170 



ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



Thickwood Crees, Swampy Crees, Plain Crees, and Ojib- 

 ways are the Indian nations who now occupy that part of 

 Eupert's Land where settlements would first be made. 

 These nations are friendly to one another and hostile to 

 the Sioux. They are, in fact, the hunters of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company, and consequently friendly with that body, 

 who have never sought to extend the settlements of the 

 white race in Eupert's Land ; but of late years since the 

 questions relating to title to lands, annuities, and com- 

 pensation have been raised, they are becoming dissatisfied, 

 suspicious, and untrustworthy. 



The Eight Honourable Edward Ellice, M. P., in reply to 

 a question put by Mr. Christie during his examination be- 

 fore the Select Committee on the Hudson's Bay, respecting 

 the extinction of the Indian title in Eupert's Land, stated 

 that " the English Government never extinguished the 

 Indian title in Canada when they took possession ; the 

 Americans, while they have been extending their posses- 

 sions, have extinguished the Indian title, but in Canada 

 there has never been any treaty with the Indians to ex- 

 tinguish the title, the Crown, retaining certain reserves 

 for the Indians, has always insisted upon the right to 



Iowa to the mouth, of the Big Sioux on the east, on the south following 

 the Missouri river from the mouth of the Big Sioux to the mouth of the 

 Nebraska, and along the Niobarah to the one hundred and second meridian 

 of west longitude, along the hundred and second meridian to the forty-third 

 parallel north latitude, thence along the forty-third parallel to the crest 

 of the Rocky Mountains, and on the west by Washington Territory. This 

 territory will consist of about one hundred and thirty-five thousand square 

 miles. This does not include or interfere with any of the settled portions of 

 Nebraska. 



Chippewa is an entirely new territory, and is composed of the northern 

 part of Dacotah and Nebraska, bounded as follows : — The British Pos- 

 sessions on the north, Minnesota on the east, the forty-sixth parallel of 

 north latitude on the south, and Washington on the west. This will make 

 an area of about one hundred and thirty thousand square miles. 



