Water, dreams and Treaties: Agnes Ross’ Mémékwésiwak stories and Treaty No. 5

Abstract

This thesis uses indigenous methodologies, including personal narrative and Cree stories, both ācimowina, (history stories) and ādizōhkīwina (legends), to explore the history of Pimichikamak Okimawin (Cross Lake, Manitoba) with reference to Hydro development and Treaty No. 5 negotiations. The stories are those told by Agnes Marie Ross in the spring of 2018 and were transcribed and translated by the author. They address questions of hydro impact through stories about Cree relationships with Mémékwésiwak. In Agnes’ stories this relationship is beneficial because it enables Cree healers to obtain medicine to heal tuberculosis. Agnes’ stories about treaty making, while they reference her great grandfather Tépasténam, who signed treaty, focus on his son, Papámohtè Ogimaw, who had to fight another medicine man who was trying to control the Treaty relationship. They address the history of Treaty making through a family story about a battle of medicine men that is politically significant today.