They created an iron alliance that enabled them to expand across the northern plains. He was succeeded by his son, Apseenes (Young Sweet Grass); he was unable to hold the band together, which began to splinter. We want cattle, tools, agricultural implements, and assistance in everything when we come to settle- our country is no longer able to support us. Chief Sweet Grass (Weekaskookwasayin) signed Treaty 6 on September 9, 1876, with the Fort Pitt Indians, but was killed about six months later. He also agreed to give agricultural implements. Some were away, including Cree chief Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear). Recognize Edmonton sits within Treaty No. [38] The language used to refer to indigenous people who elected to not settle on reserves also did not help ease tensions. [10], The Cree were located in the plains of Canada. Chief Sweetgrass (Weekaskookwasayin) signed Treaty 6 on September 9, 1876, with the Fort Pitt Indians but was killed about six months later. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Our country is getting ruined of fur-bearing animals, hitherto or sole support, and now we are poor and want help we want you to pity us. Trending. A picture of Sweet Grass is in the archives of the Glenbow Museum. The days of bison hunting were coming to an end, and the Cree needed help adjusting to new modes of life; the treaty provided them with that opportunity. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald wantedto expand the new Dominion west to the Pacific Ocean (Dodson 17). 3 What happened when Chief Sweetgrass signed Treaty 6? Treaties were a way of settling disputes for land, trading, hunting and gathering, marriage between tribes, and ending wars. If you need assistance, please contact us directly. Chief Sweet Grass (Weekaskookwasayin) signed Treaty 6 on September 9, 1876, with the Fort Pitt Indians, but was killed about six months later. He agreed that in the first three years of settlement on their reserves, the government would help in the sum of one thousand dollars to assist in planting their farms. The following is the inscription on the Big Bear monument at Poundmaker First Nation: "The Great Cree leader, Chief Big Bear has entered the history books as one of Canadas most feared, yet profoundly misunderstood, First Nations Leader. 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. They were unaware of the negotiations at Fort Carlton and thought they would not be coming for another month or so. [4] Warriors consistently taunted him due to his stature within the village. He was succeeded by his son, Apseenes (Young Sweet Grass); he was unable to hold the band together, which began to splinter. Currently the band controls 20,573.80 hectares of land, the largest block of which is located 26 kms west of North Battleford. While the signing of the treaty can be seen as selling away indigenous rights, it did bring much-needed medication and food to the Cree who had insufficient options. Big Bear heard of the disharmony in Treaty 4 territory, they found that the promises of the treaty were not being honored by the government (Dodson 20). Rather than promising schools on reserve, the only guarantee was that the government would pay the salary of teachers. [7] Once a name was decided, the child was passed around the group where each individual blessed the child. Amendments to the Indian Act in 1985 re-established Indian status to over 750 members of the band. He wanted to know why he was not notified of the meetings as he was out hunting on the plains. This treaty was called the Great Law of Peace of the People of the Longhouse and predates the year 1450. Morris statement about reserves was immediately met with resistance by Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker), a local leader who became a great chief in the 1880s. Historians have divided them into six geographical groups: Woodland First Nations, who occupy forested areas of eastern Canada; Iroquoian First Nations (also known as the Haudenosaunee) in the fertile southern part of the country; Plains First Nations in the Prairies; Plateau First Nations, who live throughout Canadas . Wandering Spirit stayed in power for the duration of the uprising while Big Bear counselled for peace and protecting the white prisoners. Sweet Grass through both policy and action would have a lasting impact on the Plains Cree. It covered 117 articles, including the establishment of a code of law and form of government between the five nations. The Treaty was passed on orally and was not recorded until 1880 (Roberts 90). Pitikwahanapiwiyin stated: This is our land, it isnt a piece of pemmican to be cut off and given in little pieces back to us. The reserve was established as part of Treaty 6 when Chief Sweetgrass (Weekaskookwasayin) signed Treaty 6 on September 9, 1876. Chief Mistawasis and Chief Ahtahkakoop represented the Carlton Cree. