Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-30
THEffs RIGHTS.
A Delegation Of Ctjppesvas Gotng to Has's-
Sngtoa to Protest against the W0shbur,s
Moorbead News. 27th.1

sngton to Protest A0attss tho Washt"rf
Blu.
[Moorhead News, 27th.]
| Saturday afternoon party of Chippewf
Indians arrived in the dual city from the Red
Lake reservation, and this morning repre-
sentative of the Ne,us paid them call with q
The party Consists Of eleven men and
one woman and are led by their interpreter,
a hall. breed, who gave his name as j. b.
Russell. There are three chiefs among the
number, who are known near and Tar
as The. Man W no. walks where-the land-meets,
Little Thunder and Little Rock. They are
certainly an intelligent looking lot OF men.
and seem determined to be heard in behalf OF
the tribe. They are en- route to Washington
to oppose the Washburn pine land bill They
intend to make the trip at their own expense,
asking no favors other than what is justly
due them. Mr.. Russell, the interpreter, is
fine looking young man who has good under
standing Of the English language, and re-
asked the questions and returned the trans
lated the sentences in kind and gentlemanly
manner. Little Thunder seemed to be the
spokesman of the party, and to the question
as to what was their errand in Washington
replied about as follows:
1--WE hear that Washburn is going to sell
our land to the highest bidder. That isn't
right. We want to sell it ourselves and to the
government. If the land is sold as Washburn
wants it should be-, we will get cheated; the
agents are dishonest, they lie and cheat. We
want to deal with the government direct, then
we will have our rights. We want to sell
one half our land and keep half. We want to
stay on our own reservation. Don't want to
60 on to the White Earth reservation. II
they will let us alone We will do well enough.
We farm for ourselves; raise wheat, corn, po-
tatoes and such vegetables as we want"
SIS your reservation prairie or timber land?'
t'Mostly timber-pine.
Chow many acres are there in the reserya-
ton ?"
.'sAbout 100000"
'Doyour people find plenty of game on their
own lands"
Eyes, we find bear, moose, elk, deer and
small game in abundance"
"What we want is our rights" volunteered
Little Thunder. "The lumbermen are
STEALING OUR TIMBER,
and floating it off down the Saltwater. We
complained to the agent. He, said l must
attend to it myself. Our people have written
time and again to Washington, but got no re.
ply. Walker has camp on our reservation
now, and has many men at work cutting our
timber on the Clearwater. Lots OF white
men come up anu look drOuuu W occ uiHuoi'
don't want to- hurt any one for encroaching
upon our rights, and that's what we are 60
ing to Washington for. We have been i'm.
posed upon long enough. This new bill OF
Washburn's my people consider as game to
rob us of our land. 1t won't work. We were
there first and shall protect our land"
There followed series of questions regard
ing the habits of. the tribe, churches, schools,
laws, etc. Little Thunder said "There are
about 5000 members of the tribe; we have
our public school; there are three churches.
two Methodist, one Catholic; the Catholic
church has the greatest number of members,
about 600 (women and children not counted);
our people are quietj we war with no one.
The Sioux used to be our enemies;
we fought our last battle eight
winters ago; we visit back and forth
now. We have good frame houses on our
reservation. The law of our tribe does not
allow the use of liquor or cards within the
limits of the reservation. We keep up the
old customs of the tribe, dances, gala days,
etc. Tell your people, through your paper,
we are going to see Mr.. Ramsey ex-governor
of Mirnesota) He is my friend. He has done
much for us, and we all like him. We are go
ing to see him and get him to use his influence
in our behalf. And don't forget to save us
oopy IF tho None We are done ~