324 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



to like the idea of their being taught by a native of 

 a different origin. This is an important point to be 

 observed in the selection of native missionaries. The 

 school, however, appears here, as elsewhere among In- 

 dian tribes, to be the only sure ground for establishing 

 the true faith among them. " Teach my children for 

 two or three years, but let me follow the ways of my 

 fathers," said the son of the chief of the Sandy Hills to 

 me. Many expressed a wish that their little ones should 

 know the white man's cunning, and learn to cultivate the 

 soil, but they would stipulate to remain themselves still 

 the wild prairie Indians, hunting the buffalo, and occa- 

 sionally tasting the savage excitement of war. 



It is a wrong policy to send a Swampy Cree among the 

 Plain Crees, or an Ojibway amongst the Crees, as a teacher 

 and minister of religion. These highly sensitive and 

 jealous people do not willingly accept gifts or favours 

 which involve any recognition of mental superiority in 

 the donor from one not of their own kindred, language, 

 and blood ; although he may be of their own race. An 

 Ojibway remains always an Ojibway, and a Swampy Cree 

 a Swampy Cree, in the eyes of the haughty and indepen- 

 dent children of the prairies, and they will never acknow- 

 ledge or respect them as teachers of the " white man's 

 religion." 



Several of my half-breeds appeared to think that Mr. 

 Settee would have troublesome times, and that he would 

 not be able to make much impression among the Plain 

 Crees. What has to be done must be done soon, the 

 time is short and the race is fast passing away ; in 

 another generation we shall probably lament the dis- 

 appearance of a tribe which twenty years ago could 

 muster one thousand mounted warriors, and who, in all 

 the pride and barbarous pomp of Indian display, were 



