Selkirk Treaty, July 18, 1817

On July 18, 1817, Lord Selkirk signed the treaty with 5 leaders referred to in the document as “Chiefs and Warriors of the Chippeaway or Sautaux Nation, and the Killistine or Cree Nation.”

In order to provide for the peaceful continuation of the settlement, Lord Selkirk and his representatives negotiated with Indigenous leaders in the area for possession or use of the land extending in two mile tracts along both sides of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers in exchange for an annual payment or gift.

Transcript of the Treaty

THIS INDENTURE, made on the eighteenth day of July, in the fifty-seventh year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the Third, and in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seventeen, between the undersigned Chiefs and warriors of the Chippeway or Saulteaux Nation and of the Killistine or Cree Nation, on the one part, and the Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Selkirk, on the other part:
Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the annual present or quit rent hereinafter mentioned, the said Chiefs have given, granted and confirmed, and do, by these presents, give, grant and confirm unto our Sovereign Lord the King all that tract of land adjacent to Red River and Ossiniboyne River, beginning at the mouth of Red River and extending along same as far as Great Forks at the mouth of Red Lake River, and along Ossiniboyne River, otherwise called Riviere des Champignons, and extending to the distance of six miles from Fort Douglas on every side, and likewise from Fort Daer, and also from the Great Forks and in other parts extending in breadth to the distance of two English statute miles back from the banks of the said rivers, on each side, together with all the appurtenances whatsoever of the said tract of land, to have and to hold forever the said tract of land and appurtenances to the use of the said Earl of Selkirk, and of the settlers being established thereon, with the consent and permission of our Sovereign Lord the King, or of the said Earl of Selkirk. Provided always, and these presents are under the express condition that the said Earl, his heirs and successors, or their agents, shall annually pay to the Chiefs and warriors and successors, or their agents, shall annually pay to the Chiefs and warriors of the Chippeway or Saulteaux Nation, the present or quit rent consisting of one hundred pounds weight of good and merchantable tobacco, to be delivered on or before the tenth day of October at the forks of Ossiniboyne River—and to the Chiefs and warriors of the Killistine or Cree Nation, a like present or quit rent of one hundred pounds of tobacco, to be delivered to them on or before the said tenth day of October, at Portage de la Prairie, on the banks of Ossiniboyne River. Provided always that the traders hitherto established upon any part of the above-mentioned tract of land shall not be molested in the possession of the lands which they have already cultivated and improved, till His Majesty’s pleasure shall be known.
In witness whereof the Chiefs aforesaid have set their marks, at the Forks of Red River on the day aforesaid.
(Signed) SELKIRK.

MACHE WHESEAB, His x mark Le Sonnant.
MECHKADDEWIKONAIE, His x mark La robe noire.
KAYAJIESKEBINOA, His x mark L’Homme Noir.
PEGOWIS, His x mark
OUCKIDOAT, His x mark Le Premier.

Signed in presence of
THOMAS THOMAS,
JAMES BIRD,
F. MATTHEY, Captain.
P. D’ORSONNENS, Captain.
MILES MACDONNELL.
J. BTE. CHARLES DE LORIMIER.
LOUIS NOLIN, Interpreter.