Review of chapter 14 “Treaty Six”, in Buffalo Days and Nights, by Peter Erasmus.

Even with the lowest of people, there is an air of nobility; it is something that separates us from the beasts, it is given to all mankind from the creator, we all have the capacity for nobility, because we are all made in the image of God.

The success of the Treaty was in large part due to the native leaders recognizing the importance of the Law. Even though the event was covered by a small group of police officers, it was successful. It is therefore obvious that native people knew the importance of rules, and this moreover was emphasised strongly by their leaders.
“The small number of this Police Force would have been utterly incapable of handling the thousands of Indians if they had attempted to employ force to compel obedience. The Chief and his councillors administered the laws for their band and the tribe recognized the necessity for rules governing individuals who at times broke the rules set by their leaders for the benefit of the majority. That in my opinion, is what made possible the successful role that this small Force played in the progress of settlement of one country.” Erasmus: p.240

(Certainly the community held precedence and it goes without saying that it was the laws that strengthened their communities.)

It is often said that the law came one way, through the Whiteman; yet it was an integral part of native people, how else could a small police force have had any success? It was the Natives holding high the law that actually established the treaties. So great was their respect for the law, that, authority during this time grew, thus if anything the treaties received credence from the native people. These were not just savages devoid of knowledge; they understood the importance of government- they knew what good governance was all about. (I know that we should be way past such ignorant statements, yet it still deserves to be noted how conventional thought once was) It is a myth then to believe that native people lacked ability- and were without knowledge concerning how to govern. The truth is they were reciprocal when good governance was being established, they not only took part but they also created the “good governance,” that we enjoy today!

And so if we were as noble as this account points out, why do we not govern the same way? Where are our efforts at upholding the law? Obviously it is not just a job for the police, but it must come from the people and its leaders. Upholding the law is therefore a concerted effort. If our leaders loved and upheld the law, then if we want to be truly traditional we would do the same thing, we would then moreover follow their example.



Treaty talks – Treaty Number Six

Since there were already treaty negotiations that occurred, there was some foreknowledge on what was expected and what had occurred to natives up to this time. As a result people were visibly upset that some of the previous treaties were not honoured. After allowing this discontent to surface, the leaders then took control and restored order. After this first discussion, the native people retired to their tents and continued to thrash out the treaty terms.

The talks continued the following day and the new meeting was again met with discontent, the main Chiefs however eventually restored order.

After a brave spoke about how much land was to be given, he answered by saying, “this is our land!” You cannot pass it out like a piece of meat! There was some loud cheering that erupted after this was said. The Governor, Alexander Morris, was visibly upset after this demonstration; he thought that they accepted the terms. The Governor then went on to say that unless land was set aside for their use, it would be settled by a flood of white settlers who would give them no consideration.
“Mistawasis (then) rose to his feet at the conclusion of Morris’s detailed explanations of the treaty terms and answers to questions that arose during the proceedings, saying, “We have heard all you have told us and I want to tell the Governor how it is well with us as well. When a thing is thought out quietly, that is the best way. I ask this of him today, that we go and think over his words. Governor Morris agreed with the chief and the meeting was adjourned till Monday. It was now Saturday.” Erasmus: p.245

The leaders and the people then had a meeting, where they discussed that, “There are many among us who are trying to confuse and mislead the people; that is why I thought it best to give them lots of time for their bad work. Today they will have to come out in the open and will be forced to show their intentions.” Erasmus: p.245
“The chiefs were in agreement that it was better to bring about an understanding among their own people before meeting with the Commissioner.” Erasmus: p.246

The point up to here worth noting is that there was much deliberation and participation. There was no unilateral decision-making. The people participated, and order was kept intact by the leaders.

Note: Since this is the most important conversation out of this treaty it will be written out quite extensively: The next meeting took place for most of the day, it was a great display of “Indian eloquence.”

Mista-wa-sis, rose to his feet. All afternoon he had sat without taking part in the speeches. All those who were taking part in the previous arguments sat down. There was silence as the man stood and waited for every person to be seated. (Mistawasis was a main chief, and he possessed authority and was given great respect)
“I have heard my brothers speak, complaining of the hardships endured by our people. Some have bewailed the poverty and suffering that has come to the Indians because of the destruction of the buffalo as the chief source of our living, the loss of the glory of our forefathers; and with that I agree. (The native circumstance was acknowledged, and it was being assessed) “With all these things, I think and feel intensely the sorrow my brothers express. I speak directly to Poundmaker and The Badger and those others who object to signing the treaty. Have you anything better to offer our people? I ask again, can you suggest anything that will bring these things back for tomorrow and all the tomorrows that face our people?” (Here the real leader faced the political manipulator, because it all comes down to who can see further, who considers the future, realistically. It was about taking into consideration what actually serves the majority, what will benefit the people? Equally it is important to note that they (the leaders) were certainly not tripped up by superficial arguments.) “I for one think that the great White Queen Mother has offered us a way of life when the buffalo are no more. Gone they will be before many snows have come to cover our heads or graves if it should be. There was loud groans and exclamations of despair at the later statement..” Erasmus: p.246, 247

The issue of how natives were being treated, by traders was something that stuck out in the minds of the leaders: And they knew that they were also people that waged war with one another. Thus we can deduce that part of their culture was a culture of war. Therefore their culture and lives were if anything in transition. So how did they then get this respect for the law?

