The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-02-20

.consin, .Mnnsdeuish. and Chippewa riy-l
ers, to hunt the deer and large game
which there abound, During the entire
winter they sojourn in this region, COM
ingsin contact with the white population
attracted tinther by the pineries. Enti-
ced among the lumbermen by attachment
toardcnf spirits, many families, espc-
cially on the Wisconsin, remain the year
round. These have become demoralized
and miserable, forming perfect nui-
sance 10 the whites, who are fast occu-
plying the country
These bands residing upon the Chip
pewa and its tributaries are less degen-
crate and more manly. As far back as
their oldest men can remember, they
have warred with the Sioux. Forming,
with the St. Croiy, Mississippi, and Pill
lager divisions, the vanguard oltheir ma
ton in its. westward advance. they have
stood the brunt Of war, and been fear
fully mischievous in these wretched bor-
der trays With this people no serious
difficulty has yet occurred. They are
peaceably disposed to the whites, but
much attached to the country they have
sold.
The Wisconsin Chippcwas are physi-
caly larger and stronger than their more
northern brethren.
The 81. Croir Dirision-The portion
of the tribe reside upon the St. Croix
river, on lands lying partly in Wiscon-
sin and partly in Minnesota, ceded in
1887, by the treaty of ST. Peters They
number about eight hundred, and have
their villages at upper St. Croix lake,
.N'um-a-quag-,;m, Po-ka-eo-mon, Yellow
and Rice lakes, and on Snake river
They are known among the tribe as the
.uam-o- -ia-a-she-ug, or "Rice max
ers." The country they occupy abounds
in wild rice, and formerly these bands
we're noted for gathering large quanti-
ties of il. Since the sale of their coun-
try, they have become the most misera-
bic and degenerate Of their tribe. Liv-
ing altogether among the pineries, which
of late years have been so much resort
ed to by the whites, their deterioration,
through the agency of intoxicating
drinks. has been rapid, and almost with
out parallel. Murders among them
selves have become of frequent occur
renee; and quarrels arising in drunken
brawls have caused ieuds between fam
lies which have grown so serious that
small war parties have been fitted out
against one another. During the past
few years, number ofwhites have also
been murdered, and a most aggravatng
case of homicide occprred the past sum
mer
| This state Of things calls for prompt
action from government. Living but
short distance from their own lands
about Mile Lac, they should, without
delay, be removed thither; though, af-
ter removal, it would probably require
a force to keep them within bounds
The residue of the tribe labor under the
belief that the bad conduct of the "Rice
makers" has accelerated the mandate
Of the President for their removal from
the ceded lands; hence the St. CroiX
bands are obnoxious to their brethren,
and no measure, even Of forcible re-
nuval, would excite for them sympathy.
For their own coed, as well as for the
safety OF the white population who are
exposed to their dopredatio.s, their inn
me dlate removal should be enforced
To carry this object into effect, it will
be necessary to settle their bloody fam
lily ieuds. At present, they fear one
another much more than they fear any
common enemy, and they will not Goa
lesce until their InpIacable resentments
arc appeased. 1t is proper to mention,
the ST. Croix lake band, numbering over
one hundred, have kept aloof from the
white settlements, fearing to be impli-
Gated in the acts Of their brethren, and
have even gradually removed towards
Lake Superior The chief of the Snake
river band, .Hodin, and Il principal man,
.Mun-o-n,nik-0sh-an, have migrated this
simmer to Mile Lac, and located with
in their owu lines, and are inducing as
many as possible Of their bands to follow
their example.
Mississippi Ch;pperas. These bands
are known as the Ke-che-se-bc-,ria-o-
ring. or Great river men," They
dwell in Minnesota, on lands Of which
ivy "'hi hV'u tiC Po5SCSSoIy tittFeet.-
Their numbers amount to eleven hun
dred; and their principal villages are at
Sandy Lake, Mile Lac, Rabbit river,
and Gull Lake. According to accounts
of their old men, little over century
has elapsed since a large party of Chip
pewa warriors, led by their war chief
Bi-aas-mah, sailed from the shores of
Lake Superior, and conquered Sioux
village, at that period, located at Sandy
Lake. Here they made Il stand; and
at this lake for many years hourished
their metropolitan village. From this
spot marched the war parties which
drove the Sioux from Lecch, Winnipeg,
Red and the Mile lakes. Their hostile
incursions even extended to the Mime
sofa river, and their hunts to Red River
on the west and Rum river on the south.
Throughout this entire region, death
has held its carnival, and the bones of
Sioux and Chippewas alike whiten its
soil. Twice within a century have the
Mississippi Chippewas been nearly ex-
Terminated hy their enemies. I,,f 70