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| A Written Treaty |
I woke up to the sounds of whispers at the night. I had put on a light shawl to keep my body warm from the chilly weather. I got out of the teepee and stood around the corner to get a clear hearing of the conversation. I normally don’t eavesdrop, but I was so intrigued with this treaty thing. I just had to know what was going on. I knew that this discussion might have not been about this topic and I knew if Mother found me here, she would have been extremely disappointed. Although I took a risk.
As I listened in the dark, I realized it was about the treaty after all. I later gathered many shocking news. Most of it was so hard to take it all in. A treaty was an agreement taken between two people. It was something both of the parties promised each other, I inferred from it. The discovery of many valuable resources on the shore of Lake Huron and Lake Superior had led the government to take title of our land. The lands in the Lake Superior watershed had also interest them. There were actually two treaties signed by Chief Louis Riel and the Crown. I had already knew the Métis, would give up their land, but I didn’t know it was exchange for reserves. We were also promised to be given the right to hunt and fish on this land, after it was being taken away from us.
I had finally, gained a full understanding of the treaty and the situation that we were being put through, which I wish I hadn’t. I was so much more worried now, than I was before. I just couldn’t figure out why Chief Louis Riel would give away this land. Many people had spent their childhood and practically their life here. The annual hunt, the camp fire and the many other memorable events were all held in this place. This land was treasure itself without the valuable minerals to some of us. I had gone back to the tepee and lay down on the bed fur until I drifted to sleep.
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