It seemed apparent that when they dealt with white traders (from the south)that “These traders, who were not of our land, with smooth talk and cheap goods persuaded the southern tribes it would be a good thing to have a place to trade products of the hunt, the hides and tanned goods. The traders came and built strong forts, and with their long riffles that can kill at twice the distance of our own and the short guns that can spout death six times quicker than you can tell about it, they had the people at their mercy. The Blackfoot soon found out the traders had nothing but whiskey to exchange for their skins. Oh, yes! They were generous at first with their rotten whiskey, but not for long. The traders demanded pay and got Blackfoot horses, buffalo robes, and all other things they had to offer. Those traders laughed at them for fools, and so they were, to sell their heritage for ruin and debauchery. Some of the bravest of the Blackfoot tried to get revenge for the losses but they were shot down like dogs and dragged to the open plains on horses to rot and be eaten by wolves.”

Now it was these traders that ran once the Queen’s Red Coats appeared. “It was the power that stands behind those few Red Coats that those men feared...the Police are the Queens Mothers agents and have the same laws for whites as they have for the Indians.” Erasmus: p.247, 248 (The Natives respected the law because it controlled and stopped their enemies from taking advantage of them, and they seen that this law was also for them, equally.) “I for one look to the Queens law and her Red Coat servants to protect our people against the evils of the white man’s firewater and to stop the senseless wars among our people...We have been in darkness; the Blackfoot and others are people as we are..we will be brothers in misery when we could have been brothers in plenty...We speak of glory and our memories are all that is left...we are few in numbers compared to former times, by wars and terrible ravages of smallpox...Even if it was possible to gather all the tribes together, to throw away the hand that is offered us, we would be too weak to make to make our demands heard...I for one will take the hand that is offered. For my band I have spoken.” (There was a silence that followed as Mistawasis took his seat)

Finally Star Blanket got up, he stood in silence for a moment, “Yes, I have carried the dripping scalps of the Blackfoot on my belt and thought it was a great deed of bravery. I thought it was part of the glory of war but I agree with Mistawasis. Then he raised his voice so that it rang with power of great conviction, “It is no longer a good thing. If we had been friends we might now have been a host of people of all nations and together have power to demand things some of you foolishly think you can get and insist on now demanding...There are men among you who are trying to blind our eyes, and refuse to see the things that have brought us to this pass. Let us not think of ourselves but our children’s children. We hold our place among the tribes as chiefs and councillors because our people think we have wisdom above amongst us. Then let us show our wisdom. Let us show our wisdom by choosing the right path now while we yet have a choice.” Erasmus: p.249, 250

At this point what can we come up with? Over and over we can see the connection the leaders had with their people. We can see the ability of the leaders to access their circumstance; and we can see that they were wise when they dealt with their own people. It is a wonder that native people were studied by the white-man; they wanted, of all things, to know how the people were governed. (See Edwin Denig, The Assinoboine, Enquires at the back of the book, one question asked was, “Is the Democratic element strongly implanted?”) They (natives) governed in a way that was fundamentally strong, and even before there was any thing called democracy, native governance was about the people!

Star Blanket ended by saying, “Surely we Indians can learn the ways of living that made the white man strong.”

Mistawasis adjourned the meeting by saying, “It is good that my brothers go back to their teepees and study these matters with care. We will not be hasty.”

In the matter of governance, we know that the fundamentals of good governance were exercised by our people. The ideas of participation, deliberation and representation are the rudiments of democracy. Representation was about representing the band, and need I say that meant all the people. Clearly the leaders held and received authority from the people. There is such an obvious connection that exists with the people and the leaders and this cannot be over-emphasised. Being a representative means having a strong connection to your people/band. Thus the strength of our people is that connection. If anything we need to revive this strength once again.
When it came to the treaties native people did not just put down their “X”, they governed their people, and they made the proceedings respectful. They lead their people, and walked with their people as they made decisions. They made us proud that we had forefathers who were sagacious and walked with dignity. They were noble when they envisioned their posterity; today we can hold our heads up, and we can be as dignified and noble as they once were.