By 1870 chief Sweet Grass would begin to become more integrated into Canadian society. Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Website Design by M.R. Gov. a. Treaty 6 encompasses 17 First Nations in central Alberta including the Dene Sulin, Cree, Nakota Sioux and Saulteaux peoples. [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. [4] His name, Sweet Grass was inspired by an audacious feat that he attempted as a youth. It belonged to no one man and could not be sold (, In 1871, a delegation of Chiefs went to Fort Edmonton to meet with Chief Factor W.J. Land title refers to specific rights to a territory. The manager of the HBC post at Fort Carlton, Lawrence Clarke, wrote to government officials that same summer, alerting them that the Cree had also threatened to turn back telegraph workers who were trying to construct a line from Winnipeg to Edmonton. The Sweetgrass First Nation is a Cree First Nation in Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, Canada. The treaty contained, with some variations, the standard written clauses of the earlier numbered treaties signed with First Nations: surrender of Indian land rights; provision of assistance in the transition to an agricultural economy; provision of reserves (in Treaty 6 the equivalent of one square mile per family of . Draft that endured throughout its provisions requiring domestic legal obligations on us law on behalf, led russia to executive to a window. Just before the Treaty party left Fort Pitt, Big Bear arrived and asked to speak with Morris. When Sweet Grass was chief, the different bands of the Cree were loose in a wide-ranging areas and usually named for the territory in which they operated[13] It was not uncommon for different bands to hunt and perform rituals together as seen with Sweet Grass relationship with Big Bear. The government had two interpreters; Reverend McKay, who knew Swampy Cree and Saulteaux, and Peter Ballenden, who was a good interpreter in small groups but did not do so well in large group settings. While a chief, Sweet Grass noticed the starvation and economic hardship the Cree were facing. The same significant ceremony of the pipe stem opened the meeting with the participants on September 7, 1876. Website Development Studio, Web Design by M.R. [17] The soul was able to leave the body during visions where it would accompany their spiritual helper. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Interpreter, Peter Erasmus, now employed with the government and travelling with the Treaty party translated the terms of the Treaty signed. Indigenous people were forced to choose between living on reserves, receiving a fixed amount of money every year for the rest of their lives and trying to assimilate and lose their status. Website Development Studio. This would lead high mortality rates within the community. Website Development Studio. [29] Sweet Grass hope to work with the federal government was challenged by other prominent Cree leaders. . What Treaty 6 peoples are close to Edmonton? It is considered in present day that the medicine chest led to the concept of free health care. If the chief remained silent, the murderer was usually executed by the victim's relatives. He also agreed to give agricultural implements. John A. Macdonald had to protect the west from American expansion after they bought Alaska in 1867 (Natural Resources Canada). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Sweet Grass (also Sweetgrass or Wikaskokiseyin or Wihaskokiseyin) (c.1815 on or shortly before January 11, 1877) was a chief of the Cree in the 1860s and 1870s in western Canada. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. I want all my brother Sweetgrass asks. [55] Young Sweet Grass would eventually become chief and would name the new group the Sweetgrass First Nation in honour of his father. While it sometimes would go to the eldest son of the previous chief, an incompetent man would not be given the position. On 9 September, Weekaskookwasayin addressed the people, arguing that the treaty terms would help preserve and protect their livelihood. This took much time but the Chiefs appeared to be satisfied with what the government was offering. Treaty 6 was signed by Crown representatives and Cree, Assiniboine and Ojibwa leaders on 23 August 1876 at Fort Carlton, Saskatchewan, and on 9 September 1876 at Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan. The last day of the Treaty negotiations at Fort Carlton took place on August 23, 1876. [55] In the years after settlement, the Sweetgrass reserve would continue to be affected by famine and disease. Treaty 7 was signed in 1877. They believed that the land was sacred. Signed in 1876, Treaty 6 was the agreement between the government of Canada and the Indigenous people living in parts of modern-day Saskatchewan and Alberta. Both organizations concluded that the Indigenous signatories believed that they were agreeing to share the land and its resources, rather than to completely surrender it to the federal government. The treaty annuities are annual cash payments distributed by the Government of Canada to the descendants of the Indigenous peoples who signed the RobinsonSuperior and RobinsonHuron treaties and the Numbered Treaties. Different tribes of the Cree held their own stories and traditions passed down orally through the generations. 