The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-09
The sioux Payment $500 sWlscstn'."druS
Cuiivn aud Ageat uroSs0.


| Correspondence % III. roassr ard Dem crst
Sioux AogNcy, Nov. -, 1858,
Superintendent CULLEN, and Agen,
BRowN, made the SEMI annual payment to
the MedawAcauton Sioux, at the Agency
| on the 18th Inst. The occasion was Of un.
usual interest and Importance. Twenty in.
taenllal men, who have formerly been head
men and soldiers Of different bands, came
forward and publicly renounccd their tribal
relations, and distinctive Indian habits and
customs, aud formed themselves into soci
ETY. Of agricul,urisis, Their constitution re-
qurs tha, each member shalt drvss in the
| costume Of the whites, wear his hair short,
educate his children, encourage schools, cul-
tivate u farm. abstain from the use Of iutox-
ica,ing drinks. and forever abandon the war
path.
The members Of this society have built
themselves comfortable houses. cultivated
large fields aud arr successfully adopting the
various agricultural arts. At u council
| held ut the house Of one OF the society, il
was asccrtnined that the twenty members
had raised during the past season more than
ten Thousand dollars worth Of corn aud po-
tatocs alone, besides making Nh ample supply
Of hay for keeping their cattle and horses
during the winter. The Agent explained 10
them the value Of their crop, and instituted
u comparison between their present happy
and aillpnt condition und their former HE
of suffering. deprivation and want. lie told
them that the whites had now refused to all
low them to hunt On the odcd lands and
those Indians who now ridiculc aud con
tenn them, would soon be compelled 10 live
by agriculture, or be swept from the face Of
the earth forever.
Col. CULLEN assured them they should
receive every encouragement in his power TO
grant lie told them that he would give Ia
each head OF family u yoke Of sxen md n
COW, that their property should be fully pr :
tected aud in case envious Indians killed
their cattle or horses, they should be replaced
by the Government. lie urged them To
keep their children nj school, that they may
be- qualified when men and women to OIL
honorable positions in life. He told them
they were men with strong limbs AMI stout
hearts who were breaking new aud diff
cult path, and that when they once started ON
the trail, mud broke down the obstacles, hun
drets Of others would soon follow IN their
ioot-tew
The Principal Of the Society made very
happy reply, and concluded by saying, tina,
they had now fairly set out on the new
road, tina, they found il far better than the
old one, and that with the assistance and
support Of their Great Father they would
never turn back but continue on to the end
The tax over Col. CULLEN informed
them thai he WAS now ready to cut oil their
hair. in compliance with request Of the
members Of the society, when the Principal
came forward, and one after another sub
mitled TO the operation until nil were shorn
Two full suits Of cloth X were then passed
over to each man, which were Immediately
put on, aud in one hours time the whole
party presented the appearance OF n respect.
able body Of white men, very much 10 the
surprise ard amusement OF the beholders.
Cutting or the hair may SEN 10 thoss
unacquain,,d with IDdian predjudccs, IA n
sacrifice Of very trivial importance, But
such Is far from the truth Among the Sioux
nation long hair il u mark OF manhood.
salor aud ln7iDcibIli'y, and tho cutting il
oG the greatest indigniiy that can be IN
nIcted Therefore this has been prejudice
very rarely overcome, and when once nc.
complished il is justly regarded as one Of the
strongest pledges that can be given Of II de.
termination 10 become civilizd.
This work 80 Dobly begun, and generouS
ly seconded by the Superintendent anil
Agent, is foil Of encouragement, and pro
mise.
! was happy to learn while at the Agen-
~ that u marked change ia rapidly taking
place among the Lower Sioux Most u
them are settling on separate farms, build
ing Themselves comfortable houses. aud a
general spirit Of ordtr and industry prevails
! throughout The nation
A school has been open during the past
year. aud now large room il daily filed
with intelligent, cIesnly looking children
who, M was in ormed by the teachers
eyince great proficiency IN Icarniug u read
write aud speak the English language.
A. W u.