“One of the first necessary steps to be taken, will be to arrive at a distinct understanding as to the right of way, and have the same embodied in a formal treaty. This treaty could be confined solely to that one point - right of way - as it should be, without reference to lands for settlement, and other questions, which could be arranged after the communication was opened, would occasion no further outlay than would be involved in a few presents of blankets and such articles as they require, which an officer sent for the purpose might judiciously distribute…”
Simon J. Dawson in a report to the House of Commons, 1868
Source: Dawson, S.J. (1868). Report on the Line of Route Between Lake Superior and the Red River Settlement (P.28). House of Commons, Ottawa. Printed by I.B. Taylor at the “Ottawa Citizen” office,1869. Peel Library, University of Alberta. Retrieved June 10, 2020 from http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/481/reader.html#31
Simon Dawson’s remarks in a report to the House of Commons imploring the need to make a treaty to secure the right of way for the Dawson Road and that First Nations are astute negotiators not to be underestimated. Source: Dawson, S. J. (1868). Report on the line of route between Lake Superior and the Red River Settlement (P.28). House of Commons. Hunter, Rose & Company: Ottawa. Also published by I.B. Taylor, 1869: Ottawa. Retrieved June 3, 2020 from http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/481.html. For French version see Rapport sur le trace de la route entre le lac Supérieur et l’établissement de la Rivière-Rouge. Ottawa : Hunter, Rose et Lemieux, 1868, retrieved June 3, 2020 from http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/480.html
Simon Dawson repeatedly raising the issue with the Canadian Government for the need to make a Treaty with the Saulteaux for the right of way through their land for the Dawson Route which was promised to them. Report on the Line of Route Between Lake Superior and the Red River Settlement by Simon J. Dawson, civil engineer (P.27). House of Commons:Ottawa. Printed by I.B. Taylor at the “Ottawa Citizen” office1869. Peel Library, University of Alberta. Retrieved from http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/481/reader.html#25
“Watercolour: Ojibway encampment, treaty with Governor Morris [Treaty no. 3, October 3, 1873 negotiated at the NorthWest Angle]" at the eastern terminus of the Dawson Road this side of Lake of the Woods. Library and Archives Canada/Frederick Arthur Verner fonds/C-005407. Retrieved June 4, 2020 from https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1418853369350/1418854433358#chp6
“Negotiated at the North-West Angle of the Lake of the Woods, [where the Dawson road began] the Dominion of Canada and the ‘Saulteaux tribe of Ojibway Indians’ entered into Treaty No. 3. Canada acquired the land for agriculture, settlement and mineral discovery, and also secured communications with the North-West Territories, including the route of the future Canadian Pacific Railway.
"With Treaty 3 the First Nations people had succeeded in obtaining terms and conditions that far exceeded those of any previous treaty, which had an impact beyond their own treaty area. During subsequent negotiations, the First Nation peoples requested the same terms as those granted in Treaty 3, as well as negotiating with the government the terms of Treaties 1 and 2. Treaty 3 thus became the definitive treaty, and all subsequent numbered treaties in the Canadian West were based upon it.” 5
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, 2020
Source: Canada: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. (2014, Dec 17). Treaties in Manitoba. Retrieved June 26, 2020 from https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1418853369350/1418854433358#chp6
Both sides of a commemorative coin, First Nations Chief’s Medal, presented to signatories of Treaty Numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Library and Archives Canada/Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development fonds/c070758-c070759. Retrieved from Treaty Medals (courtesy Library and Archives Canada, 1986-79-1638/Wikimedia CC)
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