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T R E A T Y A T L E S S E R S L A V E L A K E 53
took place, and we were speedily surrounded by a bustling
crowd, putting up trading tents and shacks, dancing booths,
eating- places, etc., so that w i t h the motley crowd, including
a large number of women and children, and a swarm of dogs
such as we never dreamt of, amounting i n a short space by
constant accessions to over a thousand, we were i n the heart
of l i f e and movement and noise.
M r . Ross, as already stated, had gone on by trail from
Edmonton, partly i n order to inspect it, and managed to
reach the lake before us, which was fortunate, since Indians
and half- breeds had collected i n large numbers, and he was
thus able to allay their i r r i t a t i on and to distribute rations
pending the arrival of the other members of the Commission.
During the previous winter, upon the circulation i n the
N o r t h of the news of the coming treaty, discussion was rife,
and every cabin and tepee rang w i t h argument. The wiseacre
was not absent, of course, and agitators had been at work for
some time endeavouring to jaundice the minds of the people
— half- breeds, it was said, from Edmonton, who had been
vitiated by contact with a low class of white men there— and,
therefore, nothing was as yet positively known as to the temper
and views of the Indians. But whatever evil effect these
tamperings might have had upon them, it was felt that a
p l a i n statement of the proposals of the Government would
speedily dissipate it, and that, when placed before them in
M r . Laird's customary kind and lucid manner, they would
be accepted by both Indians and half- breeds as the best
obtainable, and as conducing i n all respects to their truest
and most permanent interests.
On the 20th the eventful morning had come, and, for a
wonder, the weather proved to be calm, clear and pleasant.
The hour fixed upon for the beginning of negotiations was
two p. m., up to which time much hand- shaking had, of
course, to be undergone with the constant new arrivals of
natives from the forest and lakes around. The Church of
England and Roman Catholic clergy, the only missionary
Object Description
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| Title | Page 61 |
| OCR | T R E A T Y A T L E S S E R S L A V E L A K E 53 took place, and we were speedily surrounded by a bustling crowd, putting up trading tents and shacks, dancing booths, eating- places, etc., so that w i t h the motley crowd, including a large number of women and children, and a swarm of dogs such as we never dreamt of, amounting i n a short space by constant accessions to over a thousand, we were i n the heart of l i f e and movement and noise. M r . Ross, as already stated, had gone on by trail from Edmonton, partly i n order to inspect it, and managed to reach the lake before us, which was fortunate, since Indians and half- breeds had collected i n large numbers, and he was thus able to allay their i r r i t a t i on and to distribute rations pending the arrival of the other members of the Commission. During the previous winter, upon the circulation i n the N o r t h of the news of the coming treaty, discussion was rife, and every cabin and tepee rang w i t h argument. The wiseacre was not absent, of course, and agitators had been at work for some time endeavouring to jaundice the minds of the people — half- breeds, it was said, from Edmonton, who had been vitiated by contact with a low class of white men there— and, therefore, nothing was as yet positively known as to the temper and views of the Indians. But whatever evil effect these tamperings might have had upon them, it was felt that a p l a i n statement of the proposals of the Government would speedily dissipate it, and that, when placed before them in M r . Laird's customary kind and lucid manner, they would be accepted by both Indians and half- breeds as the best obtainable, and as conducing i n all respects to their truest and most permanent interests. On the 20th the eventful morning had come, and, for a wonder, the weather proved to be calm, clear and pleasant. The hour fixed upon for the beginning of negotiations was two p. m., up to which time much hand- shaking had, of course, to be undergone with the constant new arrivals of natives from the forest and lakes around. The Church of England and Roman Catholic clergy, the only missionary |
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