| Treaty 6 was made and concluded near Carlton, Manitoba on the 23 August 1876, between representatives of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and the Plain and Wood Cree and the other Tribes of Indians inhabiting the country within the geographical limits of the treaty.
The Treaty covers the area '[c]ommencing at the mouth of the river emptying into the north-west angle of Cumberland Lake; thence westerly up the said river to its source; thence on a straight line in a westerly direction to the head of Green Lake; thence northerly to the elbow in the Beaver River; thence down the said river northerly to a point twenty miles from the said elbow; thence in a westerly direction, keeping on a line generally parallel with the said Beaver River (above the elbow), and about twenty miles distant therefrom, to the source of the said river; thence northerly to the north-easterly point of the south shore of Red Deer Lake, continuing westerly along the said shore to the western limit thereof; and thence due west to the Athabasca River; thence up the said river, against the stream, to the Jaspar House, in the Rocky Mountains; thence on a course south-easterly, following the easterly range of the mountains, to the source of the main branch of the Red Deer River; thence down the said river, with the stream, to the junction therewith of the outlet of the river, being the outlet of the Buffalo Lake; thence due east twenty miles; thence on a straight line south-eastwardly to the mouth of the said Red Deer River on the south branch of the Saskatchewan River; thence eastwardly and northwardly, following on the boundaries of the tracts conceded by the several treaties numbered four and five to the place of beginning'.
The terms of the treaty stipulate that the Indians 'inhabiting the district hereinafter described and defined, do hereby cede, release, surrender and yield up to the Government of the Dominion of Canada, for Her Majesty the Queen and Her successors for ever, all their rights, titles and privileges whatsoever to the land and to conduct themselves as good an loyal subjects of her majesty the Queen'.
It also provides that the aforementioned tribal groups will obey and abide by the law, and maintain peace and good order between themselves and other tribes of Indians, and between themselves and the new settlers.
On the part of the Crown, the treaty stipulates that the government will:
� lay aside reserves for farming lands of an area not exceeding one square mile for each family of five;
� maintain schools for instruction in these reserves;
� maintain a prohibition on intoxicating liquor on these reserves;
� recognise and enforce the Indian's right to pursue their hunting and fishing throughout the ceded area excepting areas required for settlement, mining, lumbering or other purposes;
� take a census of all the Indians inhabiting the treaty area and distribute to them every year $5 per head;
� Expend $1,500.00 per annum in the purchase of ammunition, and twine for nets, for the use of the said Indians;
� provide 'four hoes for every family actually cultivating; two spades per family; one plough for every three families; one harrow for every three families; two scythes and one whetstone, and two hay forks and two reaping hooks, for every family, and also two axes; and also one cross-cut saw, one hand-saw, one pit-saw, the necessary files, one grindstone and one auger for each Band; and also for each Chief for the use of his Band, one chest of ordinary carpenter's tools; and enough wheat, barley, potatoes and oats to plant the land; and for each Band four oxen, one bull and six cows, one boar and two sows, and one hand-mill when any Band shall raise sufficient grain therefor';
� provide to each chief an annual salary of $25, and each subordinate officer, not exceeding 4 in each band $15 per year and to each chief a suitable flag and medal one horse, harness and wagon;
� in the event of the Indians comprised within this treaty being overtaken by 'pestilence or famine', the Queen will grant to the Indians assistance necessary and sufficient to relieve them from the effects of the famine; and
� provide due compensation should land be appropriated for public works or buildings. | |
