Federal Governance

Since 1670 the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) had held an exclusive trade monopoly over all lands where water drained into Hudson Bay. In 1870 the Dominion of Canada gained control over this vast territory (and consecutively renamed it the North-West Territories) for the price of 300,000 Pounds.

The final adhesion to Treaty 4 occurred in September, 1877 at Fort Walsh. Although Indigenous people did not cede their rights to the land, government officials recorded in the written document that they had. In exchange for transfer of title, the Dominion of Canada on behalf of the Queen promised to provide one-time presents, annual annuities, reserves, farming implements, the construction of schools, and guaranteed hunting, trapping and fishing rights.

Additional adhesions to Treaty 4 occurred at Fort Pelly in the summer of 1876 under the supervision of A. McKay and W.H. Nagle. The First Nations communities agreed to the same terms initially agreed upon on September 15, 1874. Although First Nations leaders did not cede their rights to the land, government officials recorded in the written document that they had. In exchange for transfer of title, the Dominion of Canada on behalf of the Queen promised to provide one-time presents, annual annuities, farming implements, the construction of schools, and guaranteed hunting, trapping and fishing rights.

At Swan Lake W.J. Christie (Indian Commissioner) and M.G. Dickieson (Acting commissioner) oversaw a new adhesion to Treaty 4. The Aboriginal communities agreed to the same terms initially agreed upon on September 15, 1874. Although they did not cede their rights to the land, government officials recorded in the written document that they had. In exchange for transfer of title, the Dominion of Canada on behalf of the Queen promised to provide one-time presents, annual annuities, reserves, farming implements, the construction of schools, and guaranteed hunting, trapping and fishing rights.

One day after a new adhestion had been signed to Treaty 4, there were various additional signatories to the treaty at the Qu’Appelle Lakes. The Aboriginal communities agreed to the same terms initially agreed upon on September 15, 1874. Although they did not cede their rights to the land, government officials recorded in the written document that they had. In exchange for transfer of title, the Dominion of Canada on behalf of the Queen promised to provide one-time presents, annual annuities, reserves, farming implements, the construction of schools, and guaranteed hunting, trapping and fishing rights.

Six days after the conclusion of talks at Fort Qu’Appelle, Lieutenant Governor Alexander Morris and his delegation traveled to Fort Ellice and met with various other Aboriginal groups. After a brief discussion and an explanation of the treaty’s terms, the adhesion was signed. The Aboriginal communities agreed to the same terms initially agreed upon on September 15, 1874. Although they did not cede their rights to the land, government officials recorded in the written document that they had. In exchange for transfer of title, the Dominion of Canada on behalf of the Queen promised to provide one-time presents, annual annuities, reserves, farming implements, the construction of schools, and guaranteed hunting, trapping and fishing rights.

Battleford Industrial School was opened in 1883 on the orders of the Federal Government and the recommendation of Edgar Dewdney who selected Rev. Thomas Clarke to be principal and overseer. Establishing industrial schools in the Northwest Territories was the idea of Edgar Dewdney as a response to the poor attendance within day schools. Rev. Thomas Clarke ran the school until July 1, 1895.

After the Conservatives returned to power in 1878, Edgar Dewdney was appointed to the newly created position of Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the North West Territories. Using this powerful position Dewdney implemented a policy he referred to as “sheer compulsion.” The policy entailed withholding rations and agricultural equipment (promised in many treaties) from First Nations that opposed the government’s actions or decrees. Furthermore, he incarcerated chiefs and restricted movement and gatherings between bands. As the name suggests this policy was meant to ensure compulsion to the will of the government.

In an attempt to continue the government's goals of assimilation and segregation, graduates from the File Hills Boarding School and Qu’Appelle Industrial School were selected as part of a farming colony, which was established on prime agricultural land in the Peepeekisis reserve. Officials recognized that older generations of Aboriginal people would likely not embrace a Euro-Canadian way of life, so instead they focused their assimilative efforts on young people. In addition, it was believed that after having attended residential schools, Western-educated Indigenous people would cease to visit their home reserves and leave the influence of their family. Promising graduates from these two schools, both male and female, were selected to be part of the farming colony, and were made to marry each other to create ideal farming homes. In its first year of operations, the File Hills Colony consisted of three families who were each provided with a $125 loan to purchase farming supplies. They were encouraged to participate in acceptable Euro-Canadian practices, and forbidden from interacting with other Indigenous people who engaged in traditional cultural practices.

After negotiations were completed at Fort Carlton, Lieutenant-Governor Alexander Morris traveled to Fort Pitt and opened dialogue with additional Aboriginal leaders such as Chief Sweet Grass, and Chief Beardy of the Willow Cree Band regarding Treaty 6 . After four days various signatories signed adhesions to Treaty 6. -------------- Although Indigenous people did not cede their rights to the land, government officials recorded in the written document that they had. In exchange for transfer of title the Dominion of Canada on behalf of the Queen promised to provide one-time presents, annual annuities, annual salaries for chiefs, reserves, farming implements, the construction of schools, aid (in times of famine/epidemic) and guarantees of hunting, trapping and fishing rights.