Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-02-06
MONTANA INDIANS.

Elaborate Report from the Committee Ap-
pointed to Consider their Grievances.
Washington, Jan. 3O-The sub.com.
mittee on the grievances of the Indians
in Montana territory have made their re.
port to the full committee, known as the
Dawes Indian committee. The cub
committee report that the Flathead
Indian reservation contains 100000
acres of land, nearly all of good quality
and much Of it very fine. The Indians
