History

Treaty #6

Montreal Lake I.R. #106
Montreal Lake I.R. #106B

In 1876, Governor Alexander Morris, appointed by federal Order-in-Council, was empowered as a Treaty Commissioner to negotiate a treaty with First Nations living within the limits of what would become Treaty Six.

He, alone, had the authority to negotiate a lawful treaty; and he did with the Plains and Wood Cree Indians and other tribes of Indians between August 23-29 and on September 9, 1876.

The Treaty provided the following terms, conditions and benefits

Her Majesty the Queen hereby agrees:
  • To lay aside reserves for farming lands
  • All such reserves shall not exceed one square mile for each family of five, or in that proportion for larger or smaller families
  • To maintain schools for instruction in such reserves
  • No intoxicating liquor shall be allowed to be introduced or sold
  • Indians, shall have the right to pursue their avocations of hunting and fishing
  • To pay each Indian person the sum of $5 per head yearly
  • The sum of $15 per annum shall be paid yearly in the purchase of ammunition and twine for nets
  • Each Chief shall receive an annual salary of $25; every three years, a suitable suit of clothing; a suitable flag and medal; and also as soon as convenient, one horse, harness and wagon
  • Protection in case of famine or pestilence
  • A medicine chest
  • Two carts with iron bushings and tires
  • To give four hoes for every family; two spades per family; one plough for every three families; one harrow for every three families; two scythes, one whetstone, two hay forks, two reaping hooks, and two axes for every family; one cross-cut saw, one hand-saw, one pit-saw, the necessary files, one grindstone, and one auger for each Band
  • For each Band, enough of wheat, barley, potatoes and oats to plant the land; also for each Band four oxen, one bull, six cows, one boar, two sows and one hand mill
  • Indians or whites, now inhabiting or hereafter to inhabit any part of the ceded tracts, that they will not molest the person or property of any inhabitant of such ceded tracts

On February 11, 1889,

the Montreal Lake Cree Band signed an adhesion to Treaty #6 under Chief William Charles.

The Treaty adhesion gave them rights to 14,720 acres of land. Surveyor Ponton met with the Montreal Lake Cree Band and the Assistant Commissioner on September 17th. They discussed a reserve and decided upon the location of that reserve. The reserve, as surveyed by Ponton and containing 23 square miles of land, was set apart as Montreal Lake Indian Reserve #106.

In 1897 Reserve #106A containing 36,160 acres of land was surveyed for the Montreal Lake and Lac La Ronge Indians. On May 31st, 1948, this reserve was divided and Montreal Lake Indian Reserve #106B was created, containing 5,827 acres. The remaining 30,333 acres of that reserve were set apart to create the Little Red River Reserve #106C for the Lac La Ronge Band.

The two reserves set aside for the Montreal Lake Band total 20,547 acres.