Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-09-11
Indians and Ceremonia1s at the
late Treaty Negotiations.

Indians and Ceremonia1s at the
late Treaty Negotiations.
We forget what publication the following ar
tlcle, which we find in the Boston Museum is
from, but it is a very late and doubtless an au-
thentic one: ED.
Indian treaties are always made on the 'front.'
cr and the meeting of the tribes with the whites,
almost generally develops some superstition, ro-
NANCE or personal characteristic that is new.
Since the removal of the tribes East of the Mis-
slssippi, beyond the Father of Waters, towards
tae setting sum- and the acquisition of California,
the extent and Importance of our Indian relations
have greatly increased. Nations whose distance
from civilization has hitherto rendered them of
little consideration, recent events have made
necessary to conciliate by presents, treaties, and
a show of our power and the inevitable conse-
quences of their hostility to the whites.
The late abortve attempts of the United
States to negotiate treaty at Traverse des
Sioux with various tribes of Indians, whose pres.
ence is nmical to the peaceful progress of the
new Territory of Minnesota, has, however,
thrown new light upon the religious and polit-
cal opinions and manners and customs of the
aborignees of that part Of the country, which
are curious, to say the least, as vetable history
of race whose extinction is certain and not far
distant.
The Indians have great fear Of thunder, and
the region of the treaty ground IS described by
the writers as the "plvot of te1pests." Rain
and storms are froqnent and tcGihle. The In
dians in the conp were very muA, excited upon
the subject, ard finally they resof;od 20 take the
weather in hand. They followed the example of
white men, who in all emergencies, call a meet
ing and make or hear speeches. The following
admirable speech was made by Walking-Thun-
der, and indicates an an!idote which he pro-
posed for their meteorological grleqances.-
THE SPEECH OF WALKING-T THJvDER.-" This
high water is unusual. The Great Spirit does
not smile. lie growls at US. Something docs
not suit him. Our corniieds, where are they !?
Our young men cannot hunt. The powder in
our rifles is wet. 1t will not burn. We kill no
game nothing Our Great Father gives us
little beefand little corn since we came to the
treaty. But we are very poor. Our ribs may
be counted, like the poles of lodge-hame
through the skin. Corn will not grow without
sunshine, and if we have nothing to eat, we must
starve. Our horses are thin. We thought they
could run some but even Shasta Wasta's Mr.
Tylers) horse can outrun our fastest buffalo nag.
Our dogs are lean, very LEAH. They are too poor
to bark. They howl little sometimes, but very
feebly. We are glad our Father came up here
with little corn and little beef and it may be
a few slices of pork for us to eat We were
very hungry, and we are yet. The red man is
always hungry. The white young men are fat.
They look very sleek and greasy. The reason
is that the Great Spirit gives them more food.
We do not like so much rain; it is more than
, there is any use of. EIo no Our tents are
soaked with water. 1t pains us to have our wo-
ulel lOdueu uOWn WIN wet uu9BdSe Wnen we
travel. We cannot bear it. 1t may be the
steamboats, drove this flood up the river when
they came. The boats brought up little corn
and little beef, and it may bea slice or pork.
They are welcome EIo! ho!]
Sour lodges are peaked; our Great Fathers
+ tents are peaked; the Gre1t SBitit rains on
both; but there is too much thgnder and rain
and sharp lightning. We want more beef and
! less thunder. They say the Great Thunder Bird
has dashed his wing upon the head of the Blue
Earth river, and broke open fountain, out of
which the freshet comes. 1t was whispered to
. me in dream that we ought to have a round
dance this afternoon. [Ho ho hol 1t may
save us much thunder, Lightning and rain. If
f our Great Father wants to buy our land, we will
f talk with him about it at proper time. Our
+ Great Father has several cattle left yet; there is
no hurry. Beef is good for the red man, but
Rookoosk (pork) is not very, II our Great Faith
Q er's children think so much Of pookoosk, why do
!. they not eat it instead of beef? Probably be-
, cause, like whisky, they think beefis not whole
: some for us. Elo ho! ho We will attend
the round dance this afternoon, and try to alay
e the storm and appease the Evil Spirit. The
}. wing of the Thunder. Bird must be broken. [Hol
a ho ho 7"
Y The writer gives the following account Of the
: mode in which the tribes proceeded to break the
: wing of the Thunder Bird -
/, The ROUND DANcE.-Accordlng in the
+ afternoon, the round dance was made ready
o The spot selected was nearly hall mile back o.
b the river, upon the plain, between the first ahC
It second bench The Commission, and in focI
c our whole camp was present, and perhaps thou
a sand Indians of the several bands. The theatre
o OF the religious dance was a circular enclosure
n made up Of the limbs of the aspen stuck in the
d ground, interviewer with four arched gateways
e one toward each point of the compass, making
an area Of about the size of lalge circus.