The Robinson-Huron Treaty, 1850 |
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Original Source: Indian Treaties and Surrenders: From 1680 to 1890 Vol. I-II (Ottawa: Brown Chamberlin [Queen's Printer], 1891) |
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This Agreement,
made and entered into this ninth day of September, in the year of Our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fifty, at Sault St. Marie, in the province
of Canada, between the Honorable William Benjamin Robinson, of the one part,
on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, and Shinguacouse, Nebenaigoching, Keokouse,
Mishequonga, Tagawinini, Shabokeshick, Dokis, Ponekeosh, Windawtegowinini,
Shawenakeshick, Namassin, Naoquagabo, Wabakekek, Kitchipossegun by Papasainse,
Wagemake, Pamequonaishumg, Chiefs, and John Bell, Paqwutchinini, Mashekyash,
Idowkesis, Waquacomiek, Ocbeek, Metigomin, Watachewana, Minwawapenasse, Shenaoquom,
Ouingegun, Panaissy, Papasainse, Ashewasega, Kageshewawetung, Shawonebin,
and also Chief Maisquaso (also Chiefs Muckata, Mishoquet and Mekis), and
Mishoquetto, and Asa Waswanay and Pawiss, Principal Men of the Ojibiway Indians
inhabiting and claiming the eastern and northern shores of Lake Huron from
Penetanguishene to Sault Ste. Marie, and thence to Batchewanaung Bay on the
northern shore of Lake Superior, together with the islands in the said lakes
opposite to the shores thereof, and inland to the height of land which separates
the territory covered by the charter of the Honorable Hudson's Bay Company
from Canada, as well as all unconceded lands within the limits of Canada
West to which they have any just claim, of the other part, Witnesseth: that
for and in consideration of the sum of two thousand pounds of good and lawful
money of Upper Canada to them in hand paid, and for the further perpetual
annuity of six hundred pounds of like money, the same to be paid and delivered
to the said Chiefs and their tribes at a convenient season of each year,
of which due notice will be given, at such places as may be appointed for
that purpose; they the said Chiefs and Principal Men, on behalf of their
respective tribes or bands, do hereby fully, freely and voluntarily surrender,
cede, grant and convey unto Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors for ever,
all their right, title, and interest to and in the whole of the territory
above described, save and except the reservations set forth in the schedule
hereunto annexed, which reservations shall be held and occupied by the said
Chiefs and their tribes in common for their own use and benefit; and should
the said Chiefs and their respective tribes at any time desire to dispose
of any part of such reservations, or of any mineral or other valuable productions
theron, the same will be sold or leased at their request by the Superintendent
General of Indian Affairs for the time being, or other officer having authority
so to do, for their sole benefit and to the best advantage. And the said
Willim Benjamin Robinson, of the first part, on behalf of Her Majesty and
the Government of this Province, hereby promises and agrees to make or cause
to be made the payments as before mentioned; and further, to allow the said
Chiefs and their tribes the full and free privilege to hunt over the territory
now ceded by them, and to fish in the waters thereof, as they have heretofore
been in the habit of doing, saving and excepting such portions of the said
territory as may from time to time be sold or leased to individuals or companies
of individuals and occupied by them with the consent of the Provincial Government.
The parties of the second part further promise and agree that they will not
sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any portion of their reservations without
the consent of the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, or other officer
of like authority, being first had and obtained; nor will they at any time
hinder or prevent persons from exploring or searching for minerals or other
valuable productions in any part of the territory hereby ceded to Her Majesty
as before mentioned. The parties of the second part also agree that in case
the Government of this Province should, before the date of this agreement,
have sold, or bargained to sell, any mining locations or other property on
the portions of the territory hereby reserved for their use, then and in
that case such sale or promise of sale shall be perfected by the Government,
if the parties claiming it shall have fulfilled all the conditions upon which
such locations were made, and the amount accruing therefrom shall be paid
to the tribe to whom the reservation belongs. The said William Benjamin Robinson,
on behalf of Her Majesty, Who desires to deal liberally and justly wth all
Her subjects, further promises and agrees that should the territory hereby
ceded by the parties of the second part at any future period produce such
an amount as will enable the Government of this Province, without incurring
loss, to increase the annuity hereby secured to them, then an in that case
the same shall be augmented from time to time, provided that the amount paid
to each individual shall not exceed the sum of one pound Provincial currency
in any one year, or such further sum as Her Majesty may be graciously pleased
to order; and provided further that the number of Indians entitled to the
benefit of this treaty shall amount to two-thirds of their present number,
which is fourteen hundred and twenty-two, then the said annuity shall be
diminished in proportion to their actual numbers. The
said William Benjamin Robinson, of the first part, further agrees on the
part of Her Majesty and the Government of this Province that in consequence
of the Indians inhabiting French River and Lake Nipissing having become parties
to this treaty the further sum of one hundred and sixty pounds Provincial
currency shall be paid in addition to the two thousand pounds above mentioned.
