Treaty 6
Encyclopedia
Treaty 6 is an agreement between the Canadian monarch
and the Plain and Wood Cree
Indians and other tribes of Indians at Fort Carlton
, Fort Pitt
and Battle River. The area agreed upon by the Plain and Wood Cree represents most of the central area of the current provinces of Saskatchewan
and Alberta
. One Manitoba band also signed on to the treaty by adhesion in 1898. The treaty signings began in August 1876, with adhesions added in 1898 in central Saskatchewan in the Montreal Lake area.
, the staple of the people that lived on the plains, was disappearing at an alarming rate due to the settlement activities. The chiefs
realized that if they did not sign a treaty with the Crown, they might starve or have to attack more of the forts and settlements within the area. A second major reason for the signing of the treaty was that a smallpox
epidemic
had recently gone through the area, killing many of the Cree.
for compensation. Each person immediately received $12 and an additional $5 a year. The chief would receive one horse, one harness, and one wagon or two carts. The people would also receive $1500 a year for ammunition and fishing net twine. One of the selling points of the treaty was that a medicine chest
would be kept at the home of the Indian agent
for use by the people. Another of the selling points was the guarantee of assistance for famine
or pestilence
relief.
One of the chiefs who signed this treaty was Poundmaker.
Monarchy in Canada
The monarchy of Canada is the core of both Canada's federalism and its Westminster-style parliamentary democracy, being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Canadian government and each provincial government...
and the Plain and Wood Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
Indians and other tribes of Indians at Fort Carlton
Fort Carlton
Fort Carlton was a Hudson's Bay Company fur trade post from 1810 until 1885. It was rebuilt by the Saskatchewan government as a provincial historic park and can be visited today...
, Fort Pitt
Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan
Fort Pitt is a fort built in 1830 by the Hudson's Bay Company and was a trading post on the North Saskatchewan River in Canada. It was built by Chief Factor John Rowand, previously of Fort Edmonton, in order to trade for bison hides, meat and pemmican...
and Battle River. The area agreed upon by the Plain and Wood Cree represents most of the central area of the current provinces of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. One Manitoba band also signed on to the treaty by adhesion in 1898. The treaty signings began in August 1876, with adhesions added in 1898 in central Saskatchewan in the Montreal Lake area.
Reasons for a proposed treaty
At this time, the buffaloAmerican Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
, the staple of the people that lived on the plains, was disappearing at an alarming rate due to the settlement activities. The chiefs
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
realized that if they did not sign a treaty with the Crown, they might starve or have to attack more of the forts and settlements within the area. A second major reason for the signing of the treaty was that a smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
had recently gone through the area, killing many of the Cree.
Terms of the treaty
Each Native family of five covered by Treaty 6 received 4.45 mi2 of land (128 acres (51.8 ha) per person), which they could sell back to the Government of CanadaGovernment of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
for compensation. Each person immediately received $12 and an additional $5 a year. The chief would receive one horse, one harness, and one wagon or two carts. The people would also receive $1500 a year for ammunition and fishing net twine. One of the selling points of the treaty was that a medicine chest
Medicine chest
A medicine chest is a container or cabinet for storing medicine. All ships governed by the regulations of the IMO are required to have medical supplies and suitable storage for them such as refrigeration and locks....
would be kept at the home of the Indian agent
Indian Agent (Canada)
Indian Agent is the title of a position in Canada mandated by the Indian Act of that country. An Indian Agent was the chief administrator for Indian affairs in their respective districts, although the title now is largely in disuse in preference to Government Agent. The powers of the Indian...
for use by the people. Another of the selling points was the guarantee of assistance for famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
or pestilence
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
relief.
