I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a report of the privy council
of Canada, which I have to-day received from the governor-general of the
Dominion, relative to the prohibition imposed upon Canadian Indians from
following the buffalo into United States territory, and also respecting the
belief entertained by Lieutenant-Colonel McLeod and his subordinates that if
the Sioux Indians who took refuge in British territory were allowed to
retain their ponies, they would be willing to surrender their arms, and
would desire to return to the United States.
I venture to hope that the Government of the United States will give its
earnest and friendly attention to the two points which are treated of in the
inclosed report, and will take such measures as it may deem expedient to
meet the views of the Canadian Government with regard to matters which are
of such momentous importance to the interests of friendly neighbors.
[Inclosure.]
Copy of a report of a committee of the honorable the
privy council, approved by his excellency the governor-general
22d September, 1879.
The committee of the privy council have had under consideration a
dispatch from Lieutenant-Colonel McLeod, commanding the northwest
mounted police force, dated
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Fort Walsh, 9th of August, 1879, inclosing three dispatches from
Superintendent Walsh, of the same force, dated from Hood Mountain on the
22d, 25th, and 31st days of July, respectively, with an inclosure in one
of them giving a verbatim report of the views
expressed by certain chief men (four) of the Sioux Nation of Indians as
to the return of that tribe into the territories of the United
States.
The committee of the privy council are deeply impressed with the urgent
importance of preserving peace among the Indian tribes of the northwest
territory. The policy pursued by “the company of adventurers trading to
Hudson’s Bay” from the beginning of their intercourse with the Indians,
and by the imperial government, has for generations secured not only
peaceful intercourse with them, but their full faith and confidence,
and, since the cession of the territory they inhabit to Canada, the
Dominion has maintained the same friendly relations with them, and they
on their part have continued to this government the loyal allegiance
which they have always shown to the Crown of Great Britain and those in
authority under it.
It has only been latterly and since large numbers of Indians from the
territories of the United States have forced themselves across the
boundary to take up their abode in Canada that any embarrassments have
arisen in dealing with our Indians. The paramount difficulty which
constantly presents itself arises from the scarcity of food. The
buffalo, which forms the staple of consumption amongst the Indians of
British North America, is diminishing rapidly in numbers, and their
migration northward into Canadian territory has, your committee are
informed, latterly been arrested (as far as it could be) by United
States troops stationed along the border, and while our Indians and
half-breeds are prohibited by the United States military authorities
from going south of the boundary in pursuit of the animal necessary to
feed themselves and their families, no restriction has ever been or is
placed by the Canadian authorities, when the buffalo herds come
northward, upon United States Indians coming into our territories in
pursuit of the game in which all are so much interested.
It is true that the American Government undertake to feed their Indians
if they remain upon the reservations provided for them within the United
States; but in fact they come north and chase the buffalo in our
country, diminishing the food supply of our Indians and half-breeds. The
Canadian Government is making great exertions to settle their Indians,
and to induce them to become herdsmen, and to cultivate land and raise
supplies of food for themselves, but in the mean time, and until this is
accomplishd, half-breeds and Indians alike depend upon the chase,
particularly of the buffalo, for sustenance.
The committee of the privy council respectfully submit that it would only
be reasonable that the same liberty which is extended by Canada to
American Indians should be extended by the United. States to such of our
Indians as may cross the border, without hostile intent or action, in
search of food.
Another great difficulty which has been created for the Canadian
Government in the northwest has arisen from the expatriation from the
United States into Canada of a portion of the Sioux Nation of Indians,
numbering about four thousand souls. This large additional population is
forced upon Canada and (with more wandering tribes temporarily crossing
the border) shares the rapidly-diminishing food supply of the Canadian
Indians.
The United States authorities are willing, it is understood, to settle
the Sioux upon their reservations within United States territory, if the
latter will surrender their arms and their ponies. Lieutenant-Colonel
McLeod and his subordinates believe that the Sioux are willing to give
up their arms, but state that the Indians think it unreasonable that
they should be asked to surrender their only means of transport of their
women and children and sick, and such chattles as they possess.
The committee of the privy council respectfully submit that the United
States Government may be moved to so far modify the terms held out to
the Sioux as to allow them to settle on the reservations by the
surrender of their arms only.
The committee trust that the Government of the United States may be
willing to relax somewhat rules which, however beneficially intended, in
practice increase so greatly the sufferings of the Indians, and add to
the difficulties of preserving peace among them, and to the alarm and
perhaps danger of the settlers now rapidly filling in the prairie
country of the northwest; and the committee believe that, should the two
objects contemplated in this report be attained, there would be no
longer any difficulty in dealing with our own tribes of Indians, or in
their obtaining a sufficient supply of food for themselves and their
families until the measures taken by the Canadian Government, and above
alluded to, shall have furnished them with more lasting and reliable
resources.
Certified:
W. S. HIMSWORTH
Clerk Privy Council,
Canada.
