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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 f^mfKm. u MEMORIAL OP TJtB tW'tj .•»f V AND OTTAWA INDIANS. or E ISLAND! I Toucmwa th% ciiiM or thb ama E(«MTe, K«*tm» Bid. JImo. Turkey, mi ftrint an Felee lalsndt. To His Excellency the Governor General in ConnciL mwtmAi: Tm "cxm^mi-mm^t job omen MEMORIAL OF THE AND OTTAWA INDIANS, OF WALPOLE ISLAND! TOUCHIKO THltlB CLAIM OF TBI Huron Eeserve, Fighting, Bois Blanc, Turkey, and Point au Pelee iBlancU. To His Excellency the Governor General in Council. » A. n TV I A : PRINTED AT THE "CANADIAN" BOOK -V JOB OFFICE. 186 9. .X 3f:E]MOIlI^^IL, To His Excellency, The Right Honorable Sir John Young, Baronet, K. C. B., G. C. M. G., and Governor General of the Dominion of Canada, &c,, Ac, &c. The Memorial of the Cliippeway, Potkawatomy an 1 Ottawa Tuliana of Walpole Island, ^ toucliing their claim of the Huron Reserve, Fi^htirg, Bois Blanc, Turkey and Point au Pelee IslauuB. i GREAT CHIEF,— Your memorialists most respectfully present and pray — 1st. — That they are the descendants of the three Indian Nations, Chippeways, Potta- * watomieH and Ottawas, who formerly di8i)layed their loyalty to the British Government. 2if'. — That according to the »)est information that can be obtained, and upon roferer-c-e to the varioi s Deeds of Cessions, Grants and Leases of Lands, it will appear that the said three Natio-is were the rightful pro^irletora of the Peninsula betweeu Lakes Huron, St. Clair ano Erie. . , ... 3i'^1- — That many years ago the Wyandotts emigrated fiom the North, (somewhere in or ftear Lake Superior), and it appears that they first settled opposite Maiden, on tha Michi- gan shore, afterwards they removed and were allowed to settle on, what was then kiiown f as the Hunting Ground, now called the Huron Reserve, which constitutes the Township of Anderdon, in the Connty of Essex, Province of Ontario, where they now reside ; and by permission of the said three Nations, became the joint owners of the said Hunting ' Ground. 4th.— That on the 19th dny of May, A.D., 1790, to please the Government, the iSaid three Nations ceded to His Majesty George thr.* Third, a large portion of the said Penin- sula. On that day they, with the said Wyanlfttts, and by the concurrence of the Gov- ernment, reserved the said Huron Reserve to be held nnd owned in common by theni and i. their posterity, as will rppear upon reference to the Deed marked P. accompanying this Memorial. 5th.— That many years ago, the said thi-ee Nations left that part (Huron Reserve and its vicinity) of their possessions — not with any intention of forever abandoning the land *nd the Islands by t'lern're-^arved. The Ciiii»pesvay3, with few of the Pottawatomies and "Ottawas, removed and became permanent settlei-s on other Tracts of Land situate and lying, som3 in the inte:ior pirts of the .said Peninsula, and others on the borders of the "IRJver St. Clair. But the main body of the said Pottawatomy and OtUvwa Nations emi- grated over, and for many years, led a wandering and hunting life in the Tenitory and State of Michigan, where they lost many of their numbers by death and removals beyond Ihe great Mississippi. 6th. — Tliat tho said Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations returned to Canada, and settled on Walpole iHlaud, some i»i the year 1837, aadothei-s in 1841. The Pottawatomy Nation, during »lieir sojourn in Michigan, received some land through "Miok-sa-ba," their then Head Chief — said land was, howf.ver, ceded back to the United States Government, but they never i-eceived any annuity in consequpnco. 7th. — That the said Ottawa Nation during thi'ir sojourn in Michigan, never received any land, no*" anything whatsoever from the said United Stages Orovernmont ; and tliey would espeoially call your Excellenfy's attention to the fact, thut being natives of America, their rights, titles and interorts must exist in some land or money representing land which their aucestoi*3 once called their own ; and they venture to state that they (oel confident that they are the joint jjrojuietors of ^he Huron Reserve, Bois Blanc, Fighting, Turkey and Point au Pelee Islands. 