144 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. ix.. 



will always remain secure in the possession of their lands. Of 

 more practical import;ince, however, than this family grouping 

 is the division into Indians of the plains and those of the forests 

 and northern country, as already pointed out. The tide of settle- 

 ment has already begun to flow, which in a few short years will 

 cover the portion of the Great Lone Land inhabited by the 

 prairie tribes, with farmers and stock-raisers ; and it is in dis- 

 posing equitably and amicably of the claims of the plain Indians, 

 and in providing for their honest and peaceful support when the 

 bufiTalo, their present means of livelihood, shall have passed away, 

 that Canada will find her greatest Indian problem. In contrast- 

 ing the Indian policy of the United States and Canada, it is 

 unquestionable that the latter has generally shown consideration 

 and friendliness toward these people ; while the former, with few 

 exceptions, has practical/ 1/ pursued a method harsh and aggres- 

 sive ; but it is often forgotten that the circumstances of the two 

 countries for many years past have been very different. In 

 the Western States the uncompromising edge of the advancing 

 populace of Europe has been creeping across the plains — con- 

 stant broils, outrages and reprisals characterizing its spread. In 

 Canada we are only about to enter on this phase, and in no way 

 but by great forbearance and tact can similar — though probably 

 not so great — trouble be averted. 



In 1812 Lord Selkirk founded his colony on the Red River, 

 having acquired from the Hudson Bay Company in the previous 

 year a grant of land for colonization ; but, like the government 

 of the Dominion at a later date, findin"' that he had afterward to 

 arrange with the Indians for their right of ownership. In 1817, 

 several chiefs agreed to give to the King, for the use of the Earl 

 of Selkirk, a tract of land borderina the Red and Assineboine 

 Rivers, as far back on each side as a horse could be seen under 

 (i. €. easily distinguished) ; but we find that it was afterwards 

 made a subject of complaiiit by the Indians, that they never 

 received for the land more than a first payment, which they con- 

 sidered as preliminary to a final bargain. The quit-rent was 

 understood to be 100 pounds of tobacco, paid annually to the 

 chiefs. 



Selkirk's colonists, entering the country by way of Hudson 

 Bay and the Nelson River, were chiefly men from the northern 

 islands of Scotland, and there minolinu with French-Canadians — 

 old voyageurs of the fur Companies — soon, like these people, 



