St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-12
LETTER FROM WHITE CLOUD.
The Successor of HOle-in-the-Day
Writes to Gov. Hubbard Con-
corning the ChiDDeWaS.


The following letter written by White
Clozd, the head chief of the Ojibway or
Chippewa Indians, was received at the state
house yesterday:
WHITE EARTH, March II, 1884.
Gov. L. F. Hubbard
Dear Sir and Friend. I wish to write you
and say few words. have often heard Of
you as being the governor and being good
man, and having heard of you before and at
the time of your taking your seat in direct
ing the affairs of the white people of the
state, thought it well and that there would
be friendship; or, that the friendship between
the white people and the Indian would be
formed.
was very sorry a short time ago to hear
that you had just started for Washington just
when also we were on the point OF visiting
you. Some of the chiefs and head men had
a council preparatory to our proposed VISIT to
YOU, md about the time we had decided on
our movements, we heard that you had gone
east. We, therefore, delayed, or postponed,
this visit on account Of which We are very
sorry, as we intended to see you in matters
which we wished you to have forwarded or
carried to Washington.
Twas very much pleased with your repre-
sensations, which were published, as to the
condition of the Ojibways. What pleased me
was the true representations you made, and
which show the condition of all the Ojibways
in Minnesota. According to the manner in
which everything has happened this winter in
the way of the inclement season and other
events, the Indians of Mile Lac could not
be in comfortable circumstances Their
hunts last fall were failure; the
rice crop, upon which they depend,
was destroyed on account of the
dam in Mile Lac river, the
non-payment of the annuities due, and
also their not being assisted by the great
father with means to obtain such articles by
which they could help themselves by agricul
ture for these reasons l cannot see where
those Indians could at present be comfort
able, and can only think of them as being
destitute.
was at Leech Lake after New Years day
and saw the Pillagers. They were very near
in the same condition as that, we learn, the
Mile Lac Indians are in. l was told by
them that they were destitute, and 1 OBJ
served that they were. They did not sue
coed or make good hunts, killing but few
deer. They planted considerable corn last
spring. You must have heard, as we know,
OF the severe frosts we had last fall, and their
crops were therefore injured. Their annuity
goods up to the time of my making them a
visit in December and January had not been
distributed to them, so that the hunters be-
ng half clad could not hunt with success.
This is about all have to write you, which
l do on account of having been pleased with
the correct representation of the destitute
condition of the Indian. Whoever can say
or will say that the Indians are comfortable,
will tell an untruth or falsehood. The Glib
way Indians, on account of the rapid and
full settlement of the country by the white
man, cannot live by hunting.
=, learn an inspector is among the Mile
Lac Indians, and presume that they will
fully lay before him the condition of their
affairs. If it was shown to those Indians
that by farming they can prosper, it might be
we'll for them, provided assistance was offer
| ed them; but as many here who have been
established here or removed to this agricul-
tural country, yet remain to be provided for
| in such manner as to enable them
selves to obtain a living by farming, it is
| doubtful whether these Indians would be
| assisted.
| AT the start we made some advancement
| in agricultural pursuits and expected to at
| tain the condition in which the Great Father
hoped to place us in. But I think now or
fear that we shall not reach the point at which
we are striving to reach or to be placed in by
! the Great Father.
We were very sorry not to have been able
to see you, and personally inform you as to
our affairs. AS our last resort hearing, also,
of the interest you have taken in our matters,
some future day, if our condition does not
improve we may pay you visit. send you
! my regards. Youy friend, WHITE CLOUD.