A History of the Dakota in Canada

In his book titled "The Dakota of the Canadian Northwest Lessons for Survival", Peter Douglas Elias explores the history of the Dakota (Sioux) people from the position of the Dakota people themselves. Based on many documentary sources and the expertise of Robert Goodvoice, a tribal historian of the M'dewakontonwon and Wahpetonwon Dakota, Elias is able to provide a sound and valid argument for the Dakota's entitlement to aboriginal and diplomatic rights in Canada. Elias not only manages to successfully provide the Dakota people with an unequivocal written text of their past failures and accomplishments, but achieves his goal of dispelling many of the assumptions that plague them to this day.

In his study, Elias states that many of the assumptions placed on the Dakota people were due to the fact that they were never truly recognized as a nation with whom the crown was obliged to seek treaties. Because of this, many government officials, and historians alike, assumed the Dakota played little to no role in the war of 1812.

During the war of 1812, the Dakota Indians allied with the British in their fight against the Americans. As a gift for their efforts, the Dakota people were rewarded with "a large belt of wampum, six silk flags and five large medals." These gifts were rewarded in the year 1813 by the board of enquiry. Along with these "gifts" was a promise made by Lieutenant Colonel McDouall (a representative sent by the committees of Trade in Montreal and Quebec.) "Should the king and your Great Father deign to listen to the proposal which the enemy have made for peace, it will be on the express condition that your interests shall be first considered, your just claims admitted, and no infringement of your rights permitted in the future. My Children, doubt not that will be the case. The King your Great Father has assured you that he will never abandon his Red Children whom he has so long fostered and adopted." This is a very powerful speech, and Elias does not let the reader forget it.

Elias effectively indicates that as time progresses the Dakota people seem to receive less and less support from the government. Elias is tactful in pointing out that many times in the years to come after the war of 1812, the Dakota present the Government with the flags and five large medals they had received as proof of the promise that was once made to them, and every time they are declined.