The Papaschase Land Claim is a battle that is still currently ongoing today. What was it that sparked such a major event? It is events such as the Papaschase Land Claim that show us the flaws in our judicial system, and allow us towards the betterment of society. What is the cost of such a learning curve?
It all started when Chief Papaschase and his brother, along with their individual families started moving in the late 1850s. Over the next few years, the band moved through the Lesser Slave Lake area, Fort Edmonton and Fort Assiniboia. After the constant move, they eventually settled in Edmonton. On August 21, 1877, Chief Papaschase and one of his brothers, Tahkoots, signed on to Treaty 6 on behalf of their band at Fort Edmonton. …show more content…
Simpson, set out to survey land for Indian Reserve 136. This took place on August 2, 1880. As far as Simpson knew, only 241 members of the Papaschase band were paid annuities in 1879, thus leading to the intention of setting aside a 48 square mile piece of land for the band. This information however, was incorrect. The Federal Government should have known that is was not 241, but 249 that were paid annuities. Because of this, approximately 49.9 square miles of reserve land should of been awarded to the Papaschase band. When Chief Papaschase was informed that he would indeed not be getting the size of land he wanted, tension arose between him and the Inspector of Indian Farms and Agencies for the Dept. of Indian Affairs, T.P. Wadsworth. As a result, on August 3, 1880, T.P Wadsworth transferred a grand total of 84 members of the Papaschase band to a new list called the Edmonton Stragglers. The Inspector then only presented 40 square miles of land, and refused to set aside any other space for said “stragglers”. As the final nail in the coffin, on August 4, 1880, Wadsworth only paid 188 member of the Papaschase band annuities. As time progressed, the battle continued. Two petitions were signed between the years 1880 and 1883, to which the government still
It all started when Chief Papaschase and his brother, along with their individual families started moving in the late 1850s. Over the next few years, the band moved through the Lesser Slave Lake area, Fort Edmonton and Fort Assiniboia. After the constant move, they eventually settled in Edmonton. On August 21, 1877, Chief Papaschase and one of his brothers, Tahkoots, signed on to Treaty 6 on behalf of their band at Fort Edmonton. …show more content…
Simpson, set out to survey land for Indian Reserve 136. This took place on August 2, 1880. As far as Simpson knew, only 241 members of the Papaschase band were paid annuities in 1879, thus leading to the intention of setting aside a 48 square mile piece of land for the band. This information however, was incorrect. The Federal Government should have known that is was not 241, but 249 that were paid annuities. Because of this, approximately 49.9 square miles of reserve land should of been awarded to the Papaschase band. When Chief Papaschase was informed that he would indeed not be getting the size of land he wanted, tension arose between him and the Inspector of Indian Farms and Agencies for the Dept. of Indian Affairs, T.P. Wadsworth. As a result, on August 3, 1880, T.P Wadsworth transferred a grand total of 84 members of the Papaschase band to a new list called the Edmonton Stragglers. The Inspector then only presented 40 square miles of land, and refused to set aside any other space for said “stragglers”. As the final nail in the coffin, on August 4, 1880, Wadsworth only paid 188 member of the Papaschase band annuities. As time progressed, the battle continued. Two petitions were signed between the years 1880 and 1883, to which the government still