The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-09
CANADA'S HALF-BREEDS.
Their History, Their Present COndi-
tiOn the Problem OF Their Future.


tiOn the Problem OF Their Future.
Montreal Gazette
Father Albert Lacombe. o. NJ. l., has
issued an appeal on behalf of the half
breeds of Manitoba and the territories.
which especially concerns this province.
II now appeal to the patriotism of my
cOuntrymen," says Father Lacombe, ''in
behalf of those poor half breeds who have
relations in almost every parish Of the
province of Quebec" The same family
names are found along the Red river and
the Saskatchewan that are found along
the shores of the ST. Lawrence, and the
missionary cannot understand the indiffer-
ence and contempt which many French
Canadians in the East feel for their kins-
men in the West. For among the half
breeds are members of some of the most
reputable Of old Quebec families. Mgr.
Tache was their great friend and defender,
and. like him, the old missionaries love
them their first born in the Christian
faith. They were in the early days of mis-
sionary labor the faithful and sure guides
who knew every path in those immense
solitudes. Connected by ties of blood with
the Indian tribes they were a bond between
the two races. Generally the half-breed
is the offspring of white man and an In
dian woman, sometimes of a white man and
a ha1f-breed. Formerly the Hudson Bay
Company used to engage young men, chiefly
from the Montreal district, and though
when their engagements expired some of
them returned home, others who had mar
ried Indian women and reared large fami-
lies chose to remain in the Northwest. OF
all the civilized people who came in con-
tact with the Indians the French Cana
dams succeeded best in Identifying them
selves with Indian characteristics and in
learning their speech. The language in use
amongt the half-breeds is mostly Cree, be-
cause was with the daughters of the
CreeS that unions were mostly formed,
though there are many who speak Sauteux,
Pied-NOir (BlackfeeD and other dialects
They are ali expert i'm learning languages
In appearance the half7breeds tall
well-prOportiOned, cOmely and strong
While some betray their origin by their
SWarthy compilations, others are as fair
any whites. They have an Unborn gift
OF direction and are admirable guides. They
are at the same time intelligent in other
respects. Some of them are enrolled among
the missionary clergy. Some of the women
have become nunS-Cirey nuns and sisters
OF mercy Their disposition is kindly and
they are proVerblally hospltable. Father
Lacombe expresses Indignation at the false
hood and ingratitude of certain tourists
Who have unJUstly maligned them. Others
-
their defects IL Is true such as their love
Of pleasure, which exposes them TO temp
tatton and makes them careless about the
future. But the circumstances that have
made them farmers, instead of hunters
and explorers, must be taken into account
for their exculpatiOn. They are now feel
ing the effects both of their imprOvidence
and of the conditions which diverted them
from their original emplOyments. Many OF
them sold their lands TO newcomers for
mere trite, while others grouped them
selves near the small towns. where they
incurred the risk of losing their old virtues
well as their means There are about
l., 600 or 1900 OF them, and OF these there
l. certain proportion who live by stock
raising and tilling the soil. But the pros
poets Tor the coming day are dark and they
have begun 10 entertain gloomy forebod-
ings as To the fate of their race.
This Is the problem TO which Father
Lacombe invites the serious consideration
of the friends, and especially Of the kins-
men of the half-breeds in eastern Canada.
1t occurred To him that TO form a half
breed colony the members of which would
receive not the title TO their lands but the
usufrust only, was the best remedy for ills
growing daily more urgent. Such "A settle
ment placed in charge of the western bish-
ops and select laymen of standing legally
qualified for the task of looking after the
half-breeds' interests, and having flour
and sawmills, industrial schools, etc.
would be able TO save the remnant of them.
This project he proposed To his superiors
five years ago and was successful in Sc
curing a grant of land on the Saskatche-
Z
monitor. In 1885, not a soul lived there.
There are now seventy families a popu-
latiOn of about COO persons. They might
have developed more rapidly and shown
population of 15O0 instead OF COO. but pru-
dence cOunseled caution, and they have
preferred TO advance slowly and surely.
The government has given them farming
implements, which they lend TO the half
breeds who have reduced TO cultivation
from 800 to 1870 acres. They have 100
cattle and 800 horses. a saw and flour mill,
and a school that accommodates 80 chill
dren. The school is in charge of Sisters
of the Assumption, from Nicolet. who have
shown most praiseworthy capacity and de-
votiOn. But the admission OF many other
children about a hundred) has had 70 be
deferred for lack of means AS the school
is the mainstay of the colony. this poverty
is a serious drawback. For they have no
school subsidy from the government.
Father Iacombe, therefore, hopes that his
appeal viii touch the hearts of some gen
erous citizens Of this province, and that
their sympathy and aid will encourage him
and his co-workers TO continue the work
they have begun.