THE INDIAN SYSTEM OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 



Manj^of the Indian tribes in the Dominion of Canada were former resi- 

 dents of the lands now embraced within the United States, and several 

 of them are offshoots from or portions of tribes now resident within this 

 nation, notably the Sis Nations, Chippewas and Pottawatomies. 



Our people are interested in the modes of civilization and manner of 

 control of the Indian in Canada, for example's sake, if not for other rea- 

 sons. 



For many reasons the Indian problem in Canada is an easier one than 

 in the United States. The small number of white people aids them. 

 The vast area of unoccupied lands in the north and west of the Do- 

 minion, over which roams the great body of the Indians, and the few 

 white settlers, make much of their Indian policy easy of solution ; but 

 if a large immigration should start for that section would not their 

 Indian become as troublesome as the American Indian ? In British col- 

 onization or settlement their army precedes the settler, and so the 

 Indian soon becomes accustomed to physical control. In the United 

 States the settler has usually preceded the Army. . The British army 

 is generally emphatic in its movements with Indians. Beside, in the 

 Dominion game and fish are still found in the northwest Indian country. 

 The mounted police (an army) on the Dominion frontier is used to pro- 

 tect the Indian from the whites as well as the whites from the Indian. 



The Indian allies of Great Britain have been most devoted adher- 

 ents of the Crown, in war and in peace ; a state of dependence in many 

 things seems to be congenial. T. P. Wadsworth, inspector of Indian agen- 

 cies and farms in the northwest of the Dominion, in reporting a visit to 

 the Sioux Eeserve in the northwest, in September, 1884, says they were 

 civilized, and were a portion of the Sioux, who at one time lived in the 

 United States. They asked the inspector for (amongst other things) " a 

 large Union- Jack flag (British). The large flag at present in their pos- 

 session, and which was flying at the time of my visit, is one which was 

 carried by their tribe during the war of 1813, when they were allies of 

 the British (against the Americans) ; it is somewhat ragged and faded 

 with age, and the bullet-holes are still visible in it." 



During the short civil war in Canada (1838-'41) the monument on the 

 site, erected to General Brock«^ who fell at Q ueenstown Heights, was de- 

 stroyed by one party of the combatants. It was restored or recon- 

 structed in 1840-'41. Fifteen of the Indian tribes of Canada sent ad- 

 dresses and contributions to the committee in charge. A small octavo 



90D 



