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Robert John Nicholson Pither, whose residency on the point of land where
Rainy Lake discharges into Rainy River, gave rise to its name as Pither's
Point, was born on October 29, 1824 in Montreal. His parents were Robert
and Margaret (Nicholson) Pither, of English birth. He was educated in Montreal
and Quebec and in 1846 entered the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company, remaining
with the company for 23 years.
During his Hudson's Bay Co. career, Mr. Pither was listed on the company
records as being in charge of the Fort Frances post from June 1st to May
31st for two different periods: 1853 to 1856 as postmaster and 1858 to 1863
as clerk.
In 1870, with the outbreak of the first Riel Rebellion, Mr. Pither assisted
Simon J. Dawson and Wemyss Simpson, M.P. for Algoma, in securing rights
of passage for Col. Garnet Wolseley's troops from Shebandowan to the NorthWest
Angle of Lake of the Woods. In 1871 Mr. Simpson, then the General Indian
Agent, Mr. Pither and Mr. Dawson concluded Treaty No. 2 on August 3 in Fort
Frances, securing the surrender of the tract of land from the watershed
of Lake Superior to the Northwest Angle. This treaty was superceded by Indian
Treaty No. 3, in October 3, 1873 which Mr. Pither signed as a witness.
On March 16, 1871, Mr. Pither was appointed Indian Agent at Fort Frances
at a salary of $1000 per annum. On January 14, 1888 he was transferred to
the Lake of the Woods district by Order in Council and made his headquarters
in Rat Portage, later Kenora, where he retired in August 1891.
He died in Kenora on May 31, 1918 at the age of 93 years. He was predeceased
by his first wife Sarah who died on August 31, 1878, and he is buried in Fort
Frances cemetery.
"His ability to speak the native tongue, his knowledge of the character
of the aboriginies and his long record of fairness in dealing with them
proved important factors in the successful negotiations with them"
his biographer later was to write in connection with his negotiations with
the Indians. "His success paved the way for treaties with other bands of Indians and he was highly complimented by the Dominion Government for
his work."
To this was added the following comment:
"Mr. Pither never lost the distinguishing features of the cultured
gentleman. To men of the calibre of Mr. Pither is due to great credit for
laying the foundation of settlement in the west and the high respect for
law and order."
Pither's Point Park, often abreviated by patrons
to "The Point", bears the name of a man pivitol in the shaping
of Fort Frances.
Yet most area residents sunning themselves on the lazy, long beaches in
July know only that Robert John Nicholson Pither served as the Indian Agent
sometime in the 19th century who signed Treaty Three. He isn't studied in
any school, but maybe he should be.
This mysterious map maker was born October 29, 1824, in Montreal of English
parents. Robert and Margaret Pither saw to it their son received a gentlemans
education. He entered the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company at the age
of 22 and remained with the "fur trading factory" until 1971.
During his Hudson's Bay career, the very literate Mr. Pither ran the Fort
Frances version of a post office.
At the outbreak of the first Riel Rebellion in 1870, he helped to negotiate
rights of passage for Col. Garnet Woseley's troops to "quell the uprising".
The confidence on the Ojibway "in his word" was credited by newsmen
of the day with "saving" the young Dominion. Fellow "middle
men" were Simon J. Dawson of Dawson Trail fame and Algoma M.P. Wemyss
Simpson.
In 1871, Mr. Simpson, by then the general Indian Agent, with help of Mr.
Pither and Mr. Dawson, concluded Treaty 2 on August 3 in Fort Frances. This
treaty secured the surrender of the tract of land from the watershed of Lake
Superior to the Northwest Angle, but was superceded by Treaty No. 3, more
commonly called the "Northwest Angle Treaty", on Oct. 3, 1873,
when Mr. Pither again, signed this time as a witness. A lively depiction
of the 1873 proceding written by a really roving reporter for "The
Manitoban" exudes the tenor of the talks.
The article "Dateline Northwest Angle, Third Day" reads as follows:
"The Lt. Governor and party, and the other commissioners appointed to
treat with the Indians, arrived here on Thursday, having enjoyed delightful
weather during the trip from Fort Garry which the Aboriginies insist on calling
Win-ni-peg. The Ojibways now assembled number about 800 all told; among
them are many fine physically developed men, who would be good looking were
it not for the extravegance with which they besmear their faces with pigment.
"The council broke up at this point, and it was doubtful whether an
agreement would come to or not. The Rainy River Indians were careless about
the treaty, because they can earn plenty of money cutting wood for boats.
The treaty was finally closed Friday afternoon, and signed on Saturday,
after which a large quantity of provisions, ammunition and other goods were
distributed.
