Joseph McKenna (Canada) facts for kids

James Andrew Joseph McKenna was an important person in Canadian history. He is best known for working with many Indigenous groups on behalf of the Dominion of Canada, which was Canada's government at the time. He played a part in creating important agreements like Treaty 8 and Treaty 10.

His Life Story

Early Years and Family

James McKenna was born on January 1, 1862, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. His parents were Rose Ann Duffy and James McKenna Sr. As a child, he went to St Patrick's School and then St Dunstan's College, both in Charlottetown.

Before moving to Ottawa, James worked for the Prince Edward Island Railway. In Ottawa, he married Mary Joanna Josephine Ryan on August 7, 1888. They had a large family with five daughters and two sons.

Starting His Government Career

James began working for the Government of Canada on March 11, 1886. His first job was as a clerk in the Privy Council Office in Ottawa. This office helps the Prime Minister and Cabinet make decisions.

On May 23, 1887, James moved to the Department of Indian Affairs. Here, he became the private secretary to the superintendent general, John A. Macdonald, who was also Canada's first Prime Minister. James was promoted in 1888. During this time, he also studied law. His legal knowledge and important position helped him later when he was chosen to negotiate with Indigenous peoples.

In January 1897, the new superintendent general, Clifford Sifton, chose James as his private secretary. Later that year, James was sent to talk with the government of British Columbia. The goal was to get land for Canada to build a railway across the country. In 1898, James was promoted again.

Working with Indigenous Peoples

In 1899, James McKenna helped with the negotiations for Treaty 8. He worked with Indian Commissioner David Laird. Treaty 8 was an agreement with Indigenous peoples in the District of Athabasca and parts of British Columbia.

James suggested two big changes to the treaty. One idea was to let Indigenous peoples choose to receive land in separate pieces instead of one large reserve. The other was to give them a single payment instead of yearly payments. The government accepted the first idea but not the second. James then traveled to places like Fort St John, Fort Dunvegan, Fort Chipewyan, and Fort McMurray to get local Indigenous groups to agree to the treaty. These talks were sometimes difficult.

Métis people in the Treaty 8 area did not receive land. Instead, they were given scrips, which were like certificates for land or money. James was made a co-commissioner to handle these scrip applications for the Districts of Assiniboia and Alberta starting in 1900. He continued this work until 1904.

On July 1, 1901, James was promoted to "Assistant Indian Commissioner and Chief Inspector of Agencies" for Manitoba and the North-West Territories. He moved to Winnipeg. In this role, McKenna supported policies like residential schools. He also supported rules that tried to stop traditional Indigenous dances and clothing, especially off-reserve.

When Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces in 1905, Canada began talks for Treaty 10. This treaty was for Indigenous groups in those provinces who were not part of earlier treaties. McKenna was chosen as the commissioner for Treaty 10 and for scrip payments. He started this work in August 1906 but left before it was finished. A local co-worker completed the task.

In February 1909, the Department of Indian Affairs closed its Winnipeg office. McKenna was then given a new role: "Inspector of Roman Catholic Schools" for Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Some residential schools were part of his new job. He kept his high salary, making him the best-paid officer in the region. His new work involved inspecting Catholic boarding and industrial schools from Fort Frances, Ontario, to St Albert, Alberta.

On May 24, 1912, James was asked to represent Canada in talks with British Columbia. These talks were about complaints from Indigenous peoples. He reached an agreement with Premier Richard McBride, known as the McKenna–McBride agreement. This agreement set up a special commission with representatives from both governments. Their job was to look at reserves and suggest changes to their size, but only if Indigenous peoples agreed. In return, British Columbia would give up its rule that any land taken from a reserve would become property of the province.

The Royal Commission on Indian Affairs for the Province of British Columbia was created on March 31, 1913. McKenna was one of Canada's representatives and moved to Victoria with his family. The commissioners spent three years traveling across British Columbia. They gathered information from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people about the size and borders of reserves. The commission finished its work on June 30, 1916. It suggested changes to reserve borders, recommending that the total size of B.C. reserves should be doubled.

After the commission, McKenna was asked to make sure the report was printed and that British Columbia accepted it. There were delays in printing and the provincial government, led by William John Bowser, did not act on the report right away. Later, the new government, led by Harlan Carey Brewster, made new demands. They wanted to remove a rule that required Indigenous consent for any reserve border changes. This rule was removed, and the report was finally accepted by all groups in 1923. Even after acceptance, more talks were needed before any border changes were made.

On April 1, 1917, James was let go from his job for personal reasons.

Writing and Later Life

James A.J. McKenna also wrote articles. He wrote for a magazine called Catholic World in 1891. He also wrote a piece for the Canadian Government called The Hudson's Bay route, which supported building a railway to Hudson's Bay.

He was mentioned in a book called Canadian men and women of the time, which said he wrote a pamphlet about Sir John Thompson in 1895. However, no copies of this pamphlet exist today.

In February 1918, James published articles in British Columbia newspapers. He argued that Canada should return lands to B.C. that were given for the railway. In return, the province should give up its claim to lands removed from reserves, as suggested by the McKenna–McBride Royal Commission.

Special Recognition

In 1911, James received an honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Ottawa. This was a special award for his achievements.

Retirement and Passing

McKenna retired to Victoria, where he passed away on May 30, 1919, due to heart failure.