Fort Chipewyan. Alta.,
April.16th.1926.
To The Honorable Charles Cross Esq, KC.MP.,
Bank of Nova Scotia Bldg,
Edmonton. Alte.
MEMORANDUM.
Re the setting-apart of a New Buffalo Park or the establishing of an annex to the existing Wood Buffalo Park; which is to be situated in the terrain North of the Quartre Fourches River, and on the West shore of Lake Mamiwi, North of Hay River and Lake Claire.
The Residents of this District; Indians, Half-Breeds and Whites, have learned with alarm, of a report which is said to have emanated from Mr. John A. McDougal, Superintendent of The Fort Smith Wood-Buffalo Park of the proposed establishment of a new Buffalo Park, or of an annex to that one now in existence; which is to be within the boundaries of the above-described area.
So unnecessary is any such establishment in the area in question, and so harmful would it ultimately prove to be to those now resident in that area and vicinity that we pray that the above-described terrain shall under no circumstances be set apart as a Buffalo Park, or as an annex to The Fort Smith Wood-Buffalo Park.
Specifically the grounds for our petition are as follows:-
(1). From time immemorial this has been the hunting, trapping and fishing ground of the Cree Band of Treaty Indians. As you are doubtless aware when the Treaty was first made with this Band, the members of it were given the solemn assurance-“That they would be as free to hunt and fish “after the signing of the Treaty, as if they had never entered upon it (Vide Treaty Commissioner’s Report. Page 4). On the strength of this assurance, and trusting in the pledged word of His Majesty’s Treaty Commissioner; for some twenty-eight years, subject to such restrictions as the Federal and Provincial Governments have imposed; this Band has been in peaceable possession of the above-mentioned area, and following there the Indian mode of life.
(2). For a number of years past the Cree and Chipewyan Bands of Indians have endeavored to induce the Government to set aside a Hunting and Trapping Preserve, but, so far, without any tangible result.
If, at this late date, and for the reason that newly imported Buffalo have strayed from the Wood Buffalo Park; to points south of the Peace River, the district in question is established as a Dominion Park, and this in spite of the fact that the Indians have neither molested or injured the Buffalo; the impression will very readily gain ground, and most tenaciously be held, that the Government attaches more importance to the welfare of the Buffalo than it does to that of the Indians.
(3). While the amount of relief issued to these Indians by the Government is of considerable magnitude; if their hunting and trapping is restricted or prohibited in the above area, starvation will result, they will become a public charge, which can only be met in one way that is from the taxes, which every-one desires to see reduced rather than increased.
(4). Apart from the Indians; the Half-Breeds and Whites who are voters and for whom this Memorandum speaks, have well-founded and time-established rights. For this has always been one of our shooting-grounds to which we could repair for the purpose of supplying ourselves with Geese and Ducks for our winter consumption. This is a most vital [document torn] to the people here, and we feel that having learned of our rights and desires, the Government will protect the straying Buffalo without making conditions of life harder for us by setting aside the proposed areas. Such protection can be most adequately secured by the posting of notices in conspicuous places warning the Indians, Half-Breeds and whites alike under the most severe penalties to refrain from molesting or injuring the straying animals. We know that this will prove to be sufficient deterrent.
We pray that this our petition be granted.
[Signatures]