8th. — That your Memoriftlists, the said three Ndtions, have from time to time, inquired res|iecting the said Hnion Reserve and the Islands, but ha>'e been told by their Agents, that since these portions of land have, b" them, been po long neglected no action can lie taken. Your Memorialists l)eg to inform Your Excellency that they have-not so ne.glected the said lands, but in or about the years of 1830 and 1840 helil Councils at Amherstburgh ■with the said Wyandotts for the purjKise cf entering into an agreeiueut as to the pro|)er disposal of the said Huron Reserve, and in b()th Coatnciis, the said Wyandotts being an:^ious to have the whole Tract under their own control, on the gri.und ot their having it iu theif possession for many years, appli'^d to white men of iuftiienoe for assistance, and especially in the Council of 1840, the late George Ironside, Indian Sujierintendent tUeu, instead of performing his duty to investigate carefully the case in question, intei-feiwl and assisted the said Wyandotts. Your Memorialists werG over-ruled, ami, in consequence, 110 agreement was made. 9th. — That the Islands, respectively called. Fighting, Turkey, and Bois Blanc, situate and being in the River Dtitioit, in the vicinity of the said Huron Reserve, but not wholly in front of that Roserxe, and the Point au Pelee Island, iu Lake Erie, wei-e owned and held in common at an earlier ])eriod by the said thiee Nations, the Chii)peway, Pottawa- tomy and Oiitawa Nations only. The said lands were not included in tiie largo cession of land in the yewr 1790. 10th. — That your Memorialists have been lately informed that the said Fighting and Turkey Islands had been disposed of, and the reason why tliepaid Fighting Island bus been neglected so long by your Memorialists is, that on the thii-d day of J>fl>, A. D., 1829, Chief "Wau-wau-som," with other Indians belonging to Walp->le Island, but who at that time were living in Miamies, Ohio, with a band of Ottawa Indians belonging to the United States, delivered the .said Island to one Thomas Paxton for a lease of nine hundred and ninety-nine (999) years. That the Comm ssionors appointed in the year A.D.> 1850, to inquire into the Indian Affairs rejwrted to the Government then, that "after a most care- ful investigation, it appears to us that the Wyandotts alone among the Indian Tribes have any title to it." Your Memorialists, who claim the Island, beg to inform Your Ex- cellency that they never knew nor heard of any "careful investigation" being made in 1856, or at any other time by any of the Indian Commissioners ; for if they, your Memo- rialists, had known it, they would have asserted their tihle to it. A true copy of the Lease of Fighting Island accomjmnies this Memorial, as shewing and proving that the said three Nations exercised the rights of ownership over it. Said I^ease wa to vit ca en su and settled omy Nation, their then rnment, but eceived any i they would merica, their which their )nfident that Turitey and ne, inquired leir Agents, tion can he so n«glected nherstburgh ) tlie ])ro|)er iotts beinw ir having it stance, and uient tlieu, ieifei-tofl and onseqtience, iQc, situate not wholly owned and ', Pottawa- } cession of [hking and id has been D., 1829, 'lio at that he United ndred and 1856, to most care- an Tribes Yonr Ex- ; made in was executed, siatnol fti I teilel in che prainnaa of :he Ule George IronMiJe, Supt. Indian Department, and several othem, who did not entertain any doubt of the Inland belonging to thn Siiid thre3 N;*tioii» only. Reipectini the sai 1 Copy of the L').iM9, refer to the AffiJa- vits of Widow Mary Finher mid Wm. N. Fisher, acoonipanving this Mernorial. lltli. — Thu^ the Raid Bois Blanc Island was sjiecially reservevl to be a place of landing, cam )ing and holding Councils thereon. It was never t.urremlered nor leased to the Gov ernmeot, or to any otner peraon or peisouH. Tii'-'reforH, your Memorialists now offbr its surrender to the Government to be sold lor their own l-enetit. 12th. - That the said Point au Polee Island, which is in Like Erie, was many years ago dfilivered by a Deed of lease to Thomas McKee, or in the luliau, Wah-be-me-sha-wa, for khe ]>iirpo8e of him keeping live stock tiieruju. Tiiis Island also was never ceded to the Gov- emmeut by any of the Indians. It in set forth in the Memorial of the MoCorniick Familv, that the Bands of Indians who 8o owned the Island have become extinct. Your Memorialint^ respectfully call and direct your attention to the Affidavits aojouipanying this Memorial as shewing and prov- ing that the ileirb und iSucceuuors of these liauiU wuu owned the Island have not become extinct. A true copy of the lease of the Point au Pdloe Island aocanipjinies this Memorial, shew- ing and proving tiiac the Cldppatvays and Oitawis h id the rights of owiter^hip over it. IJth. — That, impresKHd us your Memorialists are, with the rightfuluesH and justice of their claim to the said Fighting, Bois Bluuc, Turkey, and Point au Peleu Islands, and their joint claim of the said Uurju lieserve, tney humbly pmy that a pr«>per hearing be granted to them by the Government. And in connection witii this Memorial, yonr Memorialists beg to call and direct your at- tention to the Affidavits accompanying this JSrleuiorial. GREAT CHIEF,— Always unhesitatingly loyal and ever ready to support Her Mnjesty'f Flag, your Ex- cellency's Memorialists venture to assent that they are de-serving of the proper hearing and favomble consideration of tt e Government, in this, their expectation, and they feel that they can, with confidence, ap|irca.h yotir Excellency, submitting their ease, and praying that _\ ou may cause au ordei to be passed in the Council of your Great and Houombie Councillors : Firstly.