Final answer:
Edgar Dewdney, as an Indian Commissioner, excluded certain lands from treaty negotiations, leading to disputes between tribes over land claims. These exclusions reflect the historical tendencies to disregard treaty agreements in the face of expansion and settlement, contributing to ongoing issues regarding Indigenous land rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edgar Dewdney, an Indian Commissioner, played a significant role in the dealings between Indigenous Nations and the colonial governments in Canada. When it came to treaty negotiations, Dewdney excluded certain land bases from the treaties, which had profound consequences for the tribes involved. During the time of treaty-making, there were cases where land disputes arose between two Indian tribes, as they claimed that the same land was given to each of them under separate treaties.
These kinds of disputes and the exclusion of lands from treaties reflected broader problems in Indigenous relations and treaty-making processes. For instance, Problems of Perception point out how different worldviews and misunderstandings about the nature of treaties exacerbated tensions. Tribes were often promised certain lands and protections, only to have these agreements disregarded or undone by subsequent governmental actions, including increased immigration and the introduction of laws like the Indian Act of 1876 which sought to exert greater control over Indigenous Peoples.
In the historical context, individuals such as Edgar Dewdney had to navigate a complex political landscape where the interests of manifest expansion often overshadowed the rights and agreements made with Indigenous Nations. The Inherent Right to Self-Government Policy is a contemporary approach that attempts to provide a more just framework for First Nations to negotiate their claims and address historical grievances.