Adhesion Terms
WE, the undersigned Chiefs and Headmen, on behalf of ourselves and the other members of the Deer Lake, Fort York and Fort Churchill Bands of Indians, having had communication of the Treaty with certain Bands of Saulteaux and Swampy Cree Indians, known as Treaty No. 5, hereby in consideration of the provisions of the said Treaty being extended to us, it being understood and agreed that the said provisions shall not be retroactive, transfer, surrender and relinquish to His Majesty the King, his heirs and successors, to and for the use of the Government of Canada, all our right, title and privileges whatsoever, which we have or enjoy in the territory described in the said Treaty, and every part thereof, to have and to hold to the use of His Majesty the King, and his heirs and successors forever.
And we also hereby transfer, surrender and relinquish to His Majesty the King, His heirs and successors, to and for the use of the Government of the Dominion of Canada, all our right, title and interest whatsoever which we and the said Bands which we represent hold and enjoy, or have held and enjoyed, of, in and to the territory within the following limits; All that portion of the North West Territories of Canada comprised within the following limits, that is to say; commencing where the sixtieth parallel of latitude intersects the water’s edge of the West shore of Hudson Bay, thence West along the said parallel to the North East corner of the Province of Saskatchewan, thence south along the East boundary of the said Province to the Northerly limit of the Indian treaty number Five, thence North Easterly, then South Easterly, then South Westerly and again south Easterly following the northerly limit of the said Treaty Number Five to the intersection of a line drawn from the North East corner of the Province of Manitoba, North Fifty five degrees East; thence on the said line produced fifty miles; thence North twenty-five degrees East one hundred and eighty miles more or less to a point situated due South of Cape Tatnam, thence due North ninety-eight miles more or less to the said Cape Tatnam; thence South Westerly and then Northerly following the water’s edge of the West shore of Hudson Bay to the point of commencement, together with all the foreshores, and Islands adjacent to the said described tract of land, and containing approximately an area of one hundred and thirty-three thousand four hundred (133,400) square miles.
And also, all our right, title and interest whatsoever to all other lands wherever situated, whether within the limits of any other treaty heretofore made, or hereafter to be made with the Indians, and whether the said lands are situated in the North West Territories or elsewhere in His Majesty’s Dominions, to have and to hold the same unto and for the use of His Majesty the King, His heirs and successors forever. And we hereby agree to accept the several benefits, payments and reserves promised to and accepted by the Indians adhering to the said Treaty No. 5. And we solemnly engage to abide by, carry out and fulfil all the stipulations, obligations and conditions therein contained on the part of the Chiefs and Indians therein named to be observed and performed, and we agree in all things to conform to the articles of the said Treaty, as if we ourselves and the Bands which we represent had been originally contracting parties thereto and had attached our signatures to the said Treaty.
And His Majesty hereby agrees to set apart Reserves of land of a like proportionate area to those mentioned in the original Treaty No. 5.
And His Majesty further hereby agrees to provide a grant proportionate to that mentioned in the original Treaty to be yearly and every year expended by His Majesty in the purchase of ammunition and twine for nets for the use of the said Indians; and to further increase this annual grant in lieu of other supplies provided by the said Treaty when this action is shown to be in the interests of the Indians.
And His Majesty further agrees to pay to each Indian a gratuity of Five Dollars in cash, once for all, in addition to the Five Dollars annuity promised by the Treaty in order to show the satisfaction of His Majesty with the behaviour and good conduct of his Indians and in extinguishment of all their past claims.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, His Majesty’s Special Commissioner and the Chiefs and Councillors of the Bands hereby giving their adhesion to the said Treaty have hereunto subscribed and set their hands at Deer’s Lake East this ninth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ten.
An account of the Treaty talks at Deer Lake was also afforded in the Manitoba Free Press on September 26, 1910:
Commissioner Explains Treaty
All these Indians appeared to be very glad to see the treaty party which came into sight with the Union Jack flying from the Commissioners canoe. A space on the river bank had been cleared for the party’s use and surrounded with a substantial fence. Here tents were pitched and the ceremony of treaty making performed. The Commissioner, through an interpreter talked to the Indians precisely as if they were children, and it was in truth the only possible way to which to talk to them. He delivered to them greetings and a message of good will from the great White King, who, he assured the Indians, wished them well and was desirous of seeing them improve their position. What the treaty entailed was then explained to the Indians in simple language. They would give up their right to the land. In exchange they would be paid five dollars a head per annum as long as the sun shone. The King would give them a reserve which would become their property. At treaty time each year the King would give them all a free meal and leave a supply of bacon, flour and tea with the Chief for the destitute members of the band. The King would give them also every year a quantity of fishing tackle and of powder and shot. A school would be maintained for them. Further the band would be provided with saws, planes and other carpentering tools, also with spades and axes.1
