Saulteaw land use within the Interîake Region of Manitoba: 1842- 187 1 BY Yale Deron Belanger A Thesis Submitted to the Department ofNative Studies and Faculty of Graduate Studies in Partial Fdfïhent of the Requirements For the Degree of Interdiscipluiary Master of Arts in Native Studies At The University of Manitoba Department of Native Studies, Political Studies and Anthropology University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba August 28,2000 O Yale Belanger National Library Bibliothèque nationale I*m of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellingtorr Ottawa ON Kl A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sel1 reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. 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THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACULT'Y OF CRADUATE STUDES ***** COPYRIGHT PERMISSION PAGE Saulteaur Land Use within the Interlake Rcgion of Manitoba: 1842-1871 Yale Deron Belanger A Thesis/Practicum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of WTEROF ARTS YALE DERON BELANGER O 2000 Permission has been grrnted to the Libnry of The University of Manitoba to lend or seil copies of this thesis/practicum, to the National Librrry of Canada to microfilm this thesis/practicum and to lend or seU copies of the Nm, and to Dissertrtions Abstracts International to pubüsh an abstract of this thesidprrcticum. The author reserves otber publication rights, and neither this thesis/practicum nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or othemise reproduced witbout the author's written permission. 1 Table of Contents List of Figures Abstract Chapter 8: introduction 1. I Overview 1.2 Parameters 1.3 Limitations Chapter II: Methodology and Methods 2.1 Overview 2.2 Methodology: Ethnohistory 2.3 Methods in this study 2.4 Mapping 3.5 Ethnolog Review Chapter III: Literature Review 3.1 Interlake Setting Chapter IV: Change and Deveiopment in the Fairford Area: 1842-1871 1ntroduction Extended missionary contact afier 1 842 Cowley's introduction to Saulteaux [and use Ceremonial land use Retum of the Hudson3 Bay Company to Fairford Interlake Prophecy: 1850- 185 1 Stagg replaces Cowley: 1854- 1867 Hale replaces Stagg: 1 867- 1 870 Concl usion Chapter V: Discussion 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Water CIaims 5 -3 Contact with Hind and Saulteaux Metaphysics 5 -4 I nter-tni trading and hunting territories 5.5 Conclusion Chapter VI: Cooclusioa 6.1 Summary 6 -2 Use of ethnohistory methodology and territorial definition 6.3 Conclusion References Cited ... UI List of Figures 1 87 1 Reserve request of the Faord Saulteaux Reserve Request Boundary Location of Kisaskatchewan River Chie f Papernas's Temtorial Claim Where a Manitou was thought to reside Reserve request of the Fairford Saulteaw Interlake Region water access routes Chief Papernas's territorial CMcompared to 1871 reserve reqwst Steep Rock Point: Home of the Little Men Inter- triitrading and hunting territories Hunting tehories Eaent of land use beyond 1 87 1 reserve request boundary Arc hibald Map Saulteaux land use within reserve request boundary Resewe received compared to reserve request Acknowledgmea ts Writ ing this thesis has not been a individual effort as the sole authorship might impty. In fact, the support 1 received 6om a number of people during the last eighteen months was integral to the completion of this project. 1 would We to acknowledge the assistance provided by my thesis cornmittee: my advisor Dr. Chrk Trott, Dr. Marek Debicki, Ciiffiord Anderson of the lnteriake Reserves Tnbal Council (IRTC) for his continued support and tour of the region, and, in particular, Dr. Leigh Syms of the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature, whose patience and assistance heiped shape this p roject throughout the writing process and subsequent revisions. 1 owe sincere thanks to many other scholars who provided me with a soiid foundation in Native American Studies at the University of Lethbridge, many of whom continue to foUo w my advancement: Dr. Leroy Little Bear, h.Craig Woniack, and Professor Russell Barsh Special thanks to Dr. AEed Young Mm my teacher, my Giend, and my most vocal supporter of the bst five years and a man who provided me with advice and words of encouragement during the darkest hours this project. To Carolyn Lastuka, t hanks for the unofficial mail box and our discussions which forced me to see that there were events happening beyond the University's confines that affèct us ali. Also, 1 appreciate the tirne Skip