Herald disputes the Metis claims of injustice in the land surveys


"The Herald disputes the Metis claims of injustice in the land surveys"
Saskatchewan Herald 7/26/1884 Louis Riel is visiting all the settlements at Prince Albert and the South Branch, but so far has given no public utterances of his intentions. Rumor, however, has his work cut and dried for him, and telegrams from Prince Albert to the east give as one ground for the agitation that the Government refuses to recognize the claims of the early settlers to the land taken up by them long ago, and that in surveying the country all their rights have been ignored. So far from this being the case, the Government has put a blot on the general system of survey by laying out their claims in narrow frontage as the settlers desired. In an interview with the Sun River (Montana) Sun just before he started for the north, Riel said "he was an American citizen, and that he considered the land over which the stars and stripes waved his home, and now only went north to assist his people as much as lay in his power, and after which, be it much or little, he would return to Montana." If the programme as laid down by a South Branch man is to be acted on, we doubt if he will accomplish much. Our information says the old settlers only require that they shall be confirmed in their present holdings, that grants of land similar to the old settlers' and Half-breed commutation in Manitoba shall be given them, and that all the wood and hay land shall be reserved for their use. Modest, but we do not think the Government will grant the demands, even when urged by Louis Riel. Big Bear went east on Wednesday to confer with Riel. He has deferred going on to his reserve for the present, notwithstanding his promises of a couple of weeks ago.

"The Herald disputes the Metis claims of injustice in the land surveys"

Saskatchewan Herald
7/26/1884 Louis Riel is visiting all the settlements at Prince Albert and the South Branch, but so far has given no public utterances of his intentions. Rumor, however, has his work cut and dried for him, and telegrams from Prince Albert to the east give as one ground for the agitation that the Government refuses to recognize the claims of the early settlers to the land taken up by them long ago, and that in surveying the country all their rights have been ignored. So far from this being the case, the Government has put a blot on the general system of survey by laying out their claims in narrow frontage as the settlers desired. In an interview with the Sun River (Montana) Sun just before he started for the north, Riel said "he was an American citizen, and that he considered the land over which the stars and stripes waved his home, and now only went north to assist his people as much as lay in his power, and after which, be it much or little, he would return to Montana." If the programme as laid down by a South Branch man is to be acted on, we doubt if he will accomplish much. Our information says the old settlers only require that they shall be confirmed in their present holdings, that grants of land similar to the old settlers' and Half-breed commutation in Manitoba shall be given them, and that all the wood and hay land shall be reserved for their use. Modest, but we do not think the Government will grant the demands, even when urged by Louis Riel.
Big Bear went east on Wednesday to confer with Riel. He has deferred going on to his reserve for the present, notwithstanding his promises of a couple of weeks ago.