— That the annuity realized ly the sale of the said Fighting, Bois Blanc and Turkey Islands, may be transferred so as to be hereafter payable to your Memorialists only. Secondly. — That payment may be granted to your Memorialists by the Government for the said Point au Pelee Island, which has been confirmed to the said McCormick family, by Deed, thereby effecting a loss to your Memorialists ; and Thirdly. — That your Memorialists may obtain their equal share of th'* said Tluroa Reserve, which they lost under the Treaty of the 20th day of Sej^ tcmber, A. D., 1836. A true Copy of said Treaty accompanies this Memorial. And as in duty bound your Memorialists will ever piay. (Signed) WM. N. FISHER, In behalf of the Memorialist*. COPY OF THE DEED OF CESSIOIST. « La Assumption, District Hesse, 22nd June, 1790. Know all men by those presents, that we, the princiiwl Village and Wur Chiefs of the Ottawa, Cliippcway, Potf awatomy ami Huron Indian Nations, of Detroit, for and in consideration of the sunt of £1,200, currency, of the Province of Qiebec, at five Sliiltinga per Sfmnish Dollar, for vnluable wares and merchandise to us delivered hy the hand of Alexander AlcKee, Esq., Deputy Agent of Indian Affi irs ; the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, have, by and with the consent of the whole of our said Nation, given, gmnted, enfeoffed, alienated and confirmed, and by those presents, do give, gi-ant and en- feoff, alien and confirm unto His Majesty, George the third, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, itc, Ac, &c., a certain tract of laud beginning at the mouth of the Cattish Creole, commonly called River au Chaudiere, on the north side of I nke Krie, b«;ing the Western extremity of a Tract purchased by His said Majesty from Message India,ns in the year 1781, and fi-ur- thence running westwartl alo gthe border of Lake Erie, and up the strait to the mouth of the River known by the name of Cheuail e Cartie, an 1 up the mai:* branch of the said Chenail e Cartie to the first fork on the side South ; then a due east lice until it intersects the River La Franche, and up the River La Franche to the North West comer of the said cession granted to His said Majesty in tho year 1784 ; then following the western boundry of said Tract, b*>ing a due south direction, until it strikes the m^uth of Cat6sh. Creek, or otherwise River ati ChauJiere, })eing the first offset; reserving a Trtjct beginning at the Indian OHicera' Land at a small Rur, or Gully n"ar the head of the Island of Sois Blanc, and running upwards along the border of the Strait to the beginning of the French settlement, aliove the head of the Petite Isle Dinde ; then a due east line 7 miles, aud then south so many miles as will intersect anoth- er east line running from the north of said Rm or Gully near the head of said Island of Bois Blanc ; and another Tract beginning at the mouth of Rivirie au Jarrais, commonly called Kuagg's Uierk, running up along the border of the Strait to the Huron Church, and one hundred and twenty arpents in depth ; with all and singular tho appurtenances unto . the faid Tiuot of land, belonging, or in anywise apj)ertaining, and the reversion and rever- sions, remainder or rema'nders, rents and services of the said premises, and all the estate, right, title, interest, property, claim or demand whatsoever of us, the said Chiefs or any other person or persons whatsoever of our said Naticne, of, in and to the said Tract of land, or of, in and *.o every part and parcel thereof, excepting tiiC Reserves aforesaid ; to havd and to hold the said land and premises hereby given and granted unto His said Majesty, Geo e the Third, his heirs and successors forever ; and we, the said Chiefs for oureelves am, ohe whole of our said Nations, our an 1 their lieir.s, executors, and adminis- trators, do covenant, promise and grant to, and with his said Majesty, George the Third, his heire and successois, by these presents, thai his said Majesty, his heirs and successors, shall and lawfully may, from henceforth and forever after, jnaceably aud quietly have, hold, occupy, possess, an J enjoy, the said Ti-acc of land hereby given and granted, men- tioned or intended to be given and granted, with all and every of the appurtenances, free, clear and discharged, or well and sufficiently saved, kept harmless and indemnified of, fro'i lagai or H)i I ever prese have the p liave Deti year aud i 1 BB oisr. E, 1790. Chiefs of for and in ' Sliillinga ' hand of tof we do ion, given, b and en- in, France ling at the h