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. He was sentenced to three years at Stony Mountain Penitentiary in Manitoba and converted to Christianity during imprisonment. Commemorate the historic ties between the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and the City of Edmonton. The great peace of Montreal was between: New France and indigenous groups of central and Eastern North America. [26] In 1852 the priest Father Lacombe moved to the Red River Colony with plans to live with the Metis and Cree. [3] Upon reporting his sighting back to the others, they decide to kill the man and steal his horses. First Nations were alarmed at the various newcomers coming onto their lands and conducting geological surveys for telegraph lines, the railway, and lands for settlement (Tobias 191). [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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Commemorate the historic ties between the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and the City of Edmonton. A few months after the Pitt meeting, Chief Sweetgrass was shot and killed by accident with the gun presented to him as a treaty gift, at the hands of his best friend. Cree Tribes would move according to their migration habits. 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. Newcomers would receive a peaceful co-existence with First Nations people, access to lands for settlement, farming, railways, and future industrial development. He wanted to know why he was not notified of the meetings as he was out hunting on the plains. Other members of the negotiating team included treaty commissioners William Joseph Christie (an HBC officer) and. Approximately 2,000 Cree, Assiniboine, and Saulteaux people were there to witness and be a part of this historic event, Chiefs Ahtahkakoop and Mistawasis greeted Morris and the Treaty Commissioners on August 15, 1876. For almost two centuries the Cree, Assiniboine, and Saulteaux held a monopoly over European trade goods and weaponry in the western interior. Because of these important disagreements with treaty they would refuse to sign and did all they could to protect what was left of the buffalo herds(Dodson 22). (Christensen 234), Once everyone was assembled at the Council tent, the pipe stem ceremony began with all the Chiefs, headmen, singers, and drummers. On 27 July 1876, Morris left for Fort Carlton to negotiate a treaty with the Plains Indigenous peoples of Saskatchewan. He was unable to hold the band together, which began to splinter. Once the amendments were made to the treaty text, negotiations came to a close. Morris statement about reserves was immediately met with resistance by Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker), a local leader who became a great chief in the 1880s. Chief Minahikosis (Little Pine) and other Cree leaders of the Saskatchewan District were also opposed to the terms, arguing that the treaty provided little protections for their people. Morris reassured the terms of the treaty, I want the Indians to understand that all that has been offered is a gift, and they still have the same mode of living as before (Christensen 268). The bearer of the sacred stem Wah-wee-kah-nich-ka-oh-tah-mah-hote (the man you strike on the back) carried the decorated pipe stem, and walked slowly along the semi circle of people to the front. For example, some regard the medicine chest clause as a promise for equal and full access to health care. The ceremony ended with dancing, drums, and singing of the men and women in the background (. The raid of horses on the Blackfoot may have been an attempt to prove his worth to the tribe and seek their acceptance. Big Bear and Little Pine also believed in the sovereignty of their own Nations and were opposed to the idea of another Nation governing and applying their laws to them. Christie, the officer in charge of the Hudsons Bay Company for the Saskatchewan District. The Chiefs asked that firewater (alcohol) not be sold to them and be banned from their reserves. 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. The City of Edmonton acknowledges the traditional land on which we reside, is in Treaty Six Territory. First Nations had practiced their own governance and other systems for thousands of years. 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. 1282 101 St, North Battleford, SK S9A 0Z8. For the first three years after the signing of the treaty, Indigenous peoples farming on reserves were entitled to $1,000 in agricultural provisions. Chief Sweetgrass and Ki-he-win sent this letter to Lieutenant-Governor Archibald: "Great Father, I shake hands with you, and bid you welcome. 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. On September 5, 1876, the Treaty party arrived ten days earlier than expected at Fort Pitt, (located between Fort Carlton and Fort Edmonton) to meet the River First Nations. Sadly, in the face of starvation and the inevitable settlement of their lands, Little Pine eventually signed an adhesion to Treaty 6 on July 2, 1879. It was a tough decision to make. By 1870 Canada was made up of four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. (Mtis fur trader and politician), as well as translators, assistants and NWMP escorts. