured to himself and heirs, he is
encouraged to improve his property. Already on many of the
reserves this system of subdivision iiud tenure by location
ticket is in operation.

The [Kitriarchal form of governmcnit by hereditary chiefs has
to be broken down, and provision has been made for the substi-
tution of a system of election, when the time becomes ripe for it.

It may not prove possible to merge the Indians of the
present generation to a ly extent with the white population.

The majority of them may have to be kept on their reserves
To enable them to cope ,vith the temptations and assaults to
whicii they would be exposed if thrown upi.n their own
resources among white men, it may well be that training must
commence in childhood.

In aiming at this, however, snflicient progress has })een made
to justify the confident expectation that within a comparatively
short time the Indians of tiie present generation will at least be
made self-reliant, self-supporting and self-respecting on their
own reserves, and if nothing more be accomplished, tliis
achievement will have been worthy the best efforts of a
civilized and Christian nation.

The Work of a F(V Yiars omo'tig the

Even such I rief review of tl e Cn veri nert's Irdian jolicy
as tl e foregoing vn( ulcl I e ii;(< nijilele villcut a jilanre at wluit
is l eing dore for tie rising ^ert'iatioii. In view ol what lias
been accomplisl ed in a (( nijaratively short time, wlien
dealing with an adult j opiilatioi, taken fr( ni a savage state, it
d(es not seem an extravagai^t exjectation tl at mai y of the
rising generatitn can he tan^-l.t t( h( Id tl eir ( vn and.perhaj s,
e\eii to amalgamate w ith the v hites. To this end, the ean est
ai d persistent educational efff rts of the Government are
dire<ted, and snrely the ei d is f n m any pt int (f view a
laudahle one.

It cannot he Ur the interest (f the comnu nvealtli to
c(,ntinne a day longer than I'ecessary a foreign elenicnt in its
midst, f< r < ven c( nld it he cri trolled so as nrt to constitnte a
sonrce of positive danger, it must assuredly for negative
reasoi s he (.ne of weakness to tl e State.

L'nity of interests and of sentiments is required to give
strei otli to tl e \\hole.

Jt may he true that, when viiwed in pro i)e(tby the Indians,
thev mav not covet the advai taties of civilization for them-
selves. n<>r for their children, hut no civilized nation canjustily
itself in leaving ignorant savages, whose country it has taken
jK ssession (,f. to deteimiiie their o^^n course and follow the
blind promptin^is c>f their natural impulses.

1 he education of the rising generation is u logical sequence of
the policy already described, a^d that this was recognized
\N hen it ^^ as first outlined, will be seen from the {(revision
made in the treaties for the establishment of day schools on
the reserves.

As the necessities of the case and the true scope of the orkw
have gradually become apparent, the Government lias un-
hesitatingly stepped beyond the strict obligations imposed by
treaty stipulations, and with the full approval of the country,
developed an extended system of education for its Indian
wards.

In this work it has been greatly assisted by the Churches,
which, by contributing to their maintenance, have enabled a
better class of teachers to be employed, and more schools, at
any rate ol the boarding classes, to be provided than would
otherwise have been p(,ssible.

A commencement was made with day schools on the
reserves, but by decrees tneir insuiliciency became clear. The
strong affection for their children, which is such a pleasing
characteristic of the Indian, prevents the exercise by him or
by the teaciier of the firmness and discipline necessary to
compel regularity of attendance, or obtain the best results from
sucii attendance as mav be secured.

Iiuli/mif of MnuUob;(, and the North-west. 15

At best, coinp.iratively little impression can be made on
children wlie.i the iufineiice exer iisjd diirin>5 scliool hours is
rei^ularly counteraiited by the longer iioiirs and stronger
impressions of home association.

For these reasons, and with the additional one of providing
means for instrnotion in trades, such as could not be alForded
al individual reserves, the establishment of Industrial Sciiools
at a distance from the reserves was determined on.

Of tlie.se In iastrial Schools, supported entirely by the
(lovernrajut, there nave alre.i ly bee:i established one at Fort
Qu'Appelle, one at Battleford, one at High River, and one at
Regina, while two others at Retl Deer and Brandon respec-
tively are in immediate contemplation.

These st^hools, although conducted under the auspices of
various religious deiiominations, have been wholly supported
by the G iver.iment, and in addition to the ordinary common
sjhoal edacation, instruc^tion in carpentering, blacksmithing,
shoe-making, printinj;, farming, etc.. is given to the boys, and
in various household industries to the girls. They have not
been in opjration sulfi neatly long to give much in the way of
ultimate results, but those wiiich have bjen longest established
are beginning to give proof that the hopes entertained in
founding such institutions will not be disappointed. Of the
progress ma le i'l imp.irting industrial instruction, the exhibits
will l)est speak for themselves.

Tlie system of farm. ug out m )re alvancel papils under
careful suparvision and to reliai)le settlers has been
inaugurated, and so far tlie saricess m.it with has been most
encouraging. By this means it is hoped that many will
gradually becouu imbued with the sentiments as well as the
habits of wiiite people.

'here yet remains for serious consideration whether pupils
sliould be allowed to return to their reserves, to there run the
risk of relapsing into the condition from whicli they liave been
taken, or be placed by themsvilves in colonies, or trusted to liold
their own as citizens amjng white numbers of the community.

In addition to these Industrial S diools wholly supporteil by
the Government, there have been established several similar
institutions nure directly under the control of the various
religious bodies, who undertake a share of their maintenance.
Towards the support ot pupils at these institutions, the
Government contributes an annual per capita grant of $100.00,
an l at each of them, industrial and other instruction of the
character already described is give o, although not compulsory
in more than two trades. Of tliese, there are one at St. Boniface,
Winnipeg; one at St. Paul's parish, a few miles i^istant from
the same place; one at Elkhorn, in iVIauitoba, etc., lc.

llic Work of a Few Years among the

Yet anotlier class of boarding K('lio<*l8 is comhicted by tbo
various deiiominatioiis, which receive a per capita grant of
$72.00.

These are intended, as far as possible, to take tlie place of
day-schools, and are in most cases sitnated upon or adjacent
to reserves, but they tend in a measure to remove the cliildien
from tlie disadvantages of contact with home influeiices and
associations.

The cost of these Boarding Schools, although from one point
of view but small, is, in the aggregate, so great that they
cannot be substituted for day-schools as fast as could be
desired.

There were thus, during the past year, at these Industrial
Boarding and Day Schools in Manitoba and the Nortii-west
Territories, in round numbers some 4000 children brought
under direct educational influences, and the work is being
steadily extended.

The beneficial results upon the present, and still more upon
tlie coming, generation, can hardly fail to be such as to re])ay
the people of Canada for the enlightened policy pursued in the
treatment of the aboriginal population of vast tracts oi terri-
tory, perhaps the richest in natural resources, and most full of
promise for the future of any on this continent, or in any part
of the world.

ladiayix oj Mavitotxi and the North-west.

IXTotioe.

HE Printing of this book is en-
tirely the work of young Indian
lads and their instructor, at the
Rupert's Land Indian Industrial
School, St. Paul's, Middle Church
P. O., Manitoba, Canada.

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Printed at the ,

RUPERT'S LAN D
INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL,

Middle Church,
manitoba, - canada.

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