Grand Chief George Coté
220 years ago, in 1800 over 40 million buffalo roamed the North American prairies. This provided the foundation for the shelter, food and livelihoods of the indigenous people of the prairies. Just 70 years later - by 1870 the buffalo had disappeared. Hunted to extinction by settlers wanting indigenous lands to settle on, with the full support of governments who wanted the “Indian problem” solved, natives were forced onto reservations and children taken away from families and put in residential schools. With their livelihoods taken away, the Indians, who were traditionally hunter/gathers, faced starvation. To solve this problem, the Government of Canada made treaties with the Indians, promising them financial and technical assistance if they agreed to surrender all their lands except certain small, reserved portions to the crown. Nearly all the Indian bands agreed to this plan. September 15, 1874, Treaty #4 was made between the Crown and 34 First Nations in Fort Qu’Appelle Saskatchewan. On behalf of his people Chief Gabriel Cote, Chief George Coté’s great-great-grandfather, signed. In this treaty, they gave up 74,600 square miles of land to the crown and agreed to live on reserves. In return, they got the Coté Reserve - 56.5 square miles in eastern Saskatchewan. Over the ensuing years, the Government and railways expropriated 45% of this land for a pittance. Promises were made and immediately broken. Training in farming and cattle ranching was promised to help the people transition to this reserve. All the promises were broken. Government officials stole the grain and cattle. They took the best land and gave it to white settlers. The Coté people were starving. Local townspeople gave bribes and whiskey to the Chief and Councillors to convince them to give up more land. Under the pressure and the inducement of bribes, the Band was pressured to surrender another two-mile strip of the Reserve. Under the terms of Treaty 4, the government was obligated to provide education for children. They turned this responsibility over to the Church. Seven generations of Coté children were taken from their families and sent to St. Phillips Residential school, operated by the Catholic Church. Survivors tell stories of sexual assault, physical and mental abuse, and very little education. It has scarred everyone. The people suffered from limited education, broken families and relationships, and inadequate support systems. Hope was limited. Band leadership was troubled. Seven years ago, George Coté was elected as Chief. He was just re-elected for the second time. Chief George, a vibrant and strong Christian, has brought unprecedented progress to his people and their First Nation. http://tearfund.ca