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The City of Edmonton and the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations co-hosted the first Treaty No. What was the outcome of Chief Sweetgrass signing Treaty 6? During discussions, Gov. What benefits did the newcomers receive through treaty six? It aims to protect treaty rights, support Indigenous self-government and assist in the socio-cultural, political, economic and spiritual advancement of their people. The Queens representative, Alexander Morris, dressed in a cocked hat, blue uniform with gold braid and lace, was accompanied by the North West Mounted Police and treaty commissioners William J. Christie and James McKay. Sweet Grass during the signing of the treaty was one of the most well-regarded plains Cree chiefs and was given a position of importance during negotiations. Welcome to Archive of European Integration - Archive of European . In exchange for Indigenous title to their land (, ), 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 mile. ) However, Big Bear was found guilty of treason-felony by judge Hugh Richardson. [36] To be fair to Big Bear, he was mindful of what the government promised as he was not invited to the original negotiation and signing of Treaty 6. Chief Weekaskookwasayin (Sweet Grass) permitted Morris to explain those terms to the congregation. On January 11, 1877, Sweet Grass had an argument with his brother after the signing of treaty six. It covered 117 articles, including the establishment of a code of law and form of government between the five nations. 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. [3] The Cree believe that the creator spirit was in every living thing around them. Make provision for us against years of starvation. The Chiefs hired Peter Erasmus, a Mtis, to interpret for them during the proceedings and his role became integral to both sides. The group would then move to capture Fort Pit. [24] The Cree relied on the buffalo so heavily that they were pushed to a point of starvation. The treaty boundaries extend across central portions of present-day Alberta and Saskatchewan. There were a lot of doubts and heavy conversations among the First Nations, they were not convinced that this new way of life would be able to sustain them into the future. Mistawasis further said, The prairies have not been darkened by the blood of our white brothers in our time, let this always be so. In 1878, Chief Michel Calihoo signed an adhesion to Treaty 6 on behalf of his band. [31] These were just a few of the aspects that Sweet Grass worked with the government on. Sharing land alongside Europeans c. Legal ownership over all territories d. Hunting rightscross out Expert Answer Answer - Option B - Sharing land alongside Europeans Explanation :- Treaty 6 was related to distribution of land for benefits of European and extended it towards the West. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Treaty 6 was signed in 1876. An example of this would be when Sweet Grass and Big Bear assembled 18 Cree warriors that attempted to raid Blackfoot hunting territory. Those who did began to move onto the reserve land and being affected by the agreements made in the treaty. We want you to be aware of the benefits, credits and requirements that apply to you. Dempsey argues that if Mistahimaskwa had been present at the negotiations, the treaty commissioners would have likely had a more difficult time acquiring Indigenous approval of Treaty 6. Young men would attach themselves to a hunter or warrior that they admired and followed or shadowed them in performing tasks. 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. Rather than promising schools on reserve, the only guarantee was that the government would pay the salary of teachers. Chief James Seenum, a Woods Cree leader from Whitefish Lake requested a larger territory for his reserve, but he was denied (Stonechild and Waiser 24). Michael Asch, Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in Canada (2011). [6], Due to the fact that Sweet Grass' Mother was captured by a Cree tribe, it is unknown if she partook in the established birthing and naming traditions. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This became one of many classic misinterpretations of the Treaty process as viewed in history. This was met with approval from the people. He was succeeded by his son, Apseenes (Young Sweet Grass). He was succeeded by his son, Apseenes (Young Sweet Grass); he was unable to hold the band together, which began to splinter. They still controlled the territory and to trade their land for an uncertain future would be an admission of defeat (Stonechild and Waiser 16). Alexander Morris spoke to those present, promising to offer the same terms as at Fort Carlton. Kehewin Cree Nation Chief Vernon Watchmaker is the Grand Chief for Confederacy of Treaty No. Treaty 6 peoples have also protected their treaty rights through land claims and lawsuits. Federal government was challenged by other prominent Cree leaders and Saskatchewan opened meeting! Be when Sweet Grass hope to work with the participants on September 7, 1876 indigenous groups of central Eastern. User Consent for the cookies in the Treaty negotiations at Fort Carlton took place August... Then move to capture Fort Pit refers to specific rights to a point of starvation covered 117 articles, the... 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