Beaver First Nation History has a rich tradition and beautiful lineage. Who better to delve into that than someone who has been a resident of that community for over three decades?
Harvey Bulldog is a former Beaver First Nation Chief, operates a large-scale farming framework out there, and has invaluable direct knowledge from living in that same unit for thirty-plus years. The following passage is courtesy of Harvey Bulldog from April 25, 2019.
Beaver First Nation History
Harvey Bulldog
This article may well be desultory in nature.
Many of these stories were passed down from elders from this area, from people from the South. There are many people today, of the writer’s age who know numerous stories for this area. A lot of the dates are unknown, but just the time era. The best known to the writer is a gentleman who was present at the Treaty Signing in North Vermilion in 1899. Johnny Providence, who lived in Meander River in my days in Meander, Upper Hay. His story of the signing of the treaty is completely different to what is stated in the papers.
He stated to many later elders that the tribes did not want to sign the treaty, period. They had griped and swiped the land with sand and pour it “hourglass” style. Stating this (land) will last forever, hence they tore up the paper. They had no reason to sign, the Government wanted them to sign as a peace treaty, no reason for peace. They were not warring. The Beaver leaders left. What the government did was not right.
They appointed another person present, who was associated with the “Beaver”. The real “Beaver leader” at that time was the forefather of the Bulldog clan, as the predominant clan at that time were The Bulldog family clan, Bulldog was not in use at that time.
North American scope and pre-treaty days
Ambroise Tete-Noir – A Chipewyan for the Fort Chip, was appointed Chief of the Beaver and he signed. Actually, the leaders did not actually sign, but simply TOUCHED the pen, (Inked Feather). This is similar to what happened to the Cherokee of Georgia.
The US Government invited the Cherokee leaders to Washington to wine and dine, while other Government officials went to Georgia, (a planned agenda) got the people there to appoint a new council which the Government approve. They then signed Georgia to the US Government. People may have read these stories, in which the US Government then evacuated every one of the Georgia tribe. Out of Georgia and force them to march to Oklahoma. Man, women, children, and elders with nothing but the clothes on their backs. A vast majority died on way, commonly known as the trail of tears.
In the pre-treaty days of 1899, the Beaver of the present-day Boyer River Reserve lived in their home territory. The Caribou Mountain area, Margaret Lake area, and were not associated with any other tribes. The Beaver of present-day Child Lake, lived in their home territory in the Two(2) Lake area. They were not associated with any other tribe.
Treaty 8
In writing of the Treaty Eight(8) era, the treaty commissioners amalgamated more than One(1) tribe to speed up treaty negotiations. In the case Beaver Tribes, the beaver of caribou and the beaver of Two(2) lake were combined as one Band to negotiate the signing of the treaty. Since the tribes of the day were not educated, nor could read of write, nor speak English. What could you expect, as most interpreters were not honest, and course were there any lawyers present for signing over this great land????.
The Beaver tribe, as it is known today, was the dominant tribe along the Northwestern States North along the Rocky Mountains and Northwestern Alberta. Many tribes changed their names during the waring years. Although their languages, culture and identity remained.
History books and other historical information of Canada. Even before Canada was Canada or Alberta was Alberta for that matter.
Some southerners remember the Beaver as there known today, were dominant along the Northern US border, did not war against the European folk, but did war against other tribes for territory.
European overreach
Generally, the Beaver Tribe got its name from the European peoples, in that they were prominent beaver trappers, similar to the Black feet tribe, walking in burnt grass. Many old-timers refer to the beaver as Stony, prominent in the aforementioned area.
A major story the writer believes, that holds a lot of truth. In pre-European times, a confederacy of four tribes in the northern US, name forgotten, (M) of the four Clans the Northern clans were sent North to protect the Northern territory, mainly Western Alberta. Predominantly along the Rocky Mountains to Northwestern Alberta. Each tribe, names forgotten were known to be the Prairie, Mountain, Northern (Us) and the other forgotten.
Beaver First Nation History
Many old-timers always stated that we were not Beaver, but Stoney, have came North in Pre-European times. The Navajo language is very similar to today’s Beaver, A Navajo preacher visiting this area in the later 1990 were able to communicate with Beaver, with just a few pronounced different.
The Beaver tribes of today in Northern Alberta namely the Horse Lake, Grande Prairie area, the Duncans from the Peace River area, and the Doig and Fort Nelsen in Northern BC, have similar traits.
