In 1871, after the
Hudson's Bay Company had sold "its" land to the Canadian
government, the Whitefish Lake natives sent a petition to the Lieutenant
governor, Adams G. Archibald, was dated January 9th, 1871. The petition
expressed the native's loyalty to the crown, and requested several
things, including that help stopping the liquor trade is provided, and
also that the native's claim to the land be recognized, and that a
treaty be made with the natives.
A reply was
sent back in February. The reply is now a part of the Hardisty
collection at the Glenbow Archives, in Calgary, Alberta. The Lieutenant Govenor
writes that: "Your Great Mother is glad to hear that your ministers
have taught you to love and imitate the ways of the civilized man. They
have told you only the truth when they said that British Law knows no
distinction of persons." He goes on to say that the law applies
equally to the Red man and the White man, and that the law forbids any
person to take "fire-water" into the native's territory.