TREATY AT LESSER SLAVE LAKE 59 



treaty is signed, the Commissioners will take up half-breed 

 daims. The first thing they will do is to give half-breed 

 settlers living on land 160 acres, if there is room to do so; 

 but if several are settled close together, the land will be 

 divided between them as fairly as possible. All, whether 

 settled or not, will be given scrip for land to the value of 

 $240.00, that is, all born up to the date of signing the treaty. 

 They can sell that scrip, that is, all of you can do so. They 

 can take, if they like, instead of this scrip for 240 acres, 

 lands where they like. After they have located their land, 

 and got their title, they can live on it, or sell part, or the 

 whole of it, as they please, but cannot sell the scrip. They 

 must locate their land, and get their title before selling. 



" These are the principal points in the offer we have to 

 make to you. The Queen owns the country, but is willing 

 to acknowledge the Indians' claims, and offers them terms 

 as an offset to all of them. We shall be glad to answer any 

 questions, and make clear any points not understood. We 

 shall meet you again to-morrow, after you have considered 

 our offer, say about two o'clock, or later if you wish. We 

 have other Indians to meet at other places, but we do not 

 wish to hurry you. After this meeting you can go to the 

 Hudson's Bay fort, where our provisions are stored, and 

 rations will be issiied to you of flour, bacon, tea and tobacco, 

 so that you can have a good meal and a good time. This is 

 a free gift, given with goodwill, and given to you whether 

 you make a treaty or not. It is a present the Queen is glad 

 to make to you. I am now done, and shall be glad to hear 

 what any one has to say." 



KJEENOOSHATO (The Eish) : " Tou say we are brothers. 

 I cannot understand how we are so. I live differently from 

 you. I can only understand that Indians will benefit in a 

 very small degree from your offer. You have told us you 

 come in the Queen's name. We surely have also a right to 

 say a little as far as that goes. I do not understand what 

 you say about every third year." 



