They also record Dakota/Lakota trading and raiding in these parts of the country. Between 17 numerous historical records documented Dakota/Lakota seasonal hunting of the great eastern and western buffalo herds in southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. This evidence indicates that at least some of the area along both sides of the 49th parallel between Lake of the Woods and what is now southeastern Saskatchewan was occupied by ancestors of Siouan-speaking peoples many centuries prior to European contact. Archeological evidence indicates that Dakota/Lakota people traditionally inhabited lands which spanned over the international border between Canada and the United States. According to the research compiled by Whitecap staff including Senior Analyst-Governance Development Stephanie Danyluk, they have extensive oral and historical evidence which established their occupation of Canadian territories. The evidence in favour of the Dakota occupation is actually quite overwhelming. The question we ask is how can you be allies of the Crown yet not be British subjects and part of treaty?” “The irony of it all is that Canada will not dispute that the Dakota were allies of the British Crown. We, the Dakota always honoured that,” said Chief Bear. They had a treaty on peace and friendship and military alliance and trade and we fought with them against the Americans in the War of 1812. “We were allies of the British back to 1787. The government has always taken the view that the Dakota were American Indians and hence, did not qualify for Treaty.Ĭhief Darcy Bear disagrees and has presented evidence to the Government as they embark on a Treaty process. We believe not being in the process was inherently unfair, especially if you look at our history and relation with the British Crown.” “Also, if someone marries into our community that is Treaty, they lose their treaty benefits like the annuity. “We did not get lands based on Treaty, we got our reserve through order in council with a lesser land quantum of only 16 acres per person compared to 128 acres per person for the Treaty First Nations in this territory,” explains Whitecap Dakota First Nation Chief Darcy Bear. When the numbered Treaties were negotiated in the prairies in the late 19th Century, the Dakota came to the negotiations expecting to be included, but they were put to the side on the premise that they were not “British Indians.” The result? Very limited reserved lands and penalties to other Treaty First Nations that married into their community. It is a little-known fact that the Dakota First Nations in Saskatchewan have never been offered Treaty.
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