The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-04
1HE INDIANS IN CANADA.
Where the White and Red Men Live In Peace
"A Visit 60 n Model Reservation.

where the White and Red VI len Live In Peace |
"A Visit 60 Model Reservation.
MONTREAL, July 2S.-With desire to gain |
some knowledge touching the relative condi- |
ton Of the Canadian Indians and the tribes that |
occupy United States territory. recently made |
inquiries OF officials along the border. most OF
whom were entirely innocent VI statistics re- |
gardng tho aboriRines. / was chiefly moved |
to make these inquiries 10y having 40 often
heard in this city and other parts of Canada |
that the Canadian Government has conducted
its Indian affairs with greater efficiency and
with far less difficulty than that Of tho United
States. have. upon many occasions strained
my wits to rcbut the assertion. but finding my
self bercft OF material for that purpose. l
planned the task OF turning few hours Of va
cation to account in collating some facts about
the Canadian Indians.
l found that north OF tho St. Lawrence peace
has reigncd supreme since the beginning of the
present century. In the south. that IL. within
the boundaries OF the Union. there have been
almost incessant troubles and wars during that
period. This remarkable contrast is not 80
much attributable to any difference In
the nature Of the nomadic peoples rs
1t is to the different manner in which
they have been treated 1t has been argued
also. that the cause is the smaller number
Of Indians in Canada but this reasoning does
not hold in view Of the calculation that the In
dians OF Canada arc in proportion to popua-
ton three times as numerous as those In
| the United States. There are about 100000 In
dams in the Union. and according to the last
census taken In Canada there are 99.65O in
| that country. OF the latter. one-thrd live upon
the lands assigned TO them. principally In the
provinces OF Ontario. Quebec, Nova scotia. aud
! New Brunswick. The other twO-thrdS pursue
their ancient nOmadic life In Manitoba. IN Brit
ish Columbia. and other parts oi the North
As soon M section ~ territory occupied by
| Indians l. evidently needed for white colonial
ton. the Government u Canada opens friendly
| liberal recompense. and providing them with II
tract oi land elsewhere IN some locality where
| they will b. most likely. in the shortest space OF
/ time, 10 feel ana benefit by the influences Ol
| CIVILIZATION Mainly for this reason large num-
bers OF Indians are rarely found tos''hsrr IN
are frequently found IN parties oil twenty anu a
hundred living ON their reserved lands. Win
white people living all round them, trhihcNlh g
and mingling with them. The most important
~ the tracts assigned tp the Indians III Canada
il that occupied by the Six Nations on The
Grand river. near Brantiord whore $500 In
dams are established upon 52OOp acres ol pro-
In company with Superintendent Gllison I
visited that reservation. The condition OF the
indians there Is PROSPEROUS. even SURPRISING
Quebec. though the latter have far superior adj
vantages. The six Nations hold their land IN
ARES are lott fcr III" benefit Of the head vi each
family. Year after year they extend cultivation
hy adding new tracts 81 land To- thelf rec FNn va.
ton, and they reap abundant haiNr-ts i"'h
Indian has his own cabin, and In most instances
hay loft and stable plough; a horse ma
cart and a COW. An aged chief II the six VA
tons told me- that nj the agricultural shove Wcy
always held their own against the white farm
thought but Tor the influence which the whites
have with the Judges. stu the old man 1nu
/ - auirif pf ppmpttifiDu Il-luNpI nj the Ire
guent shows which are held after harvest time
Megbers II hs tribe Let Won three til.9, ne :,
and wheat exhibited al the Philadelphia Ten
tcnninl. Thirty-eight 81 those Indians pos
scssed costly threshiug machines and various
other agricultural indictments OF the most I'M
proved kind and highest price. Their llitl'
houses. cream cos,'y. hh1 ,rlui. N,I' a. -,.n' .'
: proNement upon those ot many OF our own DOT
> der settlers.
neatly furnished house, whore we We're mos
: courieously received 10y him and his w"ll-edu
I Gated daughters. H. spoke. quietly but proud
; There WINS an oneida Indian present. also al
intelligent man. who expressed great astonlsn
in ten years. during which period he had beef
| absent He commented especially upon the Ia
creasing use OF the English language anonl
Al one school I found 50 children, who are re
I ceiNing an excellent du'minn. including
a + thorough knowledge 90 industrial pursuits
Tho girls are carefully trained for dome-ii
. work. and parts Of their school hours are de
: ting. The lady who conducted Us 20 tn ,huo
: pointed with pride ~ the play room which a!
b pupils had arranged; the doors had been mad
II aud carved 10y them. An Indian who WAS ior
= merry muster of the institute has rrecntly l"'
: Ortla.u 70 minister ~ the church ~ fnglnn,
= Thirteen daily schools with al scholNrS, ar
Il maintained IN other parts ~ the reserved lahu
y / IA this country. partly 10 the expense ol IN
y Indians and partly with the funds OF the ms
x The reserved lands are absolutely the PROF
10 erty ~ the Indian tribes wh' occupy them. y
~ portion q them cag be- aliehoird without IN
~ consent u q majority - the male adults, VII
must formally give their vote, which must the
II he confirmed 10y the authority 81 the GoNeri
- ment. The Government. in this INSTANCE. excl
cises pa,eruul uardlAnship over the lndiAu
Is and intcriores only when II is evident that :
lc the closing of certain bargains their intrres
D. would not be advanced. Intrusive whites WI
u. attempt 10 settle within the limits OF tie reese
'e vations are notified ~ their trespass ana
III they do not then quietly move away. they al
- short time ago, n portion OF the Indians hn'
ID was sold on the prrteNt that they had give
n their authorization for the sale. TINS was q
10. true and the Indians made u complaint, III
~ matter was Investigated by the proper depaI
W ment ut Ottawa. and the purchaser was order
IN served lands are lawfully sold, the net procee
TO are held on deposit by the Government and u
ne interest is divided every six months hmoi
he those from whom the land WINS purchas.
ed More frequently than otherwise. sales OF ial
On inure to the benefit OF the Indians espccla
Az In their moral effect, nasmuch rs they conyin
re-, them that they are being well treated and a
nj receiving whatever 10 due them. The Cover
as ment instructs them in the management OF tn
on affairs and every six months sends them
10 statement Of their money accounts.