Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-08-14

anu DeHedueu. lney lald their remains IN a
pile and covered them with blanket. where
they remained until the rest of the Sisseton
band came down, on their way to the treaty,
who found and buried the dead
WEDNESDAY, July 16th.-As we'll for the
information of most readers of the Pioneer
in Minnesota as your readers abroad, | will,
in this letter, give some particulars concern
ing these wide-extended people, with whom
treaty is about to be negotiated here, which
hope will prove interesting, if not as COM
plete as might be desired. The Sioux num-
Der more than $1,000 souls, and their terrific
ry extends from the ceded lands in Iowa and
Missouri, to the territory belonging to the
Asslnlbolns and other tribes, which divides
their northern boundary from British Ameri-
ca. Their limits extend south-westward from
the Mississippi, across the Missouri, as near
to the Rocky Mountains as their rowing bands,
known as the Tetons, can follow their buffa-
10 ranges. The Sioux of the plains, by far
more populous bands than those who live
nearer the Mississippi, are rowing bands, and
subsist by hunting the buffalo. As many as
900 lodges of them were encamped together
on the plains last Summer. These bands, al
though they are for the most part classed in
several divisions, are really independent of
each other. There is reallo no government
no delegated power or constitutional trust a.
mong them. If they have any government,
it may be called democratic. A chief ex-
oept so far as he secures influence in his tribe,
by personal qualities, Independent ofhis office,
can Go nothing. As matter of form rather
than of fact, the bands constituting each d.
vision recognize the chief of some one of the
bands as their head chief in council
With slight difference of dialect, the ST.
rpux all speak the same language. Their habits,
customs, superstition9 are substantially the
same. Some difference in the fashion of
combing the hair and the style of dress, is
observable in different bands Our informa-
tion of the western bands, is comparatively
little; none of the bands beyond the Missouri
river, being represented in this treaty. For
convenience, | will commence with a notice
of the Sioux who inhabit the southeastern
extremity of their territory, and follow with
notice, in order, of the bands that are found
in our progress up the west bank of the Mis-
sissippi, the valley of the Minnesota and
thence westward, until we reach the wild
Tetons, who occupy the western annexation
end, extending indefinitely toward the Pacif-
ic Ocean
The first division, is that of the Metawa-
kantawn, or Spirit Lake Sioux, in the south
east. This division, comprises seven bands
or villages, which contain an aggregate of
about 2,200 souls. These are the only Sioux
who now receive annuities. They sold their
land east of the Mississippi, in 1887, by trea-
ty at Washington. They receive $40, 0,0O0an
nually, and $4,000 more to be paid according
to the direction of the President of the Uni
ted States, who has never yet directed Al
so, for period of twenty years after the date
of the treaty, they receive $4,000 annual
ly in goods, and $4,000 more in provisions.
The bands constituting this division are.
Ist. Wabashaw band, chief, Wabashaw;
who is also nominally head chief of the divis-
ion--population 800.
I'd. Red Wing band, chief Waukoota-
population 300.
Sd. Kaposia, just below st. Paul, chief
Hawk-that-hunts- population 400.
4th. Black Dog, chief Gray Iron-popula-
ton $50, FIVE miles up the Minnesota river. /
5th. Lake Calhoun band, chief, Cloud Man
population $50.
9th. Good Roads band, chief, Good Road
population 300
9TH. SKIS band, chief, Shawkopee-popnla-
ton 450.
The next division is that of the Wahkpay-
lawns, composed of three bands living on the
waters of the Minnesota River to wit
Ist. The Wahkpaytawn band numbering
150, at Little Rapids; chief, Plumstone, who
is nominally head chief also of This division.
I'd. The Lac-qui-Perle band, l25 miles "a
bove Traverse des Sionx, on the Minnesota
River, numbering 400-chief Big Gun.
3d. Big-Stone-Lake band, 50 miles north
west Of Lac-qui-Parle, numbering l50.-
These have no chief being branch Of the .
Lac-qui-Parle band. Their head man is
called The End They are very shiftless +
The next division is that of the Sissetons,
of three bands. No chief is ac-
by this division.
lst. The Traverse des Sioux band, num-
Der $50; chief, Red Iron, (he is an industrious
man, who is every day at work in his corn.)
ID. Little Rock band, numbering $50: +
Chief, Sleepy Ewes.