The Mississauga Tract, 1805

The Mississauga Tract, 1805. Honouring the Chiefs of the Mississaugas. By the 1790s, the British Crown recognized that the Mississaugas controlled a large amount of land at the western end of Lake Ontario known as the "Mississauga Tract". At the end of July of 1805 representatives of the British Crown convened a meeting with the principal Mississauga Nation chiefs near the mouth of Credit River to acquire this land for settlement. The negotiations were held outdoors and in close proximity to the Government Inn, which stood near this site., The Crown was represented by Colonel William Claus, Deputy Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, with other officials and officers from the 49th Regiment. The Mississaugas were represented by their principal chiefs and a gathering of warriors. During the negotiations Chief Quenippenon (Quinipeno, Kineubenae, Golden Eagle), produced a map etched on a flat stone that outlined the Mississauga territory under negotiation. Speaking on behalf of the other principal Chiefs of the Mississaugas (Chechalk, Wabukanyne and Okemapenesse), and referring to an earlier treaty, Quenippenon stated their concerns: ,

... we were told our Father the King wanted some Land ... to settle his people on it, whom we were told would be of great use to us... Father - we have not found this so, as the inhabitants drive us away instead of helping us, and we want to know why we are served in that manner ... Colonel Butler told us the Farmers would help us, but instead of doing so when we encamp on the shore they drive us off and shoot our Dogs and never give us any assistance as was promised to our old Chiefs... Now Father you want another piece of land - we cannot say no, but will explain ourselves before we say any more ... I speak for all the Chiefs and they wish to be under your protection as formerly, But it is hard for us to give away more Land: The young men and women have found fault with so much having been sold before; it is true we are poor, and the women say we will be worse, if we part with any more ...,

Eventually the Mississaugas ceded to the Crown's request for territory, and on August 2nd, 1805, Treaty 13-A was signed. Referred to as the "First Purchase" or the "Mississauga Purchase", this treaty ceded 70,784 acres of land to the Crown, involving all lands from the Etobicoke Creek to Burlington Bay to a depth of 6 miles inland. The southern part of the City of Mississauga, from Lake Ontario to Eglinton Avenue, is located within this area. The Mississauga's were compensated 1000 pounds of Province currency, given largely in trade goods over several years., The Mississaugas reserved rights to the fisheries in the Twelve Mile Creek, Sixteen Mile Creek and the Etobicoke Creek, and sole right to the fishery in the Credit River along with one mile each side of the river. This area became known as the Credit Indian Reserve., In August of 1818 the Crown and the Mississaugas, signed Treaty 19, which ceded 648,000 acres of land (all lands north of modern Eglinton Avenue). With the signings of Treaties 22 and 23 in February of 1820, the Crown acquired the reserve lands which had been set aside in 1805. The Credit Indian Reserve lands along the Credit River were retained by The Crown as a Native reserve until March of 1847 when the lands were put up for auction.