TREATY AT LESSER SLAVE LAKE CI 



Me. Laird : " You will get the money for all your chil- 

 dren under age, and not married, just the same as if they 

 were here." 



The Captain : " I speak for all those in my part of the 

 country." 



Me. Laied : " I am sorry the rest of your people are not 

 here. If here next year their claims will not be overlooked." 



The Captain : " I am old now. It is indirectly through 

 the Queen that we have lived. She has supplied in a man- 

 ner the sale shops through which we have lived. Others 

 may think I am foolish for speaking as I do now. Let them 

 think as they like. I accept. When I was young I was an 

 able man and made my living independently. But now I 

 am old and feeble and not able to do much." 



Me. Eoss : " I will just answer a few questions that have 

 been put. Keenooshayo has said that he cannot see how 

 it will benefit you to take treaty. As all the rights you now 

 have will not be interfered with, therefore anything you get 

 in addition must be a clear gain. The white man is bound 

 to come in and open up the country, and we come before 

 him to explain the relations that must exist between you, 

 and thus prevent any trouble. You say you have heard 

 what the Commissioners have said, and how you wish to 

 live. We believe that men who have lived without help 

 heretofore can do it better when the country is opened up. 

 Any fur they catch is worth more. That comes about from 

 competition. .You will notice that it takes more boats to 

 bring in goods to buy your furs than it did formerly. We 

 think that as the rivers and lakes of this country will be the 

 principal highways, good boatmen, like yourselves, cannot 

 fail to make a good living, and profit from the increase in 

 traffic. We are much pleased that you have some cattle. It 

 will be the duty of the Commissioners to recommend the 

 Government, through the Superintendent-General of Indian 

 Affairs, to give you cattle of a better breed. You say that 

 you consider that you have a right to say something about 



