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Agricultural Promises The Historical Record Agriculture became an increasingly important part of the Anishinabe economy during the 19th century. Traditional garden sites on islands and along lake shores were well adapt to the environment in this region. First Nations farms have been documented in the records of the Hudson's Bay Company, missions and government expeditions. Production of corn, potatoes and other crops was an important element of the traditional economy. Agriculture constituted a major source of food to the rapidly expanding population and to fur traders, missionaries and other settlers. The Agreement Known as Treaty #3 Treaty #3 was negotiated in 1873 after prior attempts to establish a treaty had failed. When negotiations were concluded a written document was prepared. This document is Treaty #3, as published by Canada. It is doubtful that this document could be translated literally into Ojibway. Some points agreed upon during the negotiations by the First Nations and Treaty Commissioners were not included in the published document. The Agreement known as Treaty #3 is not identical to the published document. Agricultural assistance was an important aspect of treaty negotiations. The Anishinabe position in 1873 included the following: "ten cows and one bull", oxen, ploughs, harrows, garden utensils, teams of horses and harnesses, she and he lambs and one sow and boar" and 30 bushels of wheat twenty bushels of peas and various kind of garden seed." Such items were to be used for development of agriculture. According to Chief Sakatcheway: "His band, he says, have little farms on English River, about a day's journey below the outlet of Lac Seul, and that they are particular anxious to get things necessary for these farms ... Also, oats, turnips, barley, and different kinds of seed sown by white man. They already have Indian corn which grows very well, and the chief himself will have this year two hundred barrels of potatoes, so that they do not require potatoes, but would be glad if oats,barley, turnip seed and other seeds were sent to Rat Portage next spring so that they could take them from thence to their farms in time to sow... They would, also, like to get some agricultural tools, such as grub hoes, spades, rakes and harrows. These articles are absolutely necessary for them as they cannot be got in this section." Treaty Commissioner J.A.N. Provencher agreed that the existing Ojibway garden locations would be retained: Commissioner- "There will be another undertaking between the officers of the Government and the Indians among themselves for the selection of the land; they will have enough of good farming land, they may be sure of that!" Chief-"Of course, if there is any particular part wanted by the public works they can shift us. I understand that; but if we have gardens through the country, do you wish that the poor man should throw it right away?" Commissioner-"Of course not" These negotiations resulted in the Agreement known as Treaty #3. Anishinabe negotiators secured substantial agricultural equipment and seeds. according to Treaty#3, as published by Canada: "It is further agreed between Her Majesty and the said Indians, that the following articles shall be supplied to any band of the said Indians who are now cultivating the soil, or who shall hereafter commence to the cultivation of the land, that so is to say ... two hoes for every family actually cultivating; also one spade per family as aforesaid; one plough for every ten families aforesaid; five harrows for every twenty families as aforesaid; one scythe for every family as aforesaid; and also one axe and one cross-cut saw, one hand saw, one pit saw, the necessary files, one grindstone, one auger for each band, and also for each Chief for the use of his band, one chest of ordinary carpenter's tools; also for each band, enough of wheat, barley, potatoes and oats to plant the land actually broken up for the cultivation by such band; also for each band, one yoke of oxen, one bull and four cows; all the aforesaid articles to be given once for all for the encouragement of the practice of the agriculture among the Indians." Treaty #3, as published by Canada, includes specific reference to "farming" lands and protection for those lands already under cultivation by the First Nations: "And Her Majesty the Queen hereby agrees and undertakes to lay aside reserves for farming lands, due respect being had to lands at present cultivated by the said Indians..." Farming Promises Made To Treaty #3 Anishinabe Development of modern commercial farming was an economic objective entrenched by Anishinabe Chiefs in the Agreement known as Treaty #3. By breaking treaty, euro-canadians acquired the best fields of the Anishinabe. |