side of isty from border r>f Cheuail e 1 the Hide Hi V er La ly in the direction, »eing the 1 lliir, or he border etite I&le ;ct anoth- Island of ammonly irch, and ces unto ad rever- ie estate, or any Pract of 3aid ; to iia said iiets for adn^inia- > Third, ccessors, y have, d, men- ;es, free, fied of, potn and ag:vin8t all former and other gifts, grants, bargains and sales, and of, from and jrin'nst all fornur and other titks, troubles, charges or incumbrances whatever, had done for Hiiffei-ofl to Ije had, or sufftued by any of us, trie said Chiefs, or by any one whatso- I ever of the said Nations, our and their hell's, executors or administrators, aud by these presents do make this our Act an I Dae.l, irrovocible under any pretence whatever, and have put His sai I Miijesty in full paj marks of our different Tribes, and aiHxed our seals, at jDtetioit, District of Hesse, in the Province tf Quebec, the 19th day of May, in the 13th .\ear of the reign of our ^overign I^ord, George the Third, King of Great iJi-itain, France and Irolan J, DefenJer of the Faith, is., Jlrc., «tej., and in the year of our Lord 1 790. (COPY OF THE DEED OF SURRENDER.) Amherstburgh, September 20th, 1836. We, the undersigmd Chiefs ana Warriors, in the name and iu beh ilf of the Wyandott Tribe of Indians, inhabiting the Tract of Hi n^iiig Ground, commonly known and describ- ed as the Hmon Reserve, in the Towus!ii|) of Maiden, in the County of Essex, in Upper Canada, being desiious to be prrmitttd to sell a jtortion of our said Hunting Ground or Huron Reserve, whicii, frf'm the industry of the whites, has nov/ become highly valuable, and annually to receive the interest ot the procee.ls thereof without any deductions what- soever, do hereby, this day, iu Council at Amheistburgh, propose to our Gi-eat Father to surrender to him for the general expenses of the I'ldians in Upper ('ani,da, tiie south third part (C.) of the said Huron Reserve, provided our Grei't Father will sell for us the north third part (A.) of the said Reserve, paying to us anJ j our Tribe annually, as be- fore btated, the interest of the proceeds thereof, without any deduction whatsoever, and piovided the Stone Quary, which we at present occu]»y, lor the use of the Wyandplit Indians only — (COPY OF THE LEASE OF POINT AU PELEE ISLANl?.) ^ This Indenture, nade between the Chiefs and Sachems of the Chippeway and Ottawa Nations of Indians, on the one part, and Thomas McKee, of Detroit, of the other part, -|.witaesseth that the said Chiefs aid Sachems cf the Chippeway and Ottawa Nations, for, rand in oonsiaeration of, the rent ard covenant hereinafter mentioned and contained, which, on the part and in Iwhalf of the said Thomas McKee, his heirs, execi.tors, administrators, are, and ought to be paid and performed, hath demised, and to farm letten, granted, and 8 ■by these pirseijts, lo demise, grant and to farm let unto the said 'riiomas McKee, iiis exe- cutors or uHsigns, for, and during the term of nine hundred and ninety-nine yeai"H, t.id ■fully to be conjpleted and entled. To parcel out the said Island into such lots or parcels as h*! may think propes', and tenant the same with whatnoever and 'vhomsotver they ] lie said term lir hftirs and ally, to and do hereby ssigus, may specilied. 788 )usand eig'it ys and Pot- ni3 Pax con, lada, gentle i of five shil- 'homas Pax- part and be- gnH, all that ivincH afore- ;bur^;', i!om- called by the jdred acres; other prive- I. To have ipurteuances ministiators liundred auii mp'eted and eucement of or their re- of the Pro- the first d»iy lir repreaen- at may have ttawatouiies nrther cove- 1 assisfUH by tora and hs- I under th» 4 yearly rants, covenants and agreements hf.rein contained, peaceably and quietly have, hold, .occupy, possess, and enjoy, all and singular the said premises hereby demised, and every part and parcel thereof, with the ai)purtaaaunes, witho.it the least trouble, hindcrance, interruption and deui&l of them, the said Head Chiefs or their representatives, or any other lufiiau, Indians, person or prfrsons, whatsoever, claiming or to claim the same or any jiart or parwd thereof. In witness whoieof the parties have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and year abcve mentioned. Affidavit of Oshahwahnoo, made the 10th Day of Aagust. 1867- States, — That he believes himself to be about ninety three years of ago. Has had a great deal of oxpHrience in the affairs of the Indiann and attended many of their CoMncils. That he took an active part in the spirit of 1812, under the celebrated Warrior, ''Tecumseh.'