Koolage took fiom his schedule to discuss the politics that surround such univenity-based projects; and to Liz Barron, thank-you for involving me with a project that has opened my eyes to what is cwently ocfurring in Manitoba's Abonginal comrnunities, a side of Me that many scholars oRen do not get the opportunity v to see. This study could not have been conducted without the permission of the Hudson's Bay Company to research in and quote from their archives; without the finançial assistance provided by ô University of Manitoba Graduate Feiiowship; or without the permission to conduct archive researc h pertaining to the Lake St. Martin region granted by the IRTC. 1 am ,gatefùl to the University of Manitoba, Inter-Universities North and the University of Lethbridge for the providing me with the opportunity to teach a number of undergraduate classes du~gthe iast twelve months, an experience that has taught me much about patience, how to better express myself, as weii as the oppodtyto visit and rneet many interesting and 6-iendIy people throughout western Canada. Findy, 1 would Like to thank my extended fàmiiy for their encouragement and furthering their own understanding of Aboriginal issues in Canada. To rny wife, Tammie- Jai my true love and the inspiration behind my work - thank-you for king part of my We. Abstract The purpose of this research is to ident* and map Fairford Saulteaux land use in the Interlake Region of Manitoba between 1 842- 1 87 1 using archival source material. This the period has ken descriid as one of declining opportunities, yet the Saulteaux were able to persist in this environment. A series of rnaps demonstrating land use patterns were produced to give a clearer sense of how the Fairfiord Saulteaux came to define and specifically demarcate their territory Cbapter 1: lntroductioa In 187 1, seventy Sauheaux fiorn the Lake St. Martin region in central Manitoba indicated to the Canadian government their desire for a formai treaty, stating an interest to seU theK land in return for a reserve (Figure 1.1) in anticipation of upcorning treaty negotiations (Provincial Archives of Manitoba 1 87 1). In retuni for this wucession, the Saulteaux demanded protection of their 6s- and huntïng rights as weli as the right to cut timber within the region Also requested was the creation of "a very Large reserve" (Tough 1994: 86), a rquest that was not uncornmon during this period. What is important about this request made by the seventy Sauheaux is that specik bouadaries cmbe derived fiom their correspondence Hidicating a very chunderstanding of where kirtraditional lands lay (Figure 1.2). The Sauiteaux utiiïzed the land base surrounding Lake St. Martia for camping and fishing, gardening, sugar production and religious ceremonies (Peers 1994, 1991, 1987). Saulteaux iand use patterns were conceived aamrding to their local economy which requned the maintenance of subsistence hunting and fïshing wbk they incorporated the mmworthwhile aspects of the mercantile ecowmy, or the fur trade, since the amival of the North West Company in 1 795 (HBCA B5 1 /dl ). The Hudson's Bay Company took over thk post following theu merger with the North West Company in 182 1, and by 1842 the Anglican Church had estabiished a mission a few miles fiom the post. By 1 842, seasonal camps had been established at the trading post site as Church 2 Missionq Society (CMS) officials began to build the region's first permanent structures at their Lake St. Martin mission site. 1t was during the period 1842- 187 1 that the Saulteaux began to view the Fairford Mission as a site of importance. a location that was also a centre of comrnunicat ions linking the broad Interlake Region (Brown 1985: 1). The Saulteaux during this the also developed precise ideas of their temtory's outer boundaries as evidenced by the 1871 request. This tirne penod is one in which neighboring groups throughout the Interlake Region were forced to expand hunting territories, thereby increasing cornpetition for resources amonç all groups. This would have affected the Fairford Saulteaux forcing them to determine how much temtory they required for theu day-to-day activities. By 1 8 7 1 . the Fairford Saulteawr economy had evolved to the point that local resources were utilized in combination with trade with the Hudson's Bay Company to provide a cornfortable Iifestyle (Peers 1994, 1987, Tough 1994). The purpose of this research is to identm and map Fairford Saulteaux land use in thc Interlake Region of Manitoba during this transition period 1 842- 1 87 1.