The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-09-24
CHIPPEWA CONFERENGE Ar
THE INDIAN BUREAU.

we copy hc following interesting ac-
count Of recent interview between Col.
Luke Lea, and a delegation of Chippewa
Indians, from the National Intelligencer
of the 9Th inst. The delegation arrived
here by the Franklin No. 2, on Saturday
morning:
On Thursday, between l and O'Clock,
the parley or conference between the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the
deputation of Chippewa Indians now in
this city took place. These Indians ar
rived here in the early part of the week.
They number six, including their inter-
prefer. The object of their visit is not
very clear, but might he drawn from their
addresses to the Commissioner. The
conference was held in the Commission
er's room, in the Indian Bureau. 1t was
announced by the interpreter, whose IN
dian title is ENMEG AunowH, that three
of the chiefs would speak. Accordingly,
IAskwEkEsnIc, or Crossing-Sky, the
principal chief, advanced, and, shaking
hands with the Commissioner, said:
my Father, the business which
brought me here, and which we talked of
little yesterday, will now speak to you
about more particularly. Before | left
my country every Indian gave me coun-
sci, and told me what TO say to you and
to our Great Father, the President, and
when | return they will look to me for a
reply. come here to talk to you be-
cause feel that have done no wrong, and
committed nothing evil, either against the
whites or my own people. l have come
a long way, and have been very anxious
to sec you, my father, and my Great
Father. These wampums were present
before many chiefs, and the words that l
now speak are the words they wished me
to say. Our people have become much
troubled and very anxious in their minds,
for fear their Great Father Is soi.'s ~
take away their lands. and they look all
&. o,.ru III every direction, and they look to
the Canada side. We lock around. We
have no refuge, no shelter. We look to
the ocean; we must be driven to its
shores; perhaps we shall be drowncd.-
Some Of our chiefs have wished to go to
Canada, and some have determined to die
in their native land. They have great
expectation from me, that l shall get
good reply from our Great Father. am
going to say few words respecting pay
ments. We were informed by onr agent
that we should be furnished farmer,
blacksmith, and teacher among our pco-
pie. l have often asked for all these
things. | have asked our father. 1t is
now almost fifteen years since we have
received annuities, and all this time we
have had no teacher. am very anxious.
Before the time comes that we shall be
driven from our country we wish TO learn
the ways Of the whites. l have come
great distance, and wish to get good news
from our father. And about our timber
want to speak. Last winter l went
down to ask the Governor about our tim
ber, and got no satisfactory answer. l
wanted to get whitcfolks to come into our
country, and to put up saw-mills in our
country. We arc anxious and ready to
build, but we cant build without boards.
| am weak and poor, truly weak; you
have great strength. You can move great
things. leave this with YOU" (Spread-
ing the wampum on the table before the
Commissioner and retiring.
KAREwENINr, or Safe-Guide, then
rose, and shaking hands with the Com
missioner, said:
"My Father, many hcad-warriors gave
me the words now give to you. Our
last payment was poor. Every way you
could hear wailing of chileren and women
and men. We received what provision
our Great Father sent, but it was poor,
we thought. There were many deaths in
our party. After payment was over, only
one blanket was left to me. After our
people left the paying ground many of
our people were seen lying down and
frozen to death. We are very poor
We received no money; many of our
people died. In our village were many
poor" He then laid calumet on the ia
Bile and retired.
NAGANEGA BOWL, or Stand Before, then
rose, and with stentorian voice address,
ed the Commissioner thus:
"My Father, we are in strange co,ln-
try, but hope you VIII listen TO inc lew
words I have to say. Last summer we
went down to St. Peters, and we had a
council with some other tribes. The
tribe was the Sioux tribe. We had a
council with them last summer at Fort
Smelling. When we were all together
we saw our great father, the Governor of
the Minnesota Territory, and we talked
with him. We are always ready to hear
our father. When he sent for us, we all
came down. When all the wrongs are
taken account of between our tribes, 1t
will be found the Chippewas have done
the least wrong. Wehad councils. We
could not decide. We left it then to our
father; he could not decide. He said
he would send it to our Great Father
here. He told us he would get an an
swcr in three months. We expected af-
ter we got an answer to have had repara-
a., e., Tho x,-ropos tho Cfhorc had 1ona