Editorial: the North West wants provincial status


"Editorial: the North West wants provincial status"
Prince Albert Times 12/6/1882 To the Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald Sir, according to your request the undersigned have now the honor to submit to you the following memorandum embodying the various matters of pressing importance to the people of Prince Albert, and which we discussed briefly when we had the honor of an interview with you on Thursday last. It is necessary to state that Prince Albert is the oldest purely agricultural settlement in the Territories, and now numbers about five thousand people; that it is rapidly increasing in population and importance, and has for many years been recognized as the commercial centre of the Saskatchewan country, and the only source of supply for the outlying districts westward. The oldest portion of the settlement, the part which lies along the south bank of the river, was surveyed some years ago, and is known as the special survey of the Prince Albert Settlement the survey being similar to that of the Settlement Belt in Manitoba the claims ranging from four to twenty claims, in width with a depth of two miles back from the river. Numbers of these claims are what is known as "old settlers claims" having been originally taken up by natives of the country many of whom, as on Red River, sold out to people who now claim title under them. Possessing a title which antedates that of Canada itself they believe that they are entitled to free patents for their lands, and it is not presumable that the Government will refuse to recognize at Prince Albert a title which has been considered valid and which has been fully recognized in Manitoba. * * * * * Some of the natives after having sold these old settlers claims had their names included as Indians on the Treaty list when the Treaty was negotiated. As these men sold their old settlers claims, however, before they "took treaty" as it is called on the Saskatchewan the fact that they are now "taking treaty" cannot bar the title of their transferees to free patents, as their transferees knew that they were Half-breeds, that they were original settlers, and were free to sell at the time they did like other Half-breeds and even Indians in Red River. The class of claims at Prince Albert is not numerous, but it is an important class, inasmuch as upon them is rising the town of Prince Albert, rapidly and naturally taking rank as the commercial capital of the district which surrounds it. Under instructions from the Department of the interior, statutory evidence was taken last winter by the Land Agent at Prince Albert all of which was forwarded to Ottawa with recommendation for patents. Out of these old settlers claims as yet unpatented by the Crown, numerous sales of building lots are being made ever day. Sixty thousand dollars worth of building went up upon them last summer, and probably thrice that amount would be invested in buildings this summer if the patents were issued; yet some holders of property in the absence of their patents do not like to sell and many who wish to are afraid to buy and so through no fault of the residents the place is kept back.... * * * * * Much anxiety is felt by the Half-breeds, of Prince Albert with regard to the issuing of scrip to those parties who did not participate in the distributions in Manitoba. We are sorry to observe that on this question the ground has been taken by certain eastern newspapers that it is not wise to scrip to the Half-breeds of the Territories inasmuch as it would in all probability be parted with for the most trifling considerations as in Manitoba. Now some difficulty may take place in preventing fraudulent applications being passed by parties who have already participated in that Province. But the rights of the Half-breeds of the Territories to scrip is perfectly clear to every unprejudiced individual. If this be the case then the other pretense that it will be of no benefit to them falls to the ground. Rightly or wrongly the principle was conceded in 1870 that the Half-breeds were entitled to scrip to extinguish the Indian title resting in them, and any exception to this rule would now be invidious and unjust. We are of opinion, moreover, that the Half-breed is now more conversant with the value of his scrip than formerly, and will be less likely to misapply it, or recklessly part with it for a song. In this regard we would respectfully suggest that Half-breeds who are wrongly included as "Treaty Indians" should be struck from the lists, their reserves be relegated to the Crown and that they should receive scrip, like other Half-breeds in lieu thereof.

"Editorial: the North West wants provincial status"

Prince Albert Times
12/6/1882
To the Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald
Sir, according to your request the undersigned have now the honor to submit to you the following memorandum embodying the various matters of pressing importance to the people of Prince Albert, and which we discussed briefly when we had the honor of an interview with you on Thursday last. It is necessary to state that Prince Albert is the oldest purely agricultural settlement in the Territories, and now numbers about five thousand people; that it is rapidly increasing in population and importance, and has for many years been recognized as the commercial centre of the Saskatchewan country, and the only source of supply for the outlying districts westward. The oldest portion of the settlement, the part which lies along the south bank of the river, was surveyed some years ago, and is known as the special survey of the Prince Albert Settlement the survey being similar to that of the Settlement Belt in Manitoba the claims ranging from four to twenty claims, in width with a depth of two miles back from the river. Numbers of these claims are what is known as "old settlers claims" having been originally taken up by natives of the country many of whom, as on Red River, sold out to people who now claim title under them. Possessing a title which antedates that of Canada itself they believe that they are entitled to free patents for their lands, and it is not presumable that the Government will refuse to recognize at Prince Albert a title which has been considered valid and which has been fully recognized in Manitoba.
* * * * *
Some of the natives after having sold these old settlers claims had their names included as Indians on the Treaty list when the Treaty was negotiated. As these men sold their old settlers claims, however, before they "took treaty" as it is called on the Saskatchewan the fact that they are now "taking treaty" cannot bar the title of their transferees to free patents, as their transferees knew that they were Half-breeds, that they were original settlers, and were free to sell at the time they did like other Half-breeds and even Indians in Red River. The class of claims at Prince Albert is not numerous, but it is an important class, inasmuch as upon them is rising the town of Prince Albert, rapidly and naturally taking rank as the commercial capital of the district which surrounds it. Under instructions from the Department of the interior, statutory evidence was taken last winter by the Land Agent at Prince Albert all of which was forwarded to Ottawa with recommendation for patents. Out of these old settlers claims as yet unpatented by the Crown, numerous sales of building lots are being made ever day. Sixty thousand dollars worth of building went up upon them last summer, and probably thrice that amount would be invested in buildings this summer if the patents were issued; yet some holders of property in the absence of their patents do not like to sell and many who wish to are afraid to buy and so through no fault of the residents the place is kept back....
* * * * *
Much anxiety is felt by the Half-breeds, of Prince Albert with regard to the issuing of scrip to those parties who did not participate in the distributions in Manitoba. We are sorry to observe that on this question the ground has been taken by certain eastern newspapers that it is not wise to scrip to the Half-breeds of the Territories inasmuch as it would in all probability be parted with for the most trifling considerations as in Manitoba. Now some difficulty may take place in preventing fraudulent applications being passed by parties who have already participated in that Province. But the rights of the Half-breeds of the Territories to scrip is perfectly clear to every unprejudiced individual. If this be the case then the other pretense that it will be of no benefit to them falls to the ground. Rightly or wrongly the principle was conceded in 1870 that the Half-breeds were entitled to scrip to extinguish the Indian title resting in them, and any exception to this rule would now be invidious and unjust. We are of opinion, moreover, that the Half-breed is now more conversant with the value of his scrip than formerly, and will be less likely to misapply it, or recklessly part with it for a song. In this regard we would respectfully suggest that Half-breeds who are wrongly included as "Treaty Indians" should be struck from the lists, their reserves be relegated to the Crown and that they should receive scrip, like other Half-breeds in lieu thereof.