SCHEDULE of reservations made by the above named subscribing Chiefs and Principal men: 1st. Pamquonaishcung
and his band, a tract of land to commence seven miles from the mouth of the
River Maganetawang and extending six miles east and west by three miles north.
2nd. Wagemake
and his band, a tract of land to commence at a place called Nehicksheeshing,
six miles from east to west by three miles in depth. 3rd. Kitcheposkissegun
(by Papasainse), from Point Grondine, westward, six miles inland by two miles
in front, so as to include the small Lake Nessinassung (a tract for themselves
and their bands). 4th. Wabakekik, three miles front, near Shebawenaning, by five miles inland, for himself and band. 5th. Namassin
and Naoquagabo and their bands, a tract of land commencing near La Cloche,
at the Hudson Bay Company's boundary; thence westerly to the mouth of Spanish
River; then four miles up the south bank of said river and across to the
place of beginning. 6th. Shawinakeshick
and his band, a tract of land now occupied by them and contained between
two rivers called White Fish River and Wanabitisebe, seven miles inland.
7th. Windawtegowinini and his band, the peninsula east of Serpent River and formed by it, now occupied by them. 8th. Ponekeosh and his band, the land contained between the River Mississaga and the River Penebewabecong, up to the first rapids. 9th. Dokis and his band, three miles square at Wanabeyakoknun, near Lake Nipissing, and the island near the fall of Okickendawt. 10th. Shabokishick
and his band, from their present planting grounds on Lake Nipissing to the
Hudson's Bay Company's Post, six miles in depth. 11th. Tagawinini and his band, two miles square at 'Wanabitibing -- a place about forty miles inland, near Lake Nipissing. 12th. Keokonse and his band, four miles from Thessalon River eastward by four miles inland. 13th. Mishwquanga and his band, two miles on the lakeshore, east and west of Ogawaminang, by one mile inland. 14th. For
Shingwacouse and his band, a tract of land extending from Maskinong Bay,
inclusive, to Partridge Point, above Garden River, on the front, and inland
ten miles throughout the whole distance, and also Squirrel Island. 15th. For
Nebenaigoching and his band, a tract of land (extending from Wanabekinegunning
west of Gros Cap to the boundary of the lands ceded by the Chiefs of Lake
Superior and inland ten miles throughout the whole distance, including Batchewanaung
Bay), and also the small island at Sault Ste. Marie used by them as a fishing
station. |
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Signed, sealed and delivered at Sault Ste. Marie, the day and year first above written, in presence of ASTLEY P. COOPER, Capt. R. Bde., GEORGE IRONSIDE, S.I. Affairs, T.M. BALFOUR, 2nd Lt. Rifie Bde., ALLAN MACDONELL, GEO. JOHNSTON, Interpreter, LOUIS CADOT, J.B. ASSIKINOCK, T.W. KEATING, JOS. WILSON, PENETANGUISHENE 16th Sept. 1850. Witness to the signatures of MUCKATA MISHAQUET, MEKIS, MISHOQUETTE, ASA WASWANAY and PAWIS, T.G. ANDERSON, S.I.A., W.B. HAMILTON, W. SIMPSON, ALFRED A. THOMPSON |
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SHINGUAKOUCE NEBENAIGOCHING KEOKONSE, X MISHEQUAONGA, X TAGAWININI, X SHABOKESHUK, X DOKIS, X PONEKEOSH, X WINDAWTEGOWININI, X SHAWENAKESHICK, X NAMASSIN, X MUCKATA MISHAQUET, X MEKIS, X MAISQUASO, X NAOQUAGABO, X WABOKEKIK, X KITCHIPOSSEGUN, X by PAPASAINSE WAGEMAKE, X PAMEQUONAISHCUNG, X JOHN BELL, X PAQWATCHININI, X MASHEKYASH, X IDOWE-KESIS, X WAQUACOMIEK, X MISHOQUETTO, X ASA WASWANAY, X PAWISS, X W. B. ROBINSON OCHEEK, X METIGOMIN, X MIMEWAWAPENASSE, X SHENAOQUM, X ONINGEGUN, X PANAISSY, X PAPASINSE, X ASHEWASEGA, X SHAWONEBIN, X KAGISHEWAWETUNG by BABONEUNG |
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Reservations continued: For
Chief Mekis and his band, residing at Wasaquising (Sandy Island), a tract
of land at a place on the main shore opposite the island, being the place
now occupied by them for residence and cultivation, four miles square. For
Chief Muckata Mishaquet and his band, a tract of land on the east side of
the River Maishcouteong, near Pointe aux Barils, three miles square, and
also a small tract in Washanwenega Bay, now occupied by a part of the band,
three miles square. Recorded in the office, of the Provincial Registrar, this 22nd day of November, in Lib. "C.M. Miscellaneous," Folio 1,&c. R.A. TUCKER, Registrar. |
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