Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-06-29

Okla is pretty little village on the north
above Montreal. The village is the seat o.
band OF lndans, oiishoots Of the lroquols
who live in greater numbers at Caughna
waga. They number some three hundred
souls, and are peaceful folk, obtaining
living by working on RATS and boats, cut
ting cord-wood, king baskets anl labor
ing on farms. Until some eis ht "r trn year.
ago they protested the Catholic faith aid
| formed a sort of religious outpost of the
great Seminary OF Montreal, that wealthy
and powerful ecclesiastical corporation
which originally owned all Montreal and
still derives revenue from great portion OF
the territory. Then, however, the chiei OF
the band. Joseph La Cygne, became con-
yerted to the Protestant religion, and his
example was followed by great many OF
the Indians. until q congregation under u
French Protestant missionary was formed.
Tho French Catholics feel very sore over
any such proseytizing movements, especial
ly az they have usually been conducted by
such religious zealots :, Chiniquy, and sst
to work to Dust the II ians. claiming that
the land they occupied belonged TO the semi
nary The Indians naturally resisted the
claim, and formidable lawsuit. still pend
ing. was begun.
The conduct of the gentlemen Of the
seminary" in these suits tended to increase
the dissatisfaction. Indians were frequent
" arrested on various pretexts, as trespass
in cutting wood, hailed away to jail some
distance inland, and put to much expense
and annoyance. The was, in fact, very
lively little religious resolution, in which
a number of private /. iividuals joined tor
sheer zeal or love of commotlon. The In
dians stood all this, II must DO admitted,
with much patience. and under deal OF
provocation, from their friends as well as
their enemies. They were put forward as
British subjects martyred Tor religions
sake, and the more they were oppressed
the better pleased the agitators were.
This Spring the Indians set to work to re-
pair the fences of their communal pasture.
Back of the village is a tract of land of some
700 acres area, held by the residents in COM
mon for pasturing their cattle. The In
dams had for some years intermitted the
custom of excluding the herds of others
therefrom, except when small fec was
paid Hard times induced them, this Sum
me-, 20 revive the practice, so they repair
cd the fences and hung the gates. The
French Catholics pulled them down and
did so again and again as fast as the In
dams put them up. This action embitter-
ed matters and ended with the burning OF
the Catholic church-it is assertsd-by the
Indians out of revenge, on the 18th.
Some witnesses declare that they saw In
dams lettering around suspiciously just
before the fire broke out. On the other
hand thc Indians deny stoutly that any OF
their number set fire to the place, insisting
that it was tho RESULT of accident. Others
declare that the priests fired it themselves to
create feeling against tho Indians As the
church was not insured and there was nothing
to be gained by creating feeling against the
Indians this may be written down as lie:
As for the stories of "Bashl BazOuk'
atrocities that is heading in newspa-
per-armod forces of Indians intrenched
or patroling the woods and 50 on,when you
read them
.'Say no word to indicate a doubt.
But put your thumb unto your nose and spread the
fingers out
On the ID of June, however, the Semi |
nary's counsel swore out great grist OF
six in all, l think-ior tho
arrest of Indians for trespass and distruc- |
ton of property. and being afraid that the |
local constabulary was not equal 20 the |
task of making the arrests, applied to the |
provincial cOnstabulary. a squad OF
men at Quetec were sent to execute |
the warrants under the orders of Col |
onel Amyot. one of the Commissioner $. |
They made eight captures without resistance. |
After the fire they made another raid, tax |
ing moro prisoners. In the latter instance
am certain that they would act more
roughly than there was any necessity for. |
Ii ia French Catholic administration
they servo; the mon are French Cath
olics; the feeling on religious questions Just
now runs very high. and in view OF the
Protestant Indians being at war with the
church and the Catholic church editice
having Just been burned, | am not surpris-
ed to hear that there was much unmanly
and unnecessary bullying and violence used,
soaring women. throttling men, firing
pistols in the air, and so on.
This is an impartial account Of the causes
and circumstances of the ''Oks outrages.
They are not very important except as
marKing phase in the hot warfare waged
in this province between the two sects.
The Dominion government should take
steps in the matter. If the Indians, who
are British subjects, have title to their
property they should be protected in its en-
ioyment; if the property belongs to the
seminary, the government must provide
them with lands elsewhere. | SEQ that
Chief Joseph says he will have nothing to
10 with the Quebec government and con-
siders the Dominion government the proper
to settle the difficulties. lie will
not 60 back to Okla until the police are
withdrawn or a Dominion commissioner ap-
pointed to investigate the troubles. The
Protestant parsonage at Okla has been
stoned. but that is not surprising in the
present excited state of affairs, the excite
nent being increased by the publication of
he most groundless stories and heated
lrticles. Cor. ~ Y. World