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©Keeseekoowenin 1998
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The Ojibway had arrived at Treaty negotiations with a half century of experience with Treaties ranging from Selkirk to Pembina in the U.S. in 1863. The Ojibway likely also arrived at the Treaty negotiations with their own demands, since it is known that Ojibway who entered into Treaty 3 had drawn up a list as early as January, 1869, which included agricultural resources and hunting and fishing supplies.
Over a thousand Ojibway people gathered at the Stone Fort to meet with the Commissioners. There were orchestras and entertainment. When the speeches began, promises were held out by representatives of the Crown, including Lt. Governor Archibald, to the First Nations that "you will still be free to hunt over much of the land included in the Treaty." The First Nations were told the Queen
". . . would like them to adopt the habits of the whites, to till land and raise food, and store it up against a time of want. . . . You could live and be surrounded with comfort by what you can raise from the soil..."
Reserves of land would be set aside for their use, "large enough, but you must not expect them to be larger than will be enough to give a farm to each family." They would be dealt with fairly as would be the settlers. "You will look to the Commissioner to fulfil everything he agrees to do ... When you hear his voice, you are listening to your Great Mother the Queen." Assurances were given the Ojibway people they did not have to live on the reserves, but that each family would receive good farming lands sufficient to support a family. In the meantime, the Ojibway people could continue to use and enjoy the economic benefits of all unsettled lands.
On Saturday, July 29, each of the First Nations set out the portion of their traditional territory each was reserving. The spokesman was Ahyeepeetahpeetung, probably a leader from Crane River, who said he was from the "Little Camp Fire at Portage". The Commissioners were upset by the demands, and adjourned the meeting for the weekend.
When meetings resumed on Monday, July 31, Ahyeepeetahpeetung, speaking for Yellow Quill, said,
". . . I have turned over this matter of a treaty in my mind, and cannot see anything in it to benefit my children. After showing you what I meant to keep for a reserve, you continued to make it smaller and smaller. Now I will go home today, to my property, without being treated with. You, Commissioner, can please yourself ... If the Commissioner wants the land, let him take it. . . Let them rob me. I will go home without treating."
Late that afternoon, Yellow Quill announced his people would take the winter to think things over. The Commissioners saw their second attempt at Treaty-making about to fail. As they later reported back to Ottawa, describing Ahyeepeetahpeetung,
"Their principal spokesman as a Savage, besmeared all over with white clay, and naked except a cloth around his loins. . . Their words were peaceful enough, but it was easy to see what would be the end. It was obvious therefore that we must yield something or we must be prepared to people the country with hostile Indians hovering on our settlements and an Indian war in the background. We therefore invited them to think over our propositions during one more night, and if there was any chance of coming to terms, to meet us in the morning. During the night, active negotiations were carried on with the Chiefs . . .
"We acceded to the demands and the whole matter was finally arranged at a meeting on Thursday."
The area covered by Treaty Nº1 was 16,700 square miles, or 10,688,000 acres, and about three times that amount in Treaty Nº2. At this time, there were about 15,000 people in what is now southern Manitoba. The Red River Colony had a population of 5,720 French-speaking persons of mixed aboriginal/European descent and 4,080 who were English-speaking, and 1,600 white settlers. The First Nation population was about a 2,000 in Treaty Nº1, and about 900 in the Treaty Nº2 area.