* That he wius well acquainted with m-.uiy of the Ohiefs, whose names appear in the Instru- ment marked P. That the said Chiefs were the heal Cliiefs of the Chippeway, Pottawa. tomy and Ottawa Nations, A-hose descfciidants now reside on Walpole IblaMd. Wassou lived and died in the neighborhood of Walpole Island, about se\ enty years ago. E^.sebance, a principal messenger, has a son now livi:ig in Muncey Town, lived acd lied in what is now Lhatbam, about tifty four years ago. Ouitanisa lived and died in the neighborhood of Walpole Island .-Uwut fifty two years ago. Nangie was his (deponent's) father; lived opposite St. Ana'd Island shortly before 1812 ; removed to what, is now Sandusky, Ohio, whei-e ho died about a year and a half after his arrival there. Meshquigaboui died in his extreme old age. a)>out the year 1816, nea.' th*) River Thames. Tie-came-go-se and Wahbau- de-gais lived and died in the neigliborhoo.1 of what is new Florence, Bear Creek. That. he was always told by the said and above nam-jj Chiefs that the Wyandotts, being emigrants from the north, were not the rightful owners of the Huron Reservation, but were only permitted to settle on it. by the real and original proprietors — the Chippaway, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations. That the above was as far back as he can remember, considered aiid regarded as an ir.disputable fact. That he also learned from the said Chiefs that the said Huron Reservation was reserved by the s-iid CUippeway, Pottawatomy, Ottawa anu WyanJott Nations, to be owned and hall in comm jn by them ; but that all the Islands in. the River Detroit and some in La k'^ Erie were owned and held in common by the said Ghippeway, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations only. That Thomas Paxton, about thirty eight yeai-8 ago, went to Miamies, Ohio, and obtained a long lease of the Fighting Island from Ctiief Wawasum and other Indians, belonging to the Indians, the said Nations of Walpole Island, but who at that time were living in Miamies with Chief Wa-san-an-quot and Band Indians, then and still belonging to the United States. That he never knew nor heard of the Boin Blanc Island, which was used for lauding and camping groufid and place of Council, being ev;r ceded or leased to the government, or to any person. That he never knew nor heard of any inquiry or investigation being mafle by any ot the In- didu Agents concerning the said Fighting Island, That he was present and attenm the north by the Ojebwas and landt^d on the Hunting Ground, (Huron Reservation,) and fornkfld a settlement on it by permission of the said Chippeway, Pottawa- tomr and Ottawa Nations, who were the rightiul and orignal owners of the said Huron Reservation, which formed a part of the Territory ceded in the year 1790. That as far back as he can remember, the above statement was regarded and considered as\ an indis- putable fact. That at an earlier date the Bois Blance and F.ghtiug Islands were consider- ed a» belonging to the said Chippeway, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations only. That to 11 It then, for >lts and in » his own knowledge, one white man named Paston, obtained a long lease of the said Fight ing Island from the Chief V/awasum and other Indiana belonging to the Indians of Wal IK)le Island, but who were living in Miamu^s, about thirty eight years ago, with Chief Wa sau an-quot and Band Indians belongirjg to the United States. bar, 1867. t he ver^ the Hnnt- r and tall S'ations to .chents ad- mall block 3 Wah-be- Wyandott w ledge, in" his wife's 1, and the ions, they strutitions,. Dttawakie lies. That aumpums. Supplementary Afl5davit of Kiyoshk, mide the IStli day of Septembar, 1867. S)tate», — That he himself lived at M ilden for many years when a youth, and to hLs owm knt)wle Ige, the Chippeway, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations did live and reside in and ia the neighborhood of the Hunting Grounds. That he was acquainted with the follow- ing Ottawa Chiefs, as also other Chiefa and principal men : — Wanishquy and Onagan died in the vicinity of Sandusky, Egouichway on Walpole Island, Maugichway at Miamies. That he remembers when the Wyandotts acknowledged that they were not the rightful owners of the said Hunting Ground, by ketp'ng themselves strictly to a small block on the Noithern part of the said Hunting Ground, being, as he alwayi, understood, the por- tion of the land they were allowed to occupy by the above named thiee Nations. That Wih-be-bau-tooiice, a white man, who married one of fcha Wyandott In Han woiU3n, w.