58 THEOUGH THE MACKENZIE BASIN" 



so, and every spring will furnish you with provisions to 

 enable you to work and put in your crop. Again, if you 

 do not wish to grow grain, but want to raise cattle, the Gov- 

 ernment will give you bulls and cows, so that you may raise 

 stock. If you do not wish to grow grain or raise cattle, the 

 Government will furnish you with ammunition for your 

 hunt, and with twine to catch fish. The Government will 

 also provide schools to teach your children to read and write, 

 and do other things like white men and their children. 

 Schools will be established where there is a sufficient num- 

 ber of children. The Government will give the chiefs axes 

 and tools to make houses to live in and be comfortable. 

 Indians have been told that if they make a treaty they will 

 not be allowed to hunt and fish as they do now. This is not 

 true. Indians who take treaty will be just as free to hunt 

 and fish all over as they now are. , 



" In return for this the Government expects that the 

 Indians will not interfere with or molest any miner, travel- 

 ler or settler, y^e expect you to be good friends with every- 

 one, and shake hands with all you meet. If any whites 

 molest you in any way, shoot your dogs or horses, or do you 

 any harm, you have only to report the matter to the police, 

 and they will see that justice is done to you. There may be 

 some things we have not mentioned, but these can be men- 

 tioned later on. Commissioners Walker and Cote are here 

 for the half-breeds, who later on, if treaty is made with you, 

 will take down the names of half-breeds and their children, 

 and find out if they are entitled to scrip. The reason the 

 Government does this is because the half-breeds have Indian 

 blood in their veins, and have claims on that account. The 

 Government does not make treaty with them, as they live 

 as white men do, so it gives them scrip to settle their claims 

 at once and forever. Half-breeds living like Indians have 

 the chance to take the treaty instead, if they wish to do so. 

 They have their choice, but only after the treaty is signed. 

 If there is no treaty made, scrip cannot be given. After the 



