The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-10-13
BIG INDIAN TALK.
Council Between the Commissioners and
Red Clouds People.
Letter from Red Cloud Agency.l

Among the prominent Indians present
were Red Cloud, Little Wound, Swift
Bear, Red Leaf, Black Goal, White Tail,
Sitting Bull, Pretty Grow, Eagle Dress,
Young -Man-Afraid, and Quick Bear.
Many officers from Camp Robinson at
tended the council, which lasted two
hours. Red Cloud made the first speech.
He said that he and his people were will
ing to give up the Black Hills country.
Also to have his young men take jour
ney to see the country spoken of by the
Commission in the Indian Territory, and
if they report that it is good country
his people will so consider it. If they
report it bad, they will consider it "bad,
quick. ~
Bear said that when the young men
got back from that country the Indians
would want to go to Washington with
their agents, chiefs, and interpreters,
and have q talk with the Great Father
before giving this country up.
Sitting Bull said: 81 have got
Judgment against the agent. If be is
sure every ten days, promptly, it is all
right; but if he don't, L will go north"
Young Man-Afraid said: "My father
shook hands with the Great Father on
the Platte river, and was told that this
country belonged to the Dakotas.
was brought up in this country to be
chief. The soldiers have no concern in
this country since have been here, and
have tried to do right. 1 wish to tell
you plainly that l have been ashamed
ever since the soldiers came here and sat
down. 1 wish you, my friends, who
have brains and hearts, to tell my Great
Father what my opinion is, and what 1
have said. 1 agree to the young men
going on the journey, but we are going
to ask of the Great Father great many
things. We expect to have food and
blankets as long as we live. The Great
Father has not lived up to his promises
in the past.
American Horse said "The soldiers
had no business here. If they wish to
arrest anybody, the country is wide let
them &c and arrest them. There are a
great many bad men in the north ; let
the soldiers go and arrest them. "
Laughter on the part of the Indians.
Here Red Cloud took DIR. Daniels,
Mai. Howard and Joseph Bennett, set
them among the Indian chiefs, and said
he wanted them to do his business for
him, and go to the southern country
with his young men. He also wanted
P. G. Boucher, Antoine Janis, Bill Sow
land, Hank Clifford, Todd, Randall,
Frank Solway and Nelse Moran to go as
interpreters.
Red Dog said that the Indians were
not willing TO sign any paper until the
young men got back from the southern
country, and they had chance to go to
| Washington and talk face to face with
the Great Father.
Black Coal, the Chief of the Arapahoes,
said that his people had an equal right
with the Sioux to the Black Hills coun'
try, and they would want their share oi
the money received for them. He was
willing to go to look at the southern
country.
Bishop Whipple replied to the Indians
that the Great Father required them tC
sign a paper binding themselves to go tC
the Missouri river if they did not go tC
the Indian Territory else they woult
get no more rations. He urged them t.
consent at once to the proposition, anc
90 to the Indian Territory upon the re
turn of the young men.
Young -Man-Afraid said: "This is th'
country where / was born. hav,
never made any mans heart feel bad.
have thought the Great Spirit intende,
/ should live here and raise my children
here. wished that the Great Fathe
should take care of me, and Ishould iv
here with my children. These whit
| ,1oO,>Ia xx,br baxa ~, a ry,aJ aDoopu nc r,,x,
notice that it will take me long time
learn to labor, and expect the Pres
dent will feed me for hundred years
perhaps great deal longer. The prom
ises that have been made by the Gres
Father heretofore have not been carrie
out; therefore, / have been unwilling
go to see him, though 1 have been ofte
| invited. DIR. Daniels will rememb,
, bringing back from Washington the wor
that here was where we were to raise OF
. children. have appointed to live her
therefore, L have never travelled abo1
/ to see other ccantries. You never heal
of me behaving badly" With this
, took the pen Ia his hand, and rs he una,
his mark said 14rrhat a is to signi
} that the Great Father has fed end cloth
Elo uuuO<eu years, anu given
wagons and cattle"
Red Dog said "I want the Gre
Father to make haste and send me til
Mani Painting (Maj. HowardD for Ager
also Bennett and Daniels to assist me
Little Wound "I told you befo
that L must have my anRrities with
two months, and provisions to last
until spring"
American Horse said "K Kn regard
this arrangement about the Black Hill
Q it is to last as long as we last"
i Man-Afraid-of-the- Bear took hold
the pen, saying Z" The others have sa
Q enough, and signed and retarned to
4 seat.
Three Bears inquired for how mai
, years they would stay. He thought
l should be for five generations
q Fire-Thunderer came up holding b
1 blanket over his eyes and signed bin
{ folded, returning to his place in silenc
Big Fool, who has been engaged
: agriculture several years, said: a" L am
g farmer. L wanted hundred wagon
4 but have never seen them yet. L a
o the man that is going down to see tn
: country"
Y Grow, with good voice, refused
y aion the treaty. and walked away wit