Vidal and Anderson's Report to the Governor General in Council

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Vidal and Anderson's Report to the Governor General in Council


Name of document:

Vidal and Anderson's Report to the Governor General in Council

Type of document:

Primary documentation, report.

Summary of the data:

This report authored by commissioners, Alexander Vidal and Captain Anderson, to the Governor General in Council on December 5, 1849, describes their meetings and interactions with the various Bands and Chiefs residing in the lands surrounding Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Their task was to investigate the treaty expectations of First Nations in said lands (see Order to Investigate Native Lands). Generally, the report provides an approximate census of the region (i.e. 2,000 people), the traditional locations of the various Bands and their attitudes and hopes for an agreement.

During their time in the region they met with sixteen of the twenty-two Chiefs. They were unable to meet with all of the Bands in the region because the investigation was conducted late in the season and there was an outbreak of Cholera. In his report on the Robinson Treaties, Robert Surtees explains that the commissioners and the report are criticized because of this (9). Additionally, the commissioners are criticized for sparse notes that lacked detail and completeness (Surtees 9).

Vidal and Anderson do note, however, that there were varying opinions among the First Nations Bands. For example, the Sault Ste. Marie and Fort William Bands were very reluctant to communicate with the commissioners. Since these were the largest groups the men addressed this was a significant defeat (Surtees 10). With the exception of these two instances, the commissioners suggest that the First Nations are willing to cede their land if they are not forced to leave their current places of living, can continue hunting and fishing freely and are given a perpetual annuity payment.

Significantly, the report urges that ‘half-breeds’ be included in the treaty. According to Vidal and Anderson the Métis in the region are closely connected with the Bands and therefore it is impossible to exclude them from a treaty. Additionally, the commissioners explain that the ‘half-breeds’ had been given gifts at the annual distribution of presents in the region and therefore were previously recognized as ‘Indian’ by the government.

Important dates mentioned in the document:

December 5, 1849: Date of the report.

Important people discussed in the document:

Alexander Vidal (1819-1906)
Captain T.G. Anderson (?)
Alan Macdonell
Joseph Peau de Chat
Chief Shingwauk (1773-1854)
Augustin
Chief Sabenagoghing

Specific location(s) mentioned in the document (if applicable):

Fort William, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Garden River, Ontario
Pointe aux Pines, Michigan
Penetanguishene, Ontario
Saint Josephs, Ontario
Michipicoten River, Ontario
River Sainte Mary, Michigan-Ontario

Non-specific location(s) mentioned in the document (if applicable):

Lake Superior, Ontario-Minnesota-Wisconsin-Michigan
Northern Shores of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, Ontario-Minnesota-Wisconsin-Michigan
Ottawa River, Ontario
Mississaga/Mississagi River, Ontario

Specific event(s) identified in the document (if applicable):

N/A

Relevant citations:

Library and Archives Canada, Alexander Vidal and Captain Anderson, RG. 10, "Report to the Governor General in Council," volume 266, 5 December 1849, pp. 163121-55, microfilm reel C-12652.

Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Treaty Research Report the Robinson Treaties (1850). By Robert Surtees. 1986. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Web. 7, Oct. 2014.

Was the information found online (yes/no)?:

Yes. Robert Surtees' Treaty Research Report found online.

Document links and URLs (if applicable):

View Robert Surtees' Treaty Research Report

Date of access:

Tuesday October 7, 2014

Webmaster if identified (for online documents only):

Retrieved from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development website.


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