Treaty 6 (Plain-Language Summary)

History

Since 1871, some Plains Indigenous peoples were interested in a treaty. They thought a treaty could protect them. Settlers were coming to the region. So, they worried about losing land. Also, they feared the loss of the bison. Bison were disappearing. In time, the bison almost went extinct. Since Indigenous peoples on the Plains relied on the bison for nourishment, they worried about starvation.

Ottawa did not want a treaty at first. This changed in 1875. A group of Cree people stopped surveyors in North Saskatchewan. The surveyors were responsible for learning about the land to prepare for settlement. The government then agreed to negotiate a treaty.

Negotiations began at Fort Carlton. Alexander Morris was the lieutenant governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories. He served as a lead negotiator for the government. A problem occurred soon after negotiations started. Morris mentioned reserves. Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker), a Cree leader, said the land belonged to his people. He was opposed to reserves. Some Cree supported him. Two important leaders, Chief Mistawasis and Chief Ahtahkakoop, disagreed. They had more power than Pitikwahanapiwiyin and believed their people needed help. The bison were disappearing, and settlers were coming. A treaty was eventually signed on 23 August 1876.

The treaty had many terms. Most of the terms were the same as Treaties 1 to 5 (see Treaties 1 and 2; Treaty 3; Treaty 4; Treaty 5). One new term was that the Indian agent on the reserve would have a “medicine chest.” This medicine chest would be used in times of illness and disease. Additionally, the government promised to provide extra farming equipment. It also promised to protect the people from famine and pestilence.

Next, negotiators went to Fort Pitt. The Chiefs signed the same treaty that was signed at Fort Carlton. They believed it could help their people. However, Chief Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear), was suspicious. He learned that Treaties 1 to 5 did not help the Indigenous peoples who signed them. He was certain that signing Treaty 6 would prove to be a bad decision for his people. He believed they would lose their land, resources and freedom. Initially, he did not sign the treaty. Neither did Chief Minahikosis. Later, both Chiefs signed.

Treaty Terms

The Indigenous chiefs who signed the treaty gave Ottawa rights to their land. In effect, the federal government now controlled the land. In return, all chiefs were to receive $25 every year. All headmen would receive $15 per year. All others would get $5 a year. In addition to this, all band members would receive one payment of $12. Reserves included one square mile per family of five. Also, the government promised schools. Moreover, the government also promised to provide farming equipment, livestock and horses. Furthermore, Indigenous peoples would be able to continue hunting, trapping and fishing on reserve lands. Later, chiefs from other bands in Saskatchewan and Alberta signed Treaty 6.

Treaty Six: Varied Interpretations

Many people think that the treaty was not conducted by the government in good faith. For one, the Chiefs who signed the treaty did not understand the terms. They did not know they were giving up their land. They believed that they would be sharing the land. There are also arguments that the medicine chest in Treaty 6 represents equal and full access to health care. Recently, some Treaty 6 peoples have taken the federal and provincial governments to court. One of the reasons they did so is because companies who are extracting, or want to extract resources, are threatening their ability to hunt, trap and fish on their lands.