19th The CentuQr. 1842-42 179. In a letter to Chief Secretary Murdock dated January 14,1842, Lt. Co!. Napier reported that the combined population of the Nipissing and Algonquin tribes was 600. This census figure would have been based on persons known through their association with the mission at Lake of Two Mountains. Napier expected that 140 families could be induced to settle on Isle aux [See Allumettes. Document No. 251.] 180. Superintendent Hughes, upon receipt of this decision, together called representatives of the Algonquin Nipissing and Indians in order discuss to the matter. On July 11 and 12, 1842, a held council was at Lake of the Two Mountains. Hughes' record the proceedings of is dated July 12, 1842: Mter the usual ceremonies on such occasions, Nipissing Francis Ka-on-di-no-ketch, a Chief got up and addressed me on behalf of the Two nearly the following words: Tribes in Brother, We have been consulting amongst ourselves on the words the Governor General, which of our new Father you delivered to us yesterday ---concerning the proposed Settlement on Isle aux hunting Allumettes, which Spot forms grounds & on which part of our our ancestors had long ago pitched when nothing could be upon to settle, procured from the Chase. But it Father does not it appears that now our think expedient to assist his and Algonquins. red Children the Nipissingues Therefore, we shall trouble him no more on that subject. Brother, We know your good hean. and we have long have always experienced the taken in the Welfare of great interest you persuaded, your Indian Bretheren and we you will render us this last are service which we are about demand you. We have sent many Memorials, to of Brother, to our late Fathers, Governors of Canada. the different Fair promises were always performed. made us but were never .Ym1 know Brother that formerly now we miserably we were rich and independent but are poor and pitiful. (the Had we the means of paying expenses we Chiefs) would our go and throw ourselves at the Father the Governor feet of Our General, and open our the fear not being Hearts to him. But our and of admitted to his (as poverty Father his presence was the case with predecessor) is the our late explain reason that we have this day for to you, The wishes of sent you, to & your Bretheren the Nipissingues to pray of you to and Algonquins repeat them to our new Father. First---Brother, tell our Father, that although seeing we have not had the pleasure Him, we have heard a of great deal about him. We told he is good charitable he are that just, a man and that will render the Justice white children. That same to his red as to his Brother is all we ask for. SecondIy---tell him that his we red children the Nipissingues are destitute the and Algonquins of common necessaries Father) of life, that we have no one but (our to look up to for Protection, him and that we we hear of him that he are persuaded from what will take pity on us, and that justice see be rendered us. ThirdIy--- Tell him, that we beseech have Him to reference to Joint on the 9th 1840 to our Petition March the address of late his shon our Father His Predecessor and to answer thereto dated 23rd April yearS3 possession) same (which we have in in which he promises to our least doubt, render us Justice, and we have that had the Great not the his Master of Life spared him, He would keeped word. - But He Being have no more, we pray of Father, these same writings into his our new to take most serious consideration. and have every For we are cenain, reason to expect that when he carefully will fmd has examined that the demand, of His them, He just & red children the Nipissingues Algonquins are moderate. Tell and him that we only ask to be treated in the same manner 53 The Governor of Lower Canada Wldertakes to annuities communicate with the Lt. of paid to the Mississaugas. [See Gov. U.C. with reference the Document No. 243.] to 100 as our bretheren of Upper Canada who receive an annual remuneration for such of their hunting part grounds, as have been assumed by in conformity Government, to the Proclamation of Our Good Father of Blessed King George the S1. 7 Memory--- Third--- dated James's October 1763 of which we have a given to Tribes by copy our our late Father Sir William Johnson. Fourthly--- We pray our Father not lose sight to of the clandestine manner in which we have been by Mississaugas treated the (as represented in our above mentioned Petition) by late Superintendt as reported to us the Chief of Indian Department at Col. Toronto, Givins, and that our Father will be pleased to enquire into the business. Fifthly--- We also beseech our Father to be pleased to cast his Eye on the long list of squatters (sent to our Father His Predecessor by his order 27th April 1841) and to be acquiesce pleased to to our demands, in our Petition above alluded to, on this subject. Sixthly--- We pray of our Father, to be pleased after he has carefully examined said Petition & our to have the goodness to give his Nipissingues red children the and Algonquins detailed answer thereto, which we & are persuaded, from our moderate Just demands can be but favourable has to us. We ask what been to all Tribes of granted Indians in similar cases and what we are Justly Entitled to. Brother--- This is all have to we say. Tell our Father that the wishes and of his Red Nipissingues Prayers Children the and Algonquins the of Life long are Great Master may protect Him and His family and assist him undertakings. in all his [Document No. 253] 181. On July 17, 1842, a of formerly group Indians, of the Lake of Two Mountains, addressed the following petition to the Governor General, Sir Charles Bagot: The petition of Peter Shawanipinessi one of the Indians of the Lake of the Two Mountains Tribe humbly - sheweth: That your petitioner together with the Indians other of the same tribe with their families have long spend been accustomed to the hunting season in the tract of country embraced within the limits of the townships of Bedford,54 Oso and South Sherbrooke---and now that their natural means of subsistence have become precarious by reason of the settlement of the country, they have of late turned their attention, in part, to the cultivation of Corn and potatoes, and are now anxious to be protected, by Your Excellency in Council, in occupation the of a limited tract of land townships they within these whereon may be allowed to is support their families and as the land of a very hope poor quality, your Petitioners they will not be refused. Referring Your Excellency in Council to Mr. Morris of Perth and Mr. Kingston of Bedford for further particulars, and Your Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray ... DDocumentNo.256] 182. Five days later, on July 22, 1842, Mr. N. Morris of Perth55 forwarded the petition to A. R. Morrison at Government House requesting: May I beg that have you will the goodness to lay the before Excellency accompanying petition His the Governor General in Council. Mr. Morris also added the following comments to the petition: I have known Peter Shawanipinessi for upwards of twenty five years [since 1817] and I consider him his and companions as well entitled indulgence which the to any Government may think proper to extend to them. 54 Bedford is south of the height of land. while Oso and S. Sherbrooke 55 are within the Ottawa River watershed. Perth, is Ontario, located north of Big Rideau Lake, about 30 is miles northeast of the township of Bedford. within the Ottawa River watershed. It 101 The greater part of the land where they reside is a Compliance wholly unfit for with the prayer the cultivation and with settlement of petition will not in the of the townships any manner interfere referred to. [Document~0.259] 183. The economic distress of the Algonquins and ~ipissings growing was reflected by the number of these Indians collecting annual presents. For example, December 7, 1842, Superintendent on Hughes sent the fOllOwing observations the matter to Lt. Co!. ~apier: on The apparent great increase of the Tribes in who are stationed this District, particularly at the Lake of the of those as far as lays two Mountains, I will in my power - endeavour to explain, Missionaries from the information I have at that Station, obtained from the Nipissingue as well as from the principal & Algonquin Chiefs of the Tribes - Tribes The increase of the now annually visitiJli population of these the village for these number of families two years just of these Tribes not proceeds from a Issues - making their at the - Lake for several appearance at the general general rule these years, prior to 1840 (of according families were not course to the presents) they being entered in the annual at too a return to receive great distance from the village, grounds, where they had it then, on their hunting & in their furrs peltries, much power, to procure from their hunts more than the value of their appears that these two 1841 annual presents _ But it families, years past & the the 42, greater part of from ruined state of their hunting these very Beaver, grounds & the martins, deer &C.