134 THE LIFE or

of land, and others on Islands. We 10W offer you any portion of the land which we own In this region ; that we may, the rest of our days, smoke the pipe of friend- ship ; live and die together ; and see our children play, and be reared on one spot. We ask no money of you. We love you; and because we love you, and feel for your children, we propose this.

“ Brothers! There are many other subjects which we think ought to come under your consideration besides those already stated. But the most important are :

“ 1. VVhether it would not be better for the whole Ojebwa Nation to reside on this, our territory.

“ 2. Would it not be well to devise ways and means to establish Manual Labor Schools for the benefit of the nation.

“3. Ought not apetition to be drawn up and presented to our Great Father [the Governor General,] for the purpose of fixing upon a definite time for the distribu- tion of the annual “ presents,” and the small annuities of each tribe.

“ 4. Is it not desirable to petition the Governor General, to appoint a resident Indian interpreter, to assist the agent in Toronto.

“ 5. As we [the Christian part of our nation] have abandoned our former customs and ceremonies, ought we not to make our own laws, in order to give character and stability to our chiefs, as well as to empower them to treat with the Government under which we live, that they may, from time to time, present all our grievances and other matters to the General Government.