Interview includes two stories: the first about a boy who saves a boy and wins a wife in the process; a second about a boy who upon returning to his band with a wife becomes chief.
American Indian Culture and Research Journal, vol. 18, no. 1, 1994, pp. 67-93
Description
Focuses on the Kumivit, or Gabrielino, Indians and documents the resistance and responses of women to the new colonial order. The time period covered for this topic includes Toypurina’s revolt and Bartolomea’s bitter recollections of the destruction of her culture.
Nine elders in discussion at Saddle Lake Reserve. They talk about aspects of life before contact with whites, Treaty #6, the history of amalgamations and land sales, and a traditional story of a boy raised by buffalo.
Several topics are discussed: describes the acceptance by the Peigans of Treaty #7, and its effects on their way of life; compares U.S. and Canadian treaties and criticizes Canadian education of Indians; briefly describes some aspects of traditional ceremonies; and tells story of two spirits gambling for control of lands adjacent to Rockies.
William Okeymaw was 12 years old at the time when he attended the Treaty #8 negotiations.He describes the negotiations and his understanding of the promises made; the role of the missionaries; talks of some of the Indian agents; and the abundance of buffalo in Lesser Slave Lake area at one time.