"The chiefs covered every predictable contigency in arguing their position
and, while these tiresome tactics were answered by persuasive patience or
thunder from the commissioners, Mawedeponais, a chief from the Fort Frances
region, won many concessions. He would welcome in addition to certain muddled
bargaining tables in Europe."
THE TALKS
Following is one act from the Northern Ontario drama, as reported by the
Manitobian.
"Chief: If you should get into trouble with the nations, I do not wish
to walk out and expose my young men to aid you in any wars.
Governor: The English never call the Indians out of their country to fight
their battles.
"Another Chief: I see your roads here passing through our country,
and some of you boats-- useful articles you use for yourself. Soon we shall
see things that run swiftly, that go by fire-carriages- we as you that us
Indians may not have to pay their passage on these things, but go free.
"governor: I think the best thing I can do is become an Indian. I can't
promise you that.
"Chief: All of us wish to have the reserves marked out. There is not
one tribe who has no laid it out.
"Commisioner: As soon as it is convenient to the government to send
surveyors to lay out the reserves they will do so, and try to suit every
particular band in this respect.
"Chief: We so not want anybody to mark out our reserves, we have already
marked them out.
"Commissioner: There will be another undertaking between the government
and the Indians among themselves to select the land; they will have enough
good farming land, be sure of that.
Chief of Fort Frances: What I say is this, where I have chosen for my reserve
I see signs that the Hudson's Bay Company has surveyed. I do not hate them,
I only wish they should take their reserves on one side. Where their shop
stands now is my property.
"Governor: I do not know about that matter; it will be enquired into."
FIRST TREATY MONEY
A copy of the treaty was then prepared and duly signed.
On Saturday, Mr. Pither, local superintendant of the Indian Affairs at Fort
Frances, began to pay the treaty money-- an employment that kept him busy
far into the night. As soon as the money was distributed, the shops of the
Hudson's Bay Co. and other traders were visited "Hudson's Bay alone
made $4,000 in thirty hours."
Other references to the man our charming park is named after are tantilizingly
brief
He was present at the historical turning points of his time, however, and
a sense the urgency and signifigance his role can be gleamed from gossipy
tone with the intimidating title "The Treaty of Canada with the Indians
of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, including the Negotiations on
which they were based and other information Relating Thereto."
The Author was an irrepeachable source -- the Hon. Alexander Morris, the
Governor who spoke for "The great White Mother, Queen Victoria".
Comments Mr. Morris in his 1880 memories: "In the year of 1971, the
Privy council issued joint commission to Messar Simpson, Dawson and Pither
authorizing them to treat the Ojibway Indians for the surrender to the Crown
of the lands they inhabited -- covering the gateway area from the watershed
of Lake Superior to the Northwest Angle of Lake of the Woods, and from the
American border to the height of land from which the streams flow into Hudson's
Bay.
"This treaty was one of the great importance since it not only tranquilized
the large Indian population affected by it, but eventually shaped the terms
of all the treaties, four to seven, which have subsequently been signed
with the Indians of Northwest Territories, who speedily become apprised
of the concessions granted to the Ojibway Nation."
UNDERSTANDING
The governor praised "Mr. Pither's understanding of the Ojibway which
arises naturally from his eloquence in their tongue."
Robert Pither held the post of Indian agent in Fort Frances at a salary
of $1,000 a year, a tidy sum in those pre-inflammatory days. The correspondence
between the agent and the "Manitoba Superintendency", on display
at the Fort Frances Museum, provides a glimpse into the nature of his duties.
Mr. Pither had apparently passed along a request by the Rainy River Bands
that the next payment of Treaty money take place at the Long Sault. The
Winnipeg inspector's reply in the pinncale of paternalism. The letter, dated
March 15, 1886, states; " . . .I have to inform you that the practice
of collecting Indians in the later number is most demorilizing, affording
them an opportunity of perpetuating heathenistic ceremonies, and of indulging
in gambling, etc., and for these reasons, the request ... cannot be approved
of." In whatever light Mr. Pither's relations with the Indians may
appear to modern sendibilities, they appear to have been a model of enlightment
for the late Victorian age.
TRANSFERRED
In January of 1888, he was transferred to the Lake of the Woods district
and was stationed in Rat Portage present day Kenora, where he retired in
August 1891. He died in Kenora on May 31, 1918, at the venerable age of
93. He was predeceased by his wife Sarah on August 31, 1878, who is buried
in the Fort Frances Cemetary.
"Pither's Point is owned by four Indian Band Couchiching, Stanjikoming,
Red Gut and Northwest Bay, it is leased to the town until the year 2009
for the sum of $3000 annum.
Because the park's future will be "open for discussion" and the
fate of a proposed open water" in front of the Rendex-Vouz (The Rendez-Vous
Restaruant) awaits the resolution of a land claim by the same bands, Robert
John Nicholson Pither is still a great man".
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