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Chief Beardy then refused to be part of the negotiations at Fort Carlton and Morris understood this would be a problem to the Treaty process for the Willow Cree(Stonechild and Waiser 11). Governor Morris addressed the crowd and asked Erasmus to interpret for him, Erasmus answered back, I act on behalf of the Chiefs; I am not employed by the government. McKay translated but was stopped when Chief Mistawasis stood up and said We are Plains Cree and demand to be spoken to in our language. Then Ballenden proceeded to translate, however, people in the back of the crowd complained they could not hear him, he tried to speak louder, choked and then sat down (Ray, Miller, and Tough 134). Christie, the officer in charge of the Hudsons Bay Company for the Saskatchewan District. Since the signing of Treaty 6 in 1876, there have been disagreements between Indigenous signatories and the federal government, stemming from misunderstandings about the true meaning and intention of the treaty terms. However, Big Bear was forced by starvation to adhere to Treaty 6 in 1882 and settled into the Frog Lake area. He was succeeded by his son, Apseenes (Young Sweet Grass); he was unable to hold the band together, which began to splinter. what I will promise, and what I believe and hope you will take, is to last as long as the sun shines and yonder rivers flow., Negotiating the Terms: Friday August 18, 1876, For several days the Chiefs met and waited for others to arrive. [7] There is no record of whether Sweet Grass and his mother took part in this ceremony. As a well respected Cree leader during a time of strife, Sweet Grass attempted to lead his people as best as he could. [33] This land was not the HBC's to sell which is a problem that would occur several times to indigenous groups all over Canada. Many Chiefs anticipated the arrival of the Queens treaty commissioners. John A. Macdonald had to protect the west from American expansion after they bought Alaska in 1867 (Natural Resources Canada). That afternoon, Treaty Six was signed by the Treaty Commissioners, the Lieutenant Governor, followed by Chiefs Mistawasis, Ahtahkakoop, and 11 other Chiefs, and 44 Headmen. The Government of Canada held Big Bear responsible, convicted him of treason-felony, and sentenced him to three years in Stony Mountain Penitentiary. In Canada, Aboriginal title describes the rights of Indigenous peoples to land based on long-standing land use and occupancy. Aboriginal has been an umbrella term used by Canadians and Canadian institutions for convenience. For example, one of the first recorded treaties between First Nations involved the Onodowohgah (Seneca), Kanien'Kehaka (Mohawk), Onundagaono (Onondaga), Onayotekaono (Oneida), and Guyohkohnyoh (Cayuga). Just before the Treaty party left Fort Pitt, Big Bear arrived and asked to speak with Morris. He also agreed to give agricultural implements. He was unable to hold the band together, which began to splinter. [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. [14], Cree religion believed in a single powerful creator which they based their ideology and ceremonies on. Our young men are foolish, it may not last long. 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. This became one of many classic misinterpretations of the Treaty process as viewed in history. He resented the notion completely how could the government give them land that they already possessed? It is the unique collective right to use of, and jurisdiction over, ancestral territory and is separate from the rights of non-Aboriginal Canadian citizens under common law. [55] In the years after settlement, the Sweetgrass reserve would continue to be affected by famine and disease. Claiming lands for the sake of the tribe b. The treaty boundaries extend across central portions of present-day Alberta and Saskatchewan. What was the outcome of Chief Sweetgrass signing Treaty 6? To address the concern over loss of traditional food sources, a promise of rations during times of pestilence and famine was added. [3] There is no record of his father. Wah-wee-kah-oo-tah-mah-hote was chief from 1876 to 1883; but he was deposed in 1884, and Young Sweet Grass became chief. As stated previously, part of what the Cree wanted to be reflected by the terms of Treaty 6 was an end to the factionalism that had pitted the younger members of the Cree community against the older Indigenous Leadership. [3] Sweet Grass and Big Bear had formed a war party for this exact purpose as stated previously. He related that the First Nations Chiefs wanted to know if it was true that their lands were being sold. On August 22, 1921, Chief Monfwi, representing all Tlicho, signed Treaty 11 with Canada. Other members of the negotiating team included treaty commissioners William Joseph Christie (an HBC officer) and James McKay (Mtis fur trader and politician), as well as translators, assistants and NWMP escorts. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. [3] Sweet Grass was ten years older, so Big Bear recognized him as the superior chief. State delegations met for the Constitutional Convention in 1787. [56] The tactic of withholding food from reserves will be used by the Canadian government to force cooperation. He was sentenced to three years at Stony Mountain Penitentiary in Manitoba and converted to Christianity during imprisonment. It belonged to no one man and could not be sold (Christensen 146). Even though Big Bear publicly and consistently spoke against sighing treaties, by 1882 starving, he would sign Treaty 6. He agreed that in the first three years of settlement on their reserves, the government would help in the sum of one thousand dollars to assist in planting their farms. There are 1,577 registered members, 537 of whom live on reserve. In 1860, a member of the Plains Cree had killed a Blackfoot chief, which had sparked a war against them. The Frog Lake area located in the plains Cree child was passed around the group each! ( Big Bear counselled for Peace and protecting the white prisoners time of strife, Sweet is. 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