Discussions

In the early 1800’s the Canadian government was bent and bound to settle the Prairies from Ontario to the Rockies, but they had not made any agreements with local Natives. Not wishing to repeat the mistakes of the Americans they had not established a course of action and did nothing. The Natives were first to act when prospective Settlers ventured west of Portage la Prairie: Saulteaux Indians led by Chief Yellow Quill turned them back. Also the Ojibway who inhabited land between Manitoba and Lake superior demanded negotiations on their land rights and threatened to prevent travel through their territories if the government did not discuss a Treaty. The Treaty signed by Lord Selkirk in 1817 was in dispute by the Indians because they claimed that they still retained the land rights and wanted to re-negotiate with the Federal government.  
Wemyss Simpson was sent to conduct the negotiations, and it was decided to proceed with two Treaties to avoid difficulties assembling all parties at one location. In late July 1871 W. Simpson called a meeting at Fort Garry and ordered soldiers to be present because “a military display has always had a great effect on the ‘savages’, and the presence, even of a few troops, will have a good tendency.” The Treaty Commissioner, W. Simpson was warned by his Boss, Secretary of State Joseph Howe, to be as parsimonious, (give nothing) as possible, since the first treaties clearly would set a precedent for subsequent negotiations.  
The government had once again misunderstood the Indians, and after several days of deliberation the elected Chiefs were asking for more land than what Simpson was able to offer, The “Indians backed off from this demand, but wanted the government to supply farm animals, and farming equipment as part of the treaty, a request that the government had not anticipated. Simpson compiled a list of the ‘outside promises, and attached it to the Treaty as an addendum. After several more days of deliberating, the Indian leaders, Mis-koo-kee-New (Red Eagle), Ka-Ke-Ka-Penais (Bird Forever), Na-She-Ke-Pennals (Flying Down Bird), Na-Ha-Wa-Nanan (Center of Birds Tail), Ka-we-tay-ash (Flying Ground), Wa-ko-wush (Whippoorwill), and za-we-Kwun (Yellow Quill), signed the Treaty on August 3rd, 1871.  
Treaty number One removed Indian title to much of southern Manitoba and allowed the government to assign the Native people to designated Reserves, as did Treaties Two and Three, but the Indians did not get what they bargained for because they had difficulty getting the government to honour the promises made outside the official agreement, partly because of the non-existence of a civil service structure to implement the accords. After lengthy protests, the memorandum about ‘outside promises,’ was discovered and the promised supplies, annuities, and other benefits were delivered.  
Over one hundred years after the initial signings of the Treaties a more subtle aspect emerged. The Treaties called for Indian Bands to receive 160 acres per family of five, with adjustment for smaller or larger families.  
The Reserve size was dependent upon the proper and accurate enumeration of the Indian Population.  
Recent research by Manitoba Indians discovered that the numeration was too low and so the government supplied far less land to the Natives than what they were entitled too under the Treaty agreement. Today this issue still remains unresolved.  
The Treaties served several purposes for the Indians, they specified Reserves and gave an assurance that the federal government would provide farm supplies to help them adjust to the advancing agricultural frontier. For the Canadian government, Treaties allowed it to honour its commitments to the Indians while opening the way to peaceful settlement of the Pioneers. Alexander Morris replaced Archibald as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, and wrote: “the Canadian system of and Reserves has a tendency to diminish the offensive strength of the Indian tribes, should they ever become restless, a remote contingency, if the Treaties are carefully observed.”  
The purpose of the Treaties was to clear the way for agricultural settlement, and because there was little prospect of farming in northern Manitoba only three Treaties were signed at first. Not until the mid-1870’s did the northern regions justify Treaty negotiations.