REVISION OF TREATIES NUMBERS ONE AND TWO
Copy of a report of a Committee of the Honorable the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency the Governor-General in Council, on the 30th April, 1875.
On a memorandum dated 27th April, 1875, from the Honorable the Minister of the Interior, bringing under consideration the very unsatisfactory
state of affairs arising out of the so called "outside promises" in connection with the Indian Treaties Numbers One and Two--Manitoba and North-West Territories--concluded, the former on the 3rd August, 1871, and the latter on 21st of the same month, and recommending for the reasons stated:
1st. That the written memorandum attached to Treaty Number One be considered as part of that treaty and of Treaty Number Two, and that the Indian Commissioner be instructed to carry out the promises therein contained in so far as they have not yet been carried out, and that the Commissioner be advised to inform the Indians that he has been authorized so to do.
2nd. That the Indian Commissioner be instructed to inform the Indians, parties to Treaties Numbers One and Two, that, while the Government cannot admit their claim to anything which is not set forth in the treaty and in the memorandum attached thereto, which treaty is binding alike upon the Government and upon the Indians, yet, as there seems to have been some misunderstanding between the Indian Commissioner and the Indians in the matter of Treaties Numbers One and Two, the Government out of good feeling to the Indians and as a matter of benevolence, is willing to raise the annual payment to each Indian under Treaties Numbers One and Two from three dollars to five dollars per annum, and make payment over and above such sum of five dollars, of twenty dollars each and every year to each Chief, and a suit of clothing every three years to each Chief and each head man, allowing two head men to each band; on the express understanding, however, that each Chief or other Indian who shall receive such increased annuity or annual payment shall be held to abandon all claim whatever against the Government in connection with the so called "outside promises" other than those contained in the memorandum attached to the treaty.
The committee submit the foregoing recommendation for Your Excellency's approval.
(Signed) W. A. HIMSWORTH,
Clerk, Privy Council.
Certified:
W. A. HIMSWORTH,
Clerk, Privy Council.