The Alienation of Indian Reserve Lands
Database ID | 25420 | |
Institution | University of Saskatchewan Archives | |
Fonds/Collection | F.L. Barron fonds | |
Series | 1. Resource Files | |
File/Item Reference | 1. Resource Files-1-9, 1-10, 1-11 (Box 1) | |
Date of creation | 1978 | |
Physical description/extent | 1 folder; 2.5 cm of textual records | |
Number of images | 1 | |
Scope and content | A report titled: The Alienation of Indian Reserve Lands During the Administration of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, 1896-1911. Pheasant's Rump Reserve #68. Ocean Man Reserve #69. This 324 page document provides extensive background information on the history leading up to the alienation of these reserve lands. This includes their struggles with the Canadian government to obtain the resources needed to convert to an agricultural way of life, and the appointment of an ambitious Clifford Sifton to the Minister of the Interior and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs in 1896. It outlines in great detail the political life of Sifton and his new deputy minister James Smart, to provide context for their decisions as government officials. These men drastically cut back the department staff and reduced salaries to the detriment of the Indian bands. It paints an unsavoury picture of the Indian Affairs department and the corrupt officials that sought to make profits on land in the west, including alienated Indian reserves. It goes on to describe the tenure of officials at the above named reserves (collectively known as the Moose Mountain reserves) and the circumstances that led to the alienation of land. Although farming improved after 1896, and by 1901 the bands had become virtually self sufficient, the decision was made to move the Indians of Ocean Man and Pheasant's Rump to White Bear reserve to open the land up for Galacian immigrants and centralize the administration of Indians for the area. It is argued that this move greatly inhibited Indian agriculture and caused more problems for the department of Indian Affairs. The report further outlines the men in the department and their close friends that made substantial profits on reserve land sales. | |
Restrictions on access | There are no restrictions on access. | |
Contributer | Tyler and Wright Research Consultants Limited | |
Copyright holder | Federation of Saskatchewan Indians | |
Other terms governing use and reproduction | Responsibility regarding questions of copyright that may arise in the use of any images is assumed by the researcher. | |
Type | Archival | |
Primary Media | Textual documents | |
Provenance Access Point | Barron, Frank Laurie, 1942-2000 | |
Treaty boundaries | Treaty 4 | |
Cultural region | Plains | |
Names | Federation of Saskatchewan Indians Laurier, Sir Wilfrid, 1841-1919 (Prime Minister) Pedley, Frank Sifton, Clifford, 1861-1929 Smart, James | |
Subject | Reserves -- Expulsion Government departments -- Indian Affairs Government officials Land Claims Relocation Reports Assiniboine | |
Date Range(s) | 1970-1979 | |
Permanent Link | https://digital.scaa.sk.ca/ourlegacy/permalink/25420 |