One of the chiefs who signed this treaty was Poundmaker.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 23 August 1876 | First signing at Fort Carlton Fort Carlton Fort Carlton was a Hudson's Bay Company fur trade post from 1810 until 1885. It was rebuilt by the Saskatchewan government as a provincial historic park and can be visited today... |
| 28 August 1876 | Second signing at Fort Carlton |
| 9 September 1876 | Fort Pitt Fort Pitt Fort Pitt may refer to:*Fort Pitt , on the site of present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States*Fort Pitt, Kent, in the United Kingdom*Fort Pitt , a trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada... signing |
| 9 August 1877 | Fort Pitt adhesion signing by Cree Cree The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although... bands |
| 25 September 1877 | Blackfoot Crossing Blackfoot Crossing Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park is a complex of historic sites on the Siksika 146 Indian reserve in Alberta, Canada. This crossing of the Bow River was traditionally a bison-hunting and gathering place for the Siksika people and their allies in the Blackfoot Confederacy... at Bow River Bow River The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River.... signing (at Siksika Nation Siksika Nation The Siksika Nation is a First Nation in southern Alberta, Canada. The name Siksiká comes from the Blackfoot words sik and iká , with a connector s between the two words. The plural form of Siksiká is Siksikáwa... reserve, Alberta) |
| 19 August 1878 | Additional signing |
| 29 August 1878 | Battleford signing |
| 3 September 1878 | Carlton signing |
| 18 September 1878 | Additional signing, Michel Band, near Edmonton, Alberta |
| 2 July 1879 | Fort Walsh signing |
| 8 December 1882 | Further Fort Walsh signing |
| 11 February 1889 | Montreal Lake signing |
| 10 August 1898 | Colomb band signing in Manitoba |
| 25 May 1944 | Rocky Mountain House adhesion signing |
| 13 May 1950 | Further Rocky Mountain House adhesion signing |
| 21 November 1950 | Witchekan Lake signing |
| 18 August 1954 | Cochin signing |
| 15 May 1956 | Further Cochin signing |
| 1958 | The Michel Band is "enfranchised" Gradual Civilization Act The Act to Encourage the Gradual Civilization of Indian Tribes in this Province, and to Amend the Laws Relating to Indians was a bill passed by the 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada in 1857.... by the Department of Indian Affairs, and the reserve is dissolved. This is the only case of an entire band (save a few individuals) being involuntarily enfranchised. |
List of Treaty 6 First Nations
- Alberta
- Alexander First NationAlexander First NationAlexander First Nation is a First Nation government , headquartered in Morinville, Alberta. This First Nation is part of the Cree ethno-linguistic group, is a member of the Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation , and is party to Treaty Six. The band controls three Indian reserves: Alexander...
- Alexis First NationAlexis Nakota Sioux First NationThe Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation no. 437 is a Nakoda First Nation which reserves near Edmonton, Hinton, and Whitecourt, in the Canadian province of Alberta, and headquartered at 54° N and 114°, about west of Edmonton...
- Beaver Lake Cree Nation
- Cold Lake First Nation
- Enoch Cree NationEnoch Cree NationThe Enoch Cree Nation is a First Nations band in Alberta that is part of the Cree language group. It is also part of the larger Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation tribal council....
- Ermineskin Tribe
- Frog Lake First Nation
- Heart Lake First Nation
- Kehewin Cree Nation
- Louis Bull First Nation
- Michel First Nation
- Montana First Nation
- O'Chiese First NationO'Chiese First NationThe O'Chiese First Nation is a Saulteaux First Nation in Alberta, Canada. The First Nation's homeland is the 14131.9 ha O'Chiese 203A Indian reserve, located approximately 23 kilometres northwest of Rocky Mountain House. Also reserved is the O'Chiese Cemetery 203A...
- Paul First Nation
- Saddle Lake First Nation
- Samson First Nation
- Sunchild First NationSunchild First NationThe Sunchild First Nation is a First Nation in Alberta, Canada. The First Nation has one reserve, Sunchild 202. The reserve has an area of 52.18 square kilometres, and is located roughly 40 kilometres northwest of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. James Frencheater was elected Chief of the First...
- Whitefish Lake First NationWhitefish Lake First NationThe Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation , formerly known as the Whitefish Lake First Nation, is an Ojibwa First Nation in Ontario, Canada, who live mainly on the Whitefish Lake reserve, 20 km southwest of Sudbury.Atikameksheng Anishnawbek have hunting and fishing rights...
- Alexander First Nation
- Manitoba
- Marcel Colomb First NationMarcel Colomb First NationMarcel Colomb First Nation is a First Nations tribe of approximately 300 Swampy Cree people located in the area of Lynn Lake, Manitoba. There is a reserve under development on Black Sturgeon IR 198a at Hughes Lake approximately 30 kilometres southeast of Lynn Lake.- References :* *...
- Mathias Colomb First NationMathias Colomb First NationThe Mathias Colomb First Nation is located on IR Pukatawagan 198 and the main community is at Pukatawagan, Manitoba. The reserve consists of 1536.6 Hectares on the shore of Pukatawagan Lake and lies about 210 kilometers north of The Pas, Manitoba. There are about 1400 residents who are...
