Savage

Nick Huard is the Elder-in-residence at the University of Montreal, where he gives lectures, teaches workshops, and is consulted by faculty. (Courtesy: University of Montreal)

Story told by Nick Huard

Through the University of Montreal, I’m the resident elder now at the university.

When I look back in the past, if I even thought of something like that, I would get beaten up.

“How dare you think you can foresee yourself at the university?”

“It’s just a savage.”

“Don’t think about that.”

“Concentrate on your chores.”

I think we’re coming through. Especially when you consider that until 1951, nobody was allowed to leave the reservation without permission of the Indian agent. When I was a kid in Listuguj, that was the norm. The only way you could get around that was by serving in the army.

It’s still very recent.

I used to carry a stack of pictures pre-internet days, just to prove that what I was saying was true. People wouldn’t believe me.

“How could you do that? You’re just a savage.”

 It was very frustrating.

The Department of Indian affairs and Northern Development recorded a total of 11,097 permits, leases, and rights-of-way easements issued across Canada between 1968-69. These various types of lease regulated “land transfers” and “surrenders”, residential, commercial, and industrial land use, “resource development”. The transcript of this report also details, “Two thousand and eight leases, permits and renewals of leases authorizing the use and occupation of Indian Reserve lands by non-Indians were dealt with by the Lands Division, and approved during the fiscal year. At the close of the year some 11,097 such transactions were in effect, representing an approximate income to Band funds and individual Indians of $5,179,665.” These permits regulated land use on reserve for Indigenous Peoples, private industry, and non-Indigenous people. (Courtesy: Library and Archives Canada)