One cause of delay at the Lake of the Woods arose from the circumstance of there being a number of aspirants to the office of Chief; but at Shebandowan I had no such difficulty, for the whole of the bands east of the narrows of Rainy Lake, are under three principal Chiefs, whose authority is unquestioned.
The names of these Chiefs and their respective districts are as follows:
Pay-ba-ma-chas, Chief of the country intervening between the narrows of Rainy Lake and Sturgeon Falls, and of the region drained by the River Seine and its tributary streams, between the latter place (Sturgeon Falls) and Lac des Mille Lacs. This is a very extensive district, and in it are many valuable groves of pine.
Ke-ba-quin, Chief of the region intervening between the present line of the Red River route and the United States boundary line, east of Rainy Lake and west of the height of land. The gold bearing country is in this Chief's district.
Metas-so-que-nes-hauk, Chief of Lac des Mille Lacs and the district to the north, lying along the height of land between that lake and the waters of the Nipegon and Lac Seul. This Chief is a very intelligent man, and has already begun, to make his people clear land and grow crops.
Each of these three principal Chiefs will have a staff of Lieutenants or subordinate Chiefs, not exceeding three to their respective bands, as provided for in the treaty but they preferred not to name them at once, saying that the selection was a matter of some delicacy to them, and requiring a little time.
In regard to the reserves provided for in the treaty, I shall as soon as possible submit a scheme which I think will meet the circumstances, and at the same time draw attention to some experience gained in negotiating with these Indians, which may be of use in similar negotiations in the future.
[Footnote: In 1874 Mr. Dawson and Mr. Pither were appointed to meet the Indians and arrange the position of the reserves, which they did; but subsequently, the Indians claiming that they had not fully understood the exact location or extent of some of the reserves, Colonel Dennis, then Surveyor-General, now Deputy Minister of the Interior, was instructed to visit the Indians comprised in Treaty Number Three, and finally adjust the question of reserves. Colonel Dennis undertook this duty in 1875 and satisfactorily arranged a scheme of reserves for the different bands of the Lake of the Woods. Colonel Dennis submitted a comprehensive report of the results of his mission, and suggested the appointment of sub-agents, the fixing of a specific day for payment to the Indians of their annuities in each agency district, that the necessary funds and the articles for distribution should be provided and in the agents' hands in good time. He advised that the local agents should have some practical knowledge of agriculture, as he believed that the Indians would succeed in raising quantities of stock, though the character of the country prevented their general success as farmers. He suggested further the erection of halls at each agency and the employment of young Indians by the builders entrusted with their construction, "as they are so quick in perception and handy in the use of tools that they would speedily become very expert." The author regrets that he did not obtain communication of this valuable report until this work had advanced too far to admit of its being incorporated with it.]
The copy of the treaty signed by these Chiefs is enclosed herewith and to it is attached a document signed by the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories, and Mr. Provencher, empowering me to act for them in their absence, in their capacity of Indian Commissioners.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) S. J. DAWSON.
THE HONORABLE THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR,
Ottawa.