- Marcel Colomb First Nation
- Saskatchewan
- Ahtahkakoop First NationAhtahkakoop First NationThe Ahtahkakoop First Nation is a First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada, composed of mainly of Cree peoples. Ahtahkakoop First Nation is located 72 kilometers northwest of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and is 17,347 hectares in size.-Background:...
- Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation
- Big Island Lake Cree Nation
- Big River First Nation
- Chakastaypasin First Nation
- Flying Dust First Nation
- Island Lake First Nation
- James Smith First NationJames Smith First NationThe James Smith First Nation is a Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. James Smith has one Indian Reserve Fort à la Corne #100 located north of Kinistino, Saskatchewan near Fort de la Corne on the Saskatchewan River. This reserve is shared between three first nations, the other two being the...
- Lac La Ronge First NationLac La Ronge First NationLocated in north-central Saskatchewan, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band is the largest First Nation in Saskatchewan, and one of the 10 largest in Canada, with a 2010 population of 8,954....
- Little Pine First Nation
- Lucky Man First Nation
- Makwa Sahgaiehcan First NationMakwa Sahgaiehcan First NationMakwa Sahgaiehcan is a Cree First Nation. Its reserve is in Loon Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada.The English translation of Makwa Sahgaiehcan from Plains Cree language is "loon lake"....
- Mistawasis First NationMistawasis First NationThe Mistawasis First Nation is a Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. Their territory is located roughly 68 kilometres west of the city of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The Nation has one reserve with an area of approximately 125.44 square kilometres....
- Montreal Lake Cree Nation
- Moosomin First NationMoosomin First NationThe Moosomin First Nation is a First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. Moosomin First Nation is located approximately 35 kilometres north of North Battleford, Saskatchewan. It borders the rural municipalities of Meota No. 468 and Round Hill No. 467...
- Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nation
- Muskeg Lake First Nation
- Muskoday First NationMuskoday First NationThe Muskoday First Nation is a First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada, composed of Cree and Saulteaux peoples. The First Nation has a registered population of 1552 people as of December 2007, of which approximately 560 members of the First Nation live on-reserve, and approximately 980 live...
- One Arrow First NationOne Arrow First NationOne Arrow First Nation is a Canadian Cree First Nation. Its reserve is located just south of Batoche, Saskatchewan near the South Saskatchewan River about 100 km Northeast of Saskatoon. The One Arrow First Nation is in the aspen parkland biome. It is bordered by the Rural Municipalities of St....
- Onion Lake Cree Nation
- Pelican Lake First NationPelican Lake First NationPelican Lake First Nation -History:Pelican Lake First Nation is located on the shore of Chitek Lake, approximately 170 miles northeast of Saskatoon 115 miles northwest of North Battleford and 120 miles west of Prince Albert....
- Peter Ballantyne Cree NationPeter Ballantyne Cree NationPeter Ballantyne Cree Nation is a Cree First Nations group in northern Saskatchewan consisting of eight communities: Amisk Lake, Deschambeault Lake, Kinoosao, Pelican Narrows, Prince Albert, Sandy Bay, Southend and Sturgeon Landing...
- Poundmaker First Nation
- Red Pheasant First NationRed Pheasant First NationRed Pheasant First Nation is a Cree Nation located 33 km south of North Battleford.Chief Wuttunee's people were living along the Battle River when the Numbered Treaties were being negotiated...
- Saulteaux First Nation
- Sweetgrass First NationSweetgrass First NationThe Sweetgrass First Nation is a First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. Their territory is located 35 kilometres west of Battleford, Saskatchewan. The reserve was established as part of Treaty 6. The Nation is led by Chief Wayne Standinghorn..Registred population -1751.-External links:*...
- Sturgeon Lake First NationSturgeon Lake First NationThe Sturgeon Lake First Nation is located on the eastern shores of Sturgeon Lake about 29 km northwest of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The First Nations territory consists of one Indian Reserve, Number 101. It is located in the transition zone between the aspen parkland and boreal forest biomes....
- Thunderchild First NationThunderchild First NationThunderchild First Nation is an independent Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada with no affiliation with any Tribal Council and is located approximately 113 kilometers northwest of North Battleford...
- Waterhen Lake First NationWaterhen Lake First NationWaterhen Lake First Nation is a Cree First Nation located in northwestern Saskatchewan. Total registered population in September, 2007, was 1749, of which the on-reserve Status population was 790. The First Nation is a member of the MLTC Program Services, a regional tribal Chiefs' Council...
- Witchekan Lake First Nation
- Ahtahkakoop First Nation