>i the first who disobeyaJ the Chiefs' of the said three Nations by n->t keeping himself to the said small Block, but set. Ing on the p.)rt'on claimed by the said three Nations, and his in- viting the Wyandotts, they fJlowel his eximple* Hence the whole of the slid Haating Groaud was siibsequently claimed by them. many of tarkod P. Qse names tawatomy That he Vyandotta , (Huron Pottawa- id Huron At as far an indis- consider- That to Affidavit of Thomas Baskwhsat, xiiada on the 10th day of August, 1867. Sia'ea, — That he belongs to the Cliippsway N.ttion. Is about fifty-tour years of age, and does not leraember of ever seeing any of the Chiefs whose names appear in the Instrument marked P, but that he was acquainteJ with mvay of tlie Cliiefs, and from them he learned that'the Huron Reservation was reserved to be owned and held in jomuiou bv the Chip- p -way, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations endeavored to enter into an agreement with the Wyandotts as to the disposal of the Huron lieservation, but the said Wyandotts, being anxious to havnii. That he never knew nor heard of the Bois Blanc Island being ever surren .erj 1 or leased to the Government, or to any other individual. That he never knew nor heard of any inquiry bi ing made by any of the Indian Agents in year 1856 or at anj other time resjwcting the Fighi.nj Island. :i2 Affidavit of Shobodese, made the ICth day of August, 1867. • States, — That he belongs to the Pottawatomy Nation, and is about sixty-niLe years of age. That he saw and was well acqnainteu with the following named . .Chiefs ; whose flames appear in t'le Tustninient marked P: — Shebtnce died at School Cap, Southern part of Michigan, about forty-five years ago ; Ke-wa-te-naw removed west, ami consider- able numbers of the Pottawatomy Nation went with him ; Skonesqne died in or near the neighborhood of Detroit, about forty-two yeare ago ; Mettef;ociiiu, Ebha-ha and Pe-nash die4 ill the neighborhood of Washtenaw. That he was especially acquainted with Pe-nash and Shebenc^, an I in his daily intercourse with them an.l other Ciiiefs, he wa^ always told by them that the Huron Reservation was reserved for the Chippeway, Pottawatomy, Ottawa and Wyandott Nations. Thct the latter were alien.s, Vjeing emigrants from the North, and became joint proprietors of the said Huron Reservation by permission oi the real and original owners of the Territory ceded in the year 1790, of which the Huron Reservation formed a part. That he frequented and sometimas did live in the neighbor- hood cf Amherstburgh, and fcrmerly the above statement was indiaputed. That, to his knowledge, the Boia Blanc antl Fighting Islands were regai'ded as belonging to the naid Chip[»eway, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations only. Tliat for many years he and said Band or Nation, (Pottawatomy), lived in uiiierent parts of Michigan, losing many of their number by death and removals b^youl the Miadssippi. That, to his knowledge, at- tempts were made about the yeara 1830 and 1840 by the Chippeway, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations to obtain their share of the Huron Reservation, but the VVyandotts wish- ing to retain the whole Tract under their control, applied to Ironside, Agtut of Indian Affairs, for assistance He at once intei*fered in bjlialf of the said Wyandotts. No agi-ee- ment was entered into. That he and .said Pottawatomy Nation never as yet recei\ ed any thing from the Government accruing fr^m the said Huron Reservation and Fighting Xs- Uud. Affidavit of A. Johnson, made the Tenth Day of August, 1867. States, — That he is over fifty three years of age ; for many years acted as a Messenger, and attended many Indian Councils. That he attended the Council held at Amheratl'urgh about the year 1830, in which the Chippewav, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations atte;iipt- ed to obtain thove- Affidavit of Wamtegoosheence, made the Tenth Day of August 1867. States, — That he is about sixty years of age. A Pottawatomy and Chipjjeway by birtli> That Pe-nash was his uncle, and lived with hina for some time. That he sometimes' lived in Maiden, and as far back as has h» can remember the Huron Reservation was reg*rded as belonging to the Chippeway, Pottawatomy, Ottawa and Wyandott Nations ; out of all th? Islands in the River Detroit and some .if those in Lake Erie, were held in common by the Chippeway, Pottawjitoiay and Ottawa Nations only. Thnt he never knew nor heard of any inqniry or investigation being made by any of the Indian Agents respeoting the Bfats Blanc and Fighting Islands. Affidavit of David Kowgomoo, made the Tenth Day of August. 1837' States.