Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-09-04
INDIANS FEELING
Effect Of WARS
Widespread Conditions Re
sulting From Europe's
Warfare Depicted.

Ottawa, Sept. 4.-Ihat the e1IcCtS OF
the present great war in which Can
ada, as q part of the empire, is in
yolved, should be felt pretty generally
in all parts Of the entire Dominion,
and that nearly all classes Of Cana
dians should be made to feel these eff
fects in one way or another is TO ne
expected. 1t would be imagined. how
ever, that the last people of Canadian
origin to be affected by war conditions
would be the original people of the
Dominion; it would be expected that
the Indians of the north country. who
make their living from hunting and
fishing would be immune from any of
the evil consequences arising from the
disturbances of trade, commerce and
finance, which are concomitants of the
great war now in progress.
On the contrary, it is stated that up
ward of $4,000 Indians living all the
way from the north shore of the Gulf
of St. Lawrence to the coast Of British
Columbia are SO vitality affected by the
war that their very existence is inn
perilled and the government will be
called upon to save the situation.
Conditions Uncertain.
The Hudsons Bay company has
been in communication with the In
dian department for some days past
asking that government measures be
taken for the care and protection of
the northern Indians during the COM
Ing winter The company explains
that owing to the present uncertainty
of conditions so far as the fur market
is concerned, all fur trading concerns,
including itself. Revillion Freres. and
the Independent companies will be un-
able to make the usual advance of
supplies etc. which in past years has
enabled the Indians of the north to go
forth into the wilderness and do the
winters trapping whereby they can
make sufficient not only to pay their
debts to the company, but to keep
themselves and families over the sum-
mer. AS a consequence. it Is estimat-
ed that over $4,000 Indians will be af-
fected and deprived of their means of
livelihood. The fur companies claim
that, owing to the war. they have no
market for their present surplus,
which was in former years absorbed
by the London market, for sale
throughout all the continent of Eu-
rope. 1t is further claimed that the
United States will scarcely be able to
absorb her own supply, and that there
will be no market there for Canadian
furs. The uncertainty as to how long
the war will last. the companies be-
lieve, is justification for their position
at the present time.
Altered Circumstances.
In the good days before the war
reliable trapper could procure from
the posts an advance of as much as
5000 worth of traps, blankets. bacon
and other necessities for his trip into
the wilderness. Many of the Indians
thus equipped went out from $50 to
200 miles from the trading post to
where the hunting was good. If rab-
bits and deer were plentiful, as they
are said to be this year. they came
back in good condition and with suf-
ficient furs to pay their debts and live
in plenty during the summer. In fact,
upon this advance system the greater
portion of the northern Indians de-
pended upon for their living. Now that
is changed.
The department here is awaiting the
return from the north of Inspector A.
J. Conroy, who is now at Edmonton.
and who will be asked to give his
what steps shall be taken. The gov
eminent has signed an agreement
with the Hudson's Bay company for
the distribution Of supplies to desti-
tute Indians around the posts and this
will be adhered to. 1t is probable that
the company will be asked to cooper
ate with the government in meeting
Royal North West Mounted police
have also been notified to make sur
Vey of the situation in the particular
districts of which they are in charge
and to report.
big Bear" Mclean of Winnipeg re-
turned today after paying treaty mon
ey to the James Bay treaty Indians
Mr.. Mclean states that since the
boundaries Of Ontario were extended
the Indians in that region have had
much difficulty in selling their furs
owing to the strict enforcement of the
Ontario game laws. Many Of the In
dians are unable to get back from the
trapping grounds until after the sea-
son for furs has closed. and find them
selves confronted with the danger of
having their whole seasons catch con-
fiscated as a result