The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-02-13
MINNESOTA TERRITORY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 49,

and are nation of whose dialects, my
thology, legends, and customs. we have
the fullest accounts.
The Menomonie (Wild Ricc) Indian.
have not yet removed to their lands il
this Territory, although the term o.
their stay in Wisconsin, under the trea.
ty of 1916. expired during the present
month. Under charge of Colonel Bruce
their agent. and Mr.. Childs, party Of
the chiefs of this people, in the months
of June and July last, made an explor-
alton of the country provided for them
by treaty, situate north of Grow Wing
river; and after most minute examine
tion, the gentlemen who accompanied
the delegation, upon their return, ex-
pressed to me in glowing terms their
favorable opinion of the country, and
firm conviction that, in the lakes, the
rivers, the prairies, and the forests of
that region, means Of subsistence suffi-
cent for the wants Of the tribe could easi-
ly be found.
The Stockbridge Indians during the
present autumn have deputed deiesa-
ton 70 select location within this
Territory for the feeble remnant of that
once powerful tribe; but, as the two
latter bodies Of Indians do not at pres
ent fall within the jurisdiction ofthis SUI
perintendency. this report will merely
aim at succinct recapitulation af event
during the past year affecting the other
three named tribes; I'D first in orders
will be submitted brief retrospective
view of the affairs of the Sioux, or Da-
cotah Indians. The seven bands of the
Mcdewakant wan Sioux; the only branch
Of the great Dacotah family with whom
we have formed treaty stipulations-are
scattered over broad tract Of coun-
try extending from the village Of Shock
aPee, twenty-five miles up the St. Pc
ter's river, to the village of Wabashaw,
one hundred miles below its mouth, on
the Mississippi.
From the large erea Of country thus
occupied, arises an inherent obstacle
to that personal attention on the part of
the sub-agent, the superintendent Of
and the physician, which
this people ought to receive. For the
same reason, to derive reasonable and
legitimate results from educational ef-
forts among these bands, it is necessary
that they should be confined to more
contracted area, so that manual-Iaboi
school--and their funds will admit Of
the establishment Of but one-may by
free and accessible to ALL Since the
treaty of 1887, the Sioux have ever
been averse to the disposition Of five
thousand dollars for schools, as provided
by that treaty. In my last annual re-
port l dwelt at length upon this subject
and to the suggestions therein urged l
again invite the consideration efthe- de-
partment. From the notorious incapac-
ity Of Indians to act advisedly for them
selves in such matters, it is to be re-
gretted that government has not seen
fit, without consultation with them, TO
direct such disposition of this fund
as would best improve their condition.
wishing to advocate any propo-
sition which would divest them uniustiy
Of the smallest interest to which they
are entitled, the fact is unquestionable
hat a large proportion of every nor
fhern tribe of Indians would gladly di-
vert every dollar from educ ational to
other purposes.
Ofthe eminent superiority of manu-
al-labor over other schools, to stimulate
habits Of industry and mehorate their
modes of life, it is unnecessary to ospeak.
The total failure, the utterfruitlessness OF
other systems, has been repeatedly de-
Under their operation,
year after year, sanguine anticipa-
lions have been formed, to be succeed
ed by disappointment and dependency.
Manual labor instruction, by dispelling
he stigma of disgrace which the Indian
attaches to labor, and exhibiting to
him the practical triumphs of industry
and culture in agriculture and the me
chanic arts, alone promises adequate
return The Indian is moral pheno-
nenon. an anomoly among the races
,f mamie may win the diploma of q
University, he may be subleced to the
severe trainingand stern ordeal ofschools
he may become a free and excepted
of the republic of letters, but
not then are his pristine habits essen
tally modified, or his material condi-
lion radically changed. 1t is due to
ruth that this admission should be made,
for upon this subject the world has had
enough of idle romancing. Harvard
College" says Mr.. Bancroft. cnrois
The name of an Algonquin youth among
her pupils; but the college parchment
could not close the gulf between the
indian character and the Anglo Amer
ican. The copper colored men are
by moral infexibiIity,
rigidity Of attachment to their heridtary
customs and manners. The birds and
he brooks, as they chime forth their
canticles, chime them ever to
he same ancient melodies; and the In
]ian child, as it grows up, diplays
propensity to the habits Of its ances-
ors." -t
Of the state of moral and religious
culture among the Dacotahs, / think !
IAN notice slight Improvement from
heir condition year since. The ex-
lmple of their pious and devoted mission