— Th&t he is the second Chief of the Pottawatomy Band or Nation of Walpole. Island. That he is about fii'ty thr?e years of age. Tliat he was well acquainted with Pe-nash and Ke-wa-te-naw, Pottawatomy Chiefs, whcse names appear in the Instrument marked P. That the said Ke wa-:te-naw was the grand father of Peway, deceased, late Head Chief of the said Pottawatomy Nation. Tliat he learned from the alwve named Chiefs^ thdt the Chiefs whose names ap|)«ar in the Instrument aforesaid, were the Head Chiefs of the Pottawatomy Nation, whose desoenants now resitle on Walpole Island. That for many years led a hunting lite in the Territory ancf State of Michigan, during whiclv tipe they lost many of their number by death and removals to the fhr west bejoi d thQ Mississippi. That he wns always told by the above named Chieff that the Huron Reseava- tion was reserved to lie ownnd and held in common by tlie Lhippaway, Pottawatomy, Ot- tawa and Wyandott Nations. Thrtt he very often went to Maiden. And at an earlier date the Bois Blann and Fighting Islands wevf held in common by the said Chi|)pawav, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations only. That during their sojourn in said State of Mi- chigan, one of their Chiefs, Mix-sa-be applied to the United States Government for land, and accordingly received a Tiact in or near what is now C5.th day of Septennjber 1836, entered into Ixtwetju. the. said Wy^idotts aadthe BritishXiovernmeBt, deprived them of their, joint claim oL th«.rMAd. Huron, Rome:'' vatioa. Thar they never reeeiv^ri any benefit accruing from tkft.Boi* BJimc. ftnd FigJUtiiiig, ; Ulsttds. ^ 14 Affidavit of Me-nah quot States, — That he is about sixty-one yeii-s of age. That he is an Ottawa and belongs to the Ottawa Nation now residing on Walpole Island. That said nation or Band for many years led a wandering life in various psii-ts of the Territory and state of Michigan, during which time they lost many of their number by deaths and removals beyond the great Mississippi. That during their sojoui'n in the said State, they never received any grants from the U. States Government, either of land, money or anything whatsoever. Tbit he was \vell acquainted with Niauego, a chief of the Ottawa Nation, oeing his grandfather. Lived in the same wigwam with him up to his (Nianego'a) death. That he does not re- member cf ever seeing any of the Chiefs whose names appear in the Instriiment marked P, except the said Nianego, from whom he wa.s always told the said Chiefs were the Chiefs of the Ottawa Nation, whose desicendants now reside on Walpole Island. That he and Band frequen':ed tne Town of AmherstVmrgh »»nd received presents from the British Government. Was well acquainted with many of the principal Chiefs, and was always told by them, and especially by the slid Nianego, that the Wyandofcts were strangers to the »hree Nations. That they were dr:\en by the Ojebwap of the North fi-om their homes and sought asylumn in the land of the Three Nations, who permitted them to have a sh r€ fo the Huron Reservation. That this was an indisputable fact at an earlier date. That, to his own knowledge, attempts were made on the part of the Chippeway, Poctawa- tomy, and Otta^-a Nations in or about the years of 1830 and 1840, to enter it. to an agree- ment with the saiu Wyandotts as to the projwr dispo.sal of the said Huron Reservation ; but the said Wyandotts wishing to have the whole Tract under their own control, appli'^d 1o white mer, of consiJerable influence, for assistance, and through the interference of the said white men, the three Nations were unsuccessful nnd returned home. That, to his own kuowledgv, the Bois Blanc Island was for many years used for landing and campmeeting purposes, and was held in common, as also the other Islands in the River Detroit and 1 ake Erie, by the three Nations only. That he never knew nor heard the Bois Blanc IsUnd being ever surrendered to the Gorernmen*. That alxtut thirty-eight years ago, some Indians, among whom wrr Chief Wawasum, dtdivered to Thomas Paxton a lease of the Fiffhtiug Island for many years. That he lived for some yeai-s in the neighborhood of Maiden, at Point au Pelee, a distance of between thirty and forty miles. Th it tho said Ottawa Band ca.ne over, and by special psrmi^sLon of the Chippjwaya, settled on Waljiole Island about the year 1837. Affidavit ofWiiowMaiy Fisher, maie the 6tli July, 1869. Statu,- — I believe myself to be about seventy-one years of age. Immediaioly after the conclusion of the war of 181 2, went, and for many yeai-s did live and reside in and in the vicinity of Am herstburgh. My late hn8»>and, the.said Johr ^isher, was for many years Interpreter, and assibted in distributing and issuing Presents to the Indians. He had a great debt to do with the Indian Affairs. I remember well when the Chief Wawwum, 16 belongs to 1 for many in, during the great ny grants ver. That •andfather. !s not re- \t marked were the That he le British fts always -angers to leir homes o have a rlier date. , Poctawa- an agi'ee- servation ; A, appli'^d mce of the to hiy own ()|inieeting and lake uc Ishnd Ago, some je of tlie orhood of tho said IX Waljiole after tli© md in the iny years Je had a VawMum, abo It forty veurs ago, held a (.'ouncil in which he and other Chiefs conveyed the Figliting Island by Deed of I^ase to Thomas Paxton. Was )(resent in the Council, as was also other women. Saw the Deed executed, the Copy of the same was given to my lat* hu.sband, the said John