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FILE NO. 577634

D.P

Department of the Interior

Canada

Dominion Parks Branch

Ottawa December 7th, 1912

MEMORANDUM:

Mr. Harkin,

From an authoritative source I have been able to establish a definite and well defined district, within which practically all the Wood-Buffalo have their habitat, namely: that portion of land bounded on the west by the Caribou Mountains, on the south by the Peace river, on the east by the Slave river, and on the north by an imaginary line drawn from the Caribou Mountains, on the south by the Peace river, on the east by the Slave river, and on the north by an imaginary line drawn from the Caribou Mountains on the west to the Slave river on the east, touching the latter at about Point Ennuyoux and the former about 50 miles south of Buffalo Lake. This information is to be found in Sergeant A.H.Mellor’s report on Wood-Buffalo patrol of Sept. 28th, 1910. The Sergeant adds: “The buffalo have, as far as I can make out from careful enquiry, never been seen for many years north of those two points”.

I am informed at the offices here of the R.N.W.M.P, that Sergeant Mellor is considered at headquarters as thoroughly reliable and careful in all his statements. We have in this district an ideal locale for preserving large game. In it there are not only several species rich in the number of their individual members but also certain species which in point of size, perfection of type and splendid condition, appear to be the very culmination of their respective genera, as for example the Woodland-Buffalo, full particulars anent which are given in my two memo’s. to you on this file, of October 16th last.

Certain game laws have been enacted in the past forbidding the killing of all save male buffalo, and from time to time a close season has been also enacted, during which none were to be killed, but however efficient the game laws may be in limiting the killing to a given number of individuals, and to certain seasons of the year, etc., the only permanently effective way to continue in abundance and in individual vigour any species of game, is to establish proper sanctuaries, as thoroughly patrolled as the Rocky Mountains Park and these must contain both summer and winter ranges. In such areas no hunting to trapping (excepting noxious animals) or dogs, should be allowed (excepting for transport purposes) and in them the game will then retain its native habits, and breed freely, while the overflow would populate the adjoining districts. This principle has been applied in East Africa with brilliant success, where a protected strip of land on both sides of the Uganda railway is now absolutely swarming with game.

Such a park or preserve, should be set aside within the area mentioned at the commencement of this memo., and it should be done now while the land in question is of little value. So far as I have been able to learn within this area described, there is little, if any mineral wealth, and apart from park-like meadows abounding in buffalo grass, and pea-vine, etc., little land suitable for agricultural purposes. Beyond doubt such refuges will be ultimately established but this should be done now before the game and especially the Wood-Buffalo are decimated and the forests cut down or burnt

In reply to any possible objections to thus stopping the wholesale slaughter, which has gone on in the past, I would submit that the policy here indicated is such as to commend itself to the intelligent public at large, for the general principles of this proposed game protection applicable to the situation in this proposed park or preserve are simple, 1st: It should be clearly understood that the game of this, or any other region, does not belong exclusively to the human inhabitants of that particular region. 2nd: That neither the white settlers nor the native inhabitants have any inherent right to the game other than that conferred by law. On the other hand, the interest of the entire people of this Dominion, and to some extent that of the civilized world, is centred in the continued existence of the forms of animal life (beneficent) which have come down to us from an immense antiquity through the slow process of evolution. I think it is now generally conceded that the local inhabitants of of any given district have no divine right to pollute the streams, with saw-dust, to destroy the forests by axe or fire, or to slaughter every living thing within reach of rifle, or other destructive agency. It should therefore now no longer be difficult to carry out a well defined policy, on these lines, viz. – that the game and the forests belong to the nation and not to the individual and the use of them by the individual is limited to such privileges as may be accorded him by law. Further, that because in the past, owing to inaccessibility, etc., he has had the power to destroy without interference by the law, this fact does not in itself confer any right. From the records of this office, of the forestry Branch and particularly of the R.N.W.M.P., Branch, as well as by verbal assurances from men who have lived and travelled in this region I have secured sufficient evidence to show that the slaughter of game, especially large game, has been both enormous and wanton, and it is fears that as the fame of this district increases, as to its wealth of game, the yearly slaughter of Caribou and other large animals, not to mention the buffalo, will largely increase, not so much through visiting sportsmen, but through the wholesale slaughter by the professional hunter, either Indian of White, who kills for the market, and who again is employed, very often, by the professional dealer in heads and antlers, who provides game heads for the decoration of the banquethalls of the growing class of would-be sportsmen who enjoy the suggestion of hunting prowess conferred by a selected collection of purchased heads. The district in question is, I understand, mainly inhabited, through sparsely, by Indians and half-breeds, and the relation of these Indians to the wild game is another element in this particular phase of game protection. I can only suggest most strongly that this problem should be dealt with in a decisive manner, if the game in this district is to be preserved. Authorities all agree that Indians after they have been in contact, as these Indians have, with white men, are wantonly destructive to animal life. An Indian with a fun will shoot anything he sees until his ammunition is gone. They seem to be entirely devoid of any idea of economy in slaughtering, even though they must know they are certain to suffer from starvation, as a result of their indiscriminate waste of game; (for example in our own records see memo.of Jan.8th last with reference to wanton slaughter of deer and caribou) any legislation, therefore, that gives Indians privileges, superior to the whites, is not based on scientific considerations. Where Indians are allowed special privileges in game hunting, the game they kill often finds its way to the white man’s market rather than to the teepees of the tribe (for example the eastern portion of BC., where the game is rapidly vanishing owing to the wanton slaughter by the Indians).

I would suggest that, if possible, arrangements be made to induce the Indians, or at any rate the half-breeds, to leave the particular district in question, a precedent that may be cited, is the case of Anticosti, where the squatters were induced to leave by M.Ménier, in the interests of the game on that island.

I would further suggest that the territory defined by Sergeant Mellor, be made an absolute sanctuary for beneficent animal-life, and that within this Reserve, an enclosure, as proposed in my memo. on this file of Oct.16th last, be as soon as possible, constructed, with a view to thus ultimately securing the woodland buffalo, such securing to be effected by means which are endorsed on good authority and which I have already discussed with you. Finally I will quote a letter from Colonel F. White, Comptroller R.N.W.M.P., to the Hon.Frank Oliver, under date of Feb 28th, 1911, as follows: -

“Dear Mr. Oliver:

As you are aware the Mounted Police for several years past have endeavoured to locate the roaming grounds of the remnants of Wood Buffalo in Alberta and the N.W.Territories.

The information now in our possession is sufficient to justify systematic arrangements for the preservation of these buffalo, but it will require organization and some expenditure.

May I suggest that if Mr. Douglas, the Parks Commissioner, makes his usual visit to Ottawa during the present winter, you ask him to take charge and through your authority define the limits to be reserved as a Wood Buffalo Park.

I have so much information on the subject which I shall be glad to place at his disposal, and I need scarcely say that so far as it may be possible the Mounted Police will give him every possible assistance.

Yours faithfully,

(Sgd) Fred. White”

In conclusion I therefore suggest that this game Reserve, together with the proposed enclosed park, within the same, be given into the charge of this Branch, which is responsible for the care of the buffalo and large game in the present Dominion Parks, and therefore should properly control and administer the only source from which we may look for future improvements in the buffalo now in our charge.

Maxwell Graham

*The files, containing this information, have been entrusted to me, and are most informing. I am now compiling a digest of same and all statements which I have made and the proposals I have suggested, are full substantiated and endorsed on these files.

[Signature]