ðɪ oʊblˈeɪts, hɐdbɪn ˈaɪwˈɪtnəsᵻz tə ðə ɹˈæpɪd dɪtˌiəɹɪɹˈeɪʃən ʌvðə lˈaɪfstaɪl ʌv fˈɜːst nˈeɪʃənz sˈɪns ðə wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti z, ænd kənsˈɪdɚd ðə tɹˈiːɾiz təbi ðə "lˈɛsɚɹ ʌv tˈuː ˈiːvəlz", ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə hjˈuːəl.
The Oblates, had been eye-witnesses to the rapid deterioration of the lifestyle of First Nations since the 1870s, and considered the treaties to be the "lesser of two evils", according to Huel.