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CHAR XXXI. 



INDIAN TITLE TO RED RIVER. 



Indian Title in Canada. — Importance of the Question in Rupert's Land. — 

 Cost of Indian Wars to the United States' Government. — Advance of Settle- 

 ments towards the West. — Probability of a War with the Sioux. — Indian 

 Races occupying the Country available for present Settlement in Rupert's 

 Land. — Restlessness of these People. — The Right Hon. E. Ellice ; M.P., on 

 Indian Title in Canada. — Proclamation of 1763. — Opinion of the Canadian 

 Commissioners on Indian Affairs with Respect to Indian Title in Canada. 

 — Title to Red River. — Grant to Lord Selkirk. — Treaty between Lord 

 Selkirk and the Crees and Saulteaux of Red River. — Peguis. — His 

 Letter to the Aborigines' Protection Society. — His Address in 1859 to 

 the " Great House." — M. MacDermott's Statement. — Meeting of the Half- 

 Breeds of Red River. — Opinion respecting Indian Title. — Importance of 

 the Question. — Treaty of the Americans with the Saulteaux for the 

 northern part of Minnesota on Red River. 



The question of Indian title is one of very great in- 

 terest and importance in regard to the future peace of the 

 colony, and as much misapprehension appears to exist 

 respecting the territorial rights of different tribes of 

 Indians, and their title to the land they now claim, the 

 present condition of the question may be noticed here, 

 as far as the slender and unconnected evidence at com- 

 mand admits. In Canada much trouble, great expense, 

 and endless inquiry have been created by Indian claims, 

 which even now remain in part unsettled, and are a 

 source of many incidental expenses to the Government, 

 which might have been avoided if proper arrangements 

 had been made at the right season. In Eupert's Land, 



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