Evening star., 1938-10-09
Canadians Pay Indians
in Installments.
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.


In this country by far the greater part
of the Indian Lands were taken without
compensation of any kind and. Of course,
in the earlier years OF Canadian settle
ment the same was true there. The
English and French settlers took what
they wanted by force OF conquest. In
the West it has been different in both
countries.
In the United States Indians have
been left in possession of reservations or
of specially allotted land which they
have been free to dispose OF themselves.
In Canada vast tracts In the West and
Northwest Provinces were purchased by
the Dominion government, but not by
payment of single purchase price.
Knowing the somewhat childish and ir-
responsible character Of the Indians, the
Canadian government bought the lands
on an annual payment basis
This is in line with the old English
idea of money. In England and In other
English speaking countries. save the
United States. mans lump fortune is
likely to be disregarded. This, doubt
less, is because long experience has
taught that the man who is rich today
may meet reverses and be poor tomor-
row. In England it is seldom man Is
spoken of as being worth ESQ 900 or
FL ,0O0, 900. That does not matter. He is
spoken of as being worth so much year.
He may own large estates which are not
paying anything and may ne a burden
through upkeep and taxation. so his
lump fortune is a matter OF no conse-
quence. 1t is the income, what he IL
worth year, which counts
So it was probably natural that this
system should be applied to The Indians,
especially as it was felt they would not
prove sound administrators of their own
fortunes. The payments for the land,
therefore, are on an annuity basis, but
the advantageous arrangement for the
Indians is that, under the treaties, these
payments shall be made "as long as the
sun shines and the rivers run"
Late every summer. at harvest time,
the treaty payments are made. The pay
ing of these sums has Just been con-
cluded in Canada for this year and the
ceremony has been accompanied. as al
ways, with rejoicing and merrymaking
as well as by the more serious oficial
palavers between the chiefs. the coun-
cilors and the government agents.
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The first land treaties were made just
about century ago. The peace pipe
was smoked by the English conquerors
and the Indian headmen and warriors
Since those first treaties many more have
been made with other tribes. With the
passage Of the years the white man has
advanced farther and farther to the
west and to the north and 1t has been
necessary to acquire Indian lands to
bring them under cultivation. The same
form has been observed as in the Gen.
tury-old treaties. the same annuity sys-
tenn has been followed.
In Ontario. Manitoba, Saskatchewan.
Alberta, British Columbia and the
Northwest Territory treaty payment sta
tions are designated each year, usually
the same ones save where entirely new
country has been opened up. These are
trading posts, often so far in the wilder
ness that no habitation lies within many
miles, but the Indians know their loca-
tions. They are on streams or lakes.
The Indians come overland sometimes,
but also in canoes. With them they
bring their families. At the payment
stations they erect their tepees and, for
few days, there is a complete Indian
village at each post.
When the set day arrives the govern
ment Indian agent sits before a table on
which is spread the British union jack
Another British nag is hoisted to its
stafhead to indicate that the time for
payment has arrived. There is no rush
The Indians are orderly and come in
regular precedence governed by age and
rank.
Small sums are involved, but then
money Of any kind is a comparative
rarity in this northern country. Most
of the business is done by barter. the
trading of furs for -four. guns. knives
and whatever else the Indians desire.
The average payment is but IS to the
Indian. Some of the treaties call for
but 81. But every member of the tribe,
from the old man to the youngest infant
receives his stipend. The father OF
large family. therefore, is the biggest
income man Of the day.
Chiefs are paid more, in some cases
AS much as s25. and councillors of state
may receive as much as SIS each-what-
ever the original treaty calls for. The
money is paid over in crisp brapd-new
dollar bills to each Indian who comes to
the table and identifies himself.
The Indian agent who does the pay
ing also handles the vital statistics OF
the tribes. Each chief reports the num-
Der of deaths which have occurred dur
ing the year and the number of births.
The names and ages of those thus con-
cerned are entered on the register Of
the tribe which the agent keeps. OF
course, when a man or woman dies the
annuity to that persons stops, as there
is no inheritance of the treaty payment,
but, on the other hand, when q papoose
is born that child goes automatically on
the roster and payments to him begin.
The Indian camps around the trading
post are usually occupied some days be-
fore the day set for payment. Then the
Indians watch for the coming of the
white agent. Sometimes he comes afoot,
sometimes on horseback, sometimes, near
er civilization, in an automobile. Latter
ly the agent has come to outlying sta
tions by air. The Indians, many of
whom never have seen an automobile
or a railroad train, have become almost
familiar with airplanes.
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On treaty payment days there Is al
ways a doctor in attendance; indeed, the
Canadian government, under the trea-
ties, furnishes free medical service to the
Indians throughout the year. Also there
is a member of the Canadian Mounted
Police on duty on each treaty payment
day. Seldom is there any disturbance,
but once in while some white trader
or settler will smuggle in firewater and
the intoxicated Indian, in any country,
is likely to prove an unruly Indian. Sale
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