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Education Treaty #3 Chiefs secured promises of education assistance during negotiations for the treaty. Canada would establish a school whenever a first Nation desired it, and that school would assist in farming and construction. Canada did not live up to its bargain. its version of Treaty #3 as published by Canada, allowed it to provide schools only when "advisable." Canada refused to establish schools under First Nations control, and permitted christian missionaries to dominate reserve and boarding schools. Chiefs made numerous attempts during the 1870's and 1880's to correct government misinterpretation, to no effect. The Historical Record The Anishinabe of the Lake of the Woods, English River and Rainy River and Rainy Lake region maintained a traditional education system prior to euro-canadian settlement. This system was based upon knowledge of Elders, and was disseminated to the young at appropriate times, to achieve knowledge of the physical world and understand Anishinabe traditions. New ideas for education, suggested by christian missionaries on the Rainy River during the 1840's, were carefully considered by Chiefs and Elders at an annual Grand Councils. Expansion of Canada westward after confederation in 1867 led to negotiation of the Agreement known as Treaty #3 in1873 at Northwest Angle on the Lake of the Woods. Chiefs agreed to permit settlement and share resources of their country, in exchange for specific rights, and economic development assistance. One of the main concerns of the Chief was education, Which in their view was a "Great and Good Thing." Education promises were made by Treaty Commissioners. These were recorded in several documents, including newspaper accounts, notes of the commissioners, and in Treaty #3 as published by Canada. During Treaty #3 discussions, Chief Mawintoopinesse stated to Lt. Gov. Morris that he held "fast all the promises you have made", in other words he has committed them to memory. He hoped that the promises would last " as long as the sun goes round and the waters flow." Within several years, this Chief was to argued with federal officials over the exact meaning of the education treaty promise. When Chief Mawintoopinesse notified the government that his people wished a school and a teacher, he was informed that he would have to build the schoolhouse. The Chief understood that the answer was breach of the Treaty. That controversy illustrates some of the differences in approach between the two treaty-making parties in 1873, the Chiefs of the Anishinabe Nation on one hand, and Treaty commissioners acting for the Crown on the other.
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