New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
SITTING BULLS MESSAGE.


the Government in taking the census Of the Indian
tribes in Dakota. 1t was written out by him in the
Dakota language and then translated by him. and,
RS he is a wel-educated young man. and an es-
teemed member of one of the Dakota Indian mis-
sionary bodies his words are to be relied upon.
Yours respectfully,
c. L. HALL, Miss. A. B. c. F. NJ.
Standing Rock ID. T., Aug 26, 1881.
THE MESSAGE.
/ am the son of the He-Topa -Four Horns late n
chlet OF the Uncapapas and it is said that he was
one OF your relatives; SO, then, You a younger
prounor 70 me tsunkachIye). You are full-blooded
Dakota, but you adopt the ways OF the whites and
i, near that you have been employed by the Great
For the last few years have been in the North,
where there plenty of buffalo, for the buffalo were
a any means OF living. God made me to live on the
uesh OF tne buffalo; 80 thought would stay out
JheTe as long as there were buffalo enough for us.
III the Great Father sent for several times and
although dld not know why be wanted me to come
down. at last consented TO DO SO. l never myself
made war against the children of the Great Father
ana never sought fight with them. While was
looking tor buffalo, they would attack and shoot of
me- and of course | had to defend myself or else
should die. But all the blanc Is put on me have
always Thought that the Dakotas all one body;
come and settle down White / nave hem in the
North, here and there, "A good many little things
nave happened, and have been blamed for them;
put put know that | am innocent. Those men who
nave made the trouble ought TO be blamed. Every
pOdy knows that was not going to stay at the
North any longer but that when the buffalo disap-
Although you are a Dakota. you are employed by
the Great Father therefore want yon to let him
hear my words When | first came down, white
meu came to me almost every day to get some words
ont of NE, but / sand: No! When settle down 1
snail say some words TO the Great Father" l know
that some white raScals have dealt with the DakO-
tas, and by their foolish ways have ruined them.
AS Tor myself, DO not want any 10 do uaschcy-
ously on dcceltiully. So / do not want 10 Jet any
ordinary man hear my words. tell the whites that
my words are worth something; and even If thew
were wiling TO pay INC for il, never made any r,-
ply. But as soon as saw you | was well pleased
Although you are a Dakota you have gathered up
many good words and put them into my ears To-
day was wishing that some one would Gene in aud
advise me, and rs you have done so, it pleases me
very much. All this people here belong to me-
kindly. always thought that when we came
back and any of ny relatives came to NE with good
words, should reply - Yes yeS.p To-day YOU have
put good words Into my ears, andI nave SAID Yes
In the future hope shall have some good honest
rchaDlc man with me. Interpreters have come TO
ne OFTEN following me up and have said, No.
am not child If L want to do anything shall
was killed by getting mixed mp with bad men Often
times man has lost his life by being mixed up with
bad men. But wish shat my people may be treated
well so THAT they may do rightly. / am the last one
that has come IN from the North and vet ! want to
surpass the old agency Dakotas in what's ri ht and
wish that the Great Father would furnish me with
farming implements, 50 that can till the ground.
My brother, wish you would send this message
TO the Great Father right away, that he wiz helm
me. Nov / have confidence in you that Won
VIII he able 10 send OFF my message. / am glad that
you came to me. 1t is "A good thing for rela-
uVCs to each other. have no objections 10 vour
numbering the people. SITTING BULL