This area, pre-dominantly Fort Vermilion, the major focal point of everything was pre-dominantly Beaver. History Maps. People may have heard of the wars in this area, Beaver vs Cree, Cree trying to invade this area, with Battles North as, the First Battle (Manning, Alberta), Second Battle(Notikewen-means fighting place) Alberta, and Third Battle(now Meikle River, and finally Peace River crossing where peace was made. The Cree drifted North during the Plains Cree wars with the Federal Government, Riel Rebellion era. Presumably, they didn’t was anything to do with the wars.
Northern exodus of slaves
The Dene of today were formally called the Slaves of the Upper Hay. Slaves because they were slaves of the Cree. They escaped North but didn’t have anything to do with the Beaver continuously drifted North. Possible Southern Yukon, Northwest Territories. We also know that tribes usually settled near river and or lakes, necessary for hunting, fishing, and trapping.
In later years the Slaves slowly drifted South into Northwestern Alberta, up the petitot river to Bistcho Lake where they first eventually settled, The Beaver at this time eventually accepted the Slaves and eventually inter-married, the beaver did not intermingle with the Cree in the early years of Peace.
Bishcho eventually became a focal point for many people in the early years. Hunting, trapping, and fishing was the source of survival. The Slaves slowly migrated to what we call Assumption today. Basically around Hay Lakes, the lake itself, later called Habay. The main congregation of its people, Hunting during its season, of waterfowl in this area was great. There were in the millions, hunters would say when they took off in flight it sounded like thunder !!
Northwest Territories and Northern Alberta community evolution
Fishing on the Hay river was great too in the early 1990’s. They eventually began to settle in this area on the S.W. shore of Hay Lake by the Hay River. Many old-timers of the early 1990’s state there were not settlements there yet. Probably started in the 1920 & 30’s. The writer does not know the exact time the Hudsons Bay started in Hay Lake, nor if there was any at Bishcho Lake, there probably was. From Bishco and Hay Lakes, the Slaves began to migrate to what is Indian Cabins today and to Upper Hay River – what is called Meander River today.
High Level did not exist until the American army moved North and set up a base. Three(3) miles South of present-day Meander river, in the 1940s during the world wars. The focal point was in or near present-day Bushe River on a hill overlooking the Vast prairie (present-day Bushe Band Office ) looking East to Fort Vermilion. Chief Chonkolay called this place in the Indian language, the place where the river going into the prairie.
In the early years, it is not known by the writer, the start of freight hauling to these areas, numerous people from all these areas acquired freighting outfits. From the main focal point in Fort Vermilion. Of course, freight brought in from South on the then River Boats servicing Fort Vermilion, on downriver to areas to Little Red.
Beaver First Nation History
Prior to the treaties, a major portion of members residing on the present-day Boyer Reserve were residents in the Caribou mountains and Margaret lake areas. North of present-day Boyer River Reserves while president’s day Child Lake members were residents in the Two Lake areas. South of present-day Child Lake Reserve, areas confirmed by the burial sites. Transportation was basically overland trails the river system. There is no known record of when horse-drawn wagons, red river carts, and sledges came to this area. And in all probability came in with the development of the river boat steamer system north on the great peace river.
Known and Identified by several names since the inception of the treaty of 1899.
Hereditary Elective system
In 1899, the Beaver tribe obtained its council through the Hereditary Elective system. A system whereby members of council were in for life, under their own system of review, an un-written system. Based solely on councilman’s contribution to the tribe. Generally selected during the summer solstice.
The selection process was fairly simple. If your accomplishments were nil, you were ousted. Selections at gatherings were based on the elders. The populations present at that time element, with the likes of the warriors, hunters, trappers, providers. builders of the day.
With the advent of the treaty, governments had very little contact with the tribe. Except for sporadic treaty payments, a minimum of other treaty obligations, such as ammunition, and rations. Rations were given to the early 1960s. A bag of flour, a sack of beans, sugar, and tea, powdered skim milk, a slab of bacon, etc. Bare necessities to keep you alive for a day or two. More often than not, these items generally ran out within a few days. The governments expected you to live off the avails of hunting, trapping, and fishing.
There was nothing else. Transportation was basically walking, birch bark canoes, and rafts in summer.
The Story continues
This story is part of a series we’re publishing documenting Indigenous history and stories in Northern Alberta and Canada. Have a look at the first story covering Beaver First Nation’s Election here, and if you enjoyed this account of Beaver First Nation, check out more LM2 content below.
The video documents Vern Bulldog’s off-grid solar setup, which he purchased in 2017. His ongoing dispute with Beaver First Nation Band and Council is an on-going part of this story.:
