Jay Bird Uncensored Blog: Treaty 4 What do we really know about it? Part 1

Treaty 4: What do we really know about it? Part 1

http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100028689/1100100028690

Many people haven’t reviewed what is in the Treaty 4 document. We perceive it is about ‘gaining rights’ when it is well known prior to that document we had ‘inherent rights’ (didn’t need no one to give us rights that we already had). I am going to break down parts of the treaty document, in a 2 part series, called ‘what do we really know about treaty 4’?  It will be quotes from the document itself with commentary followed.

“Mounted Police Force is now moving into the Territory in question with a view of (1) taking up their winter quarters at Fort Pelly, and (2) considering the operations of the Boundary Commission which are continually moving westward into the Indian Country, and also the steps which are being taken in connection with the (3) proposed Telegraph Line from Fort Garry westward”

According to the document there were 3 reasons to sign this treaty and every one of them was ‘encroachment’ on ‘Indian’ land. RCMP, Boundary Commission (mappers), and Telegraph Line were moving Westward expanding Canadian Territory; no mention of Indigenous concerns.

“In the event of permanent annuities being granted to the Tribes with whom Treaties may be made, such annuities should not be fixed at a higher rate than those sanctioned by the Treaties already concluded”.

Make no mistake of this, these were not negotiations. These were fixed documents about to be handed to the chiefs to be signed based on treaties 1-3 and the proof is the claim about this deal not exceeding any previous treaty’s payment structure. Was this really for our best interest?

“The Cree, Saulteaux and other Indians, inhabitants of the territory within the limits hereinafter defined and described by their Chiefs and Headmen”

One signatory tribe did not sign – the Dakota. How can an agreement be pertained to stand if one owner of the land did not sign? They put in the clause ‘other Indians’ but that’s not legitimate if those ‘other Indians’ did not relinquish their rights to the land in treaty 4.

“Her Indian people may know and be assured of what allowance they are to count upon and receive from Her Majesty’s bounty and benevolence”

We’ll see just how bountiful and benevolent this agreement actually is.

“The Cree and Saulteaux Tribes of Indians, and all other the Indians inhabiting the district hereinafter described and defined, do hereby cede, release, surrender and yield up to the Government of the Dominion of Canada, for Her Majesty the Queen, and Her successors forever, all their rights, titles and privileges whatsoever, to the lands included within the following limits”

What was agreed upon? Indigenous people ceded, released, surrendered, and yielded the land forever including any right, title, or privilege to said lands…in exchange they got about 1% of the land in SK.

From AANDC’s website ‘The total land base of these reserves is approximately 618,815.9 hectares or approximately 1% of the land area of the province of Saskatchewan.’ 1% is all we got. Quite a steal for the Crown when you think about it, when else do you see a deal made for 99% of something in exchange for 1% of its value.

“aforesaid reserves of land, or any part thereof, or any interest or right therein, or appurtenant thereto, may be sold, leased or otherwise disposed of by the said Government for the use and benefit of the said Indians, with the consent of the Indians entitled thereto first had and obtained, but in no wise shall the said Indians, or any of them, be entitled to sell or otherwise alienate any of the lands allotted to them as reserves.”

Indian peoples cannot sell their land; this is the right of the Gov’t only. Check and see if you own your reserve land and you will find you do not.

– By Jay Bird, RezX Blogger, Uncensored