The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-01-06
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in eivilziUg the Mdewakanton or Iowa
bands Of Sioux, yet as We were present a,
the Agency during the whole time, and were
/ cognizant Of all the facts, we carnot torbear
abiding to il and adding an item which has
not yet, perhaps, been published
/ Heretofore, the civilization Of the North
American Indians has been great unsoved
problem. The policy pursued toward
them has varied with each administration :;
officers have been appointed who were en-
tlrelv unacquainted with Indian character
and customs and the result has ended in
literally nothing. Under the present adj
ministration, however, things have been
conducted differently. Persons have been
appointed 10 govern and superntena the
| Indians, whose knowledge Of their habits.
wants and peculiarities was undoubted and
the beneficial results Of these appointments
are becoming evident TO ALL Oi the i'm.
provcment among the Chppewas we can
only speak from hearsay; but they, as well
Ms the Winnebagoss, are said TO be slowly
progressing towards civilization, with mark
cd improvement every year. But of the
sioux we can speak from actual observation
and knowledge Of their condition. Ian.
guage, habits, &c, obtained by residence
Of many years among them.
A few years since q series Of articles was
published 10y the present agent Of the Sioux,
| explaining his views with regard to the
means necessary to be brought TO bear upon
the Sioux in order to civlize them and.
although at the time, the ways proposed
were looked upon with distrust, We are
happy to see that Agent Brown still cings
to his early views, and that be Is so ably
seconded therein by Supt Cullen. The
practical application OF those views has al
ready been made and VIZ see the resul, in
the long line Of comfortable log and frame
houses lining the Minnesota river both
above aud below the agency, and at Red
wood and Yellow Medicine, and ia the i'm
proved condition Of the Indians who occu.
ny them, aud their gradual approximation
to the dress and customs of the white man
Those who have thus accommodated them
selves to the white customs and habits, have
been arranged by themselves into one band,
called the Farmers :" and as an evidence
OF their success. We have only to state tina,
the join, products OF fourteen Of those farm
crs summed IN at 1852 bushels OF potatoes,
2A21 bushels Of corn, 100 tons Of hay, be-
AIDE the numerous garden vegetables raised
by each family, We venture to say that
scarcely any fourteen ,rbae farmers, lately
settled, have produced heavier average
crop than this.
Since their adoption OF agriculture, these
farmers have been constant theme Of ridi,
cule for the other Indians They were
called the " diggcrs' the wood chop
pers,' the half breeds" and other
names, all implying that they were no better
than women. Yet they bore up under il
hr.vely, and were firm. II was necessary,
however, in order 10 bind them more firmly
to the customs they had adopted, that a
last call should be made upon their moral
courage and accordingly, nj the suggps
ton OF Major Brown, i, was proposed TO
lem that they should have their hair eat
oh and abort the white dress in toto. This
was daahcr for them They could bear
the white mans dress and stand the ahus,
OF the Indian but this was striking direct
at their own hereditary customs and belief
II was disgrace and shame They ht~i
tated, demurrtd and AL but refused but
finally came mp manlly and undarweot
Tie ordeal. sixteen came M, and were
male white men Of IN this way. After The
ordtal, every encouragement was given 10
them. both by the agent and superintendent
to stand firm tn Their ueg customs, both by
word and dc~i. Each ore was presented
with two new suits of clothe, throughout.
yokc Of oxen, q cow, ani numerous little
present Thy were told that the United
State would protect them and that they
mast hereafter do all they could "a cncour-
age Others to adopt the same mod Of lie
Thi> IS an achievement, op tie part Of the
present annuity otliacrs Of the Sioux OF
which they should oj,td itc proud 1t Is
onc which must I've iraught with the most
important results 20 the Sioux. A great step
has h,ca uktu and II may, eventually. by
q proper fostering carr and jadIcious man
nEement. lead TO the real tmbrac, ii ciyilza.
ton by large aud powerful nation
lnn.axf t,,.,ruI tl,rrlx aud the