Fi-sher. Said Deed has been, and up to this dete, and is now in my posiessiou. Wawasum was a Head Chief of the Chippeways at Araherstburgh at that fwriod. and the othe«- Chiefs, whose names apjwar in the Deed, were living in Miamies, viz:~Wa -san au-quot, Wai-wes-quai, Tetush-qua-gw n and Wa-taicL-we-naw. The rest of th« CAno.fn whose names appear in the Deed of L .ise and who attended the Coimcil when the said Island whs .leliered to the said Thomas Paxton, did live and Ijelong to Amlicrst- biirgh. To my pei-soual knowledge the said Fighting, and Bois Blan:;, Turkey and Point all Pelee Islands were owned by Ihe Ottawas, Chippways and Pottawatomies only. It was regarded as an indisputable fact that the Wyaudotts came from the North, and being aliens, were not the rightful or original owners of the Huron Reserve, wiiich they now occupy, but were simply allowed to occupy it by the said three Nations. Affidavit of Wm. N. Fisher, Interpreter. Respecting thn Copy of the Lease of Fighting Island, Sworn and Subsoribed on the 6th July, 18S9 before Edward } Handy. States, — Tliat the Copy of the Indian Leasf. of Fighting Island, lefered tc» and accom. ^pj'nymg the Memorial, is a true Copy of the said Leftse v liich is now in the possession of jMar3' Fisher, widow and relict of the late Jol»n F.8her. The old Copy of said lease bears -ample evidence of its authenticity. Affidavit of John Jake made the 10th day of July. 1869. States, — J Iwlieve myself to be about one hundred years of age. Essebence, whose name apjwara in the Deed, bearing date A. D. 1790, was my Father. He was a Principal Messenger fo^many yeani, and myself have acted and served my people as Messenger for . m my yeirs. The namas of the Chiefs appejirmg in the said Deed have been read to me. |I saw many of them. They, some of them, were Ottawas, Chippeways and Pottawatomieii. |To my pei-sonal knowledge the Ottawa, Chippeway and Pottawatomy Indians owned the |Fighting, Bois Blanc, Turkey and Point au Pelee Islands, and also the Huron Reserve, ^"whichnow the Wyandotts occupy. My late father always tohl me that the said three Nations showed mercy and allowed the .said Wyan lotts to occupy a part of the said Huron Reserve, when, by being driveu, they came ff»>m the North. My late father. Esselwnce, died at or near Chitham, County of Kent, about bet wean fifty and sixty years ago. I waa present at his funeral. 16 h 1 ,^ Oertiticate of William OaldweL', made the 20th day of May, 1869. Stutei;-^! , Williiim Caldwell, do hereby certify to the best of ray knowledge, to wit r — That I believe myself to l)e about eighty seven yeura of age Was bom at what is n'>w Detroit. Was in former years well acquainted with many Indians and attended some of tlreir Couticils. As far back as I could remember, it was a prevailing belief, and also every body considered i*; as an iudispuUiblri fact, that the VVyamlotts w.-n* aliens to that prtit'of the cotinti-y in which lies the Huron Reserve ; and that they were not tL*? original owners thereof. It was a well known fact that the Poitawatohiies, Chippwwavs and Otta- •was were the rightful proprietoi-sof the said Huion Reserve. I always understood that the Wyandotts came from Lower Canada, went towards Lake Superior, and sul)8equently came down, and being allowed by the Said Pottawatomies, Chippewaya and Ottawas, they settled on and now n^side on the said Huron Reserve, -. '' ■ - *•• - (Signed), '; WM. CALDWELL. Signed in my presence, at the Township of Maiden, in the County of Essex, the 20tli day of May, A. D. 1869. (Signed), Thomas Hawkins, J. P. .fei: Affidavit of Francis Meloche, made the 21st day of May, 1869, and sworn, before James Kevill, at the Town of Amherstburgh. States^ — ^That he believes himself to be about eighty eight years of age, and has lived in the vicinity of Amherstburgh upwards of sixty years , and has been well acquainted with many Indians of the Chipj>eway, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Indian Nations ; and during the period of sixty yea'is he alway.«! understood that the above mentioned Indiun Nations were the rightful and original proprietors of the Andeidon or Huron Reserve. Thai the follow- ing was at an earlier date considered and regarded as an indisputable fuct, viz : — That the Wyandotts weie driven from the North by some tribe of Indians, came down and found protection from the said Chippeway, Pottawatomy and Ottawa Nations, and also ^ere permitted to settle on the said Anderdon Reserve, where they now reside, niat he speaks and understands the Chippeway dinlect, and has l»een intimately acquainted with some of the Principil Chiefs tf the said Chippeway, Pottawatomv and Ottawa Nations, and in his- interaoui-se with them, he always heard them con) plain of the unlawful claim of the Wyandotts to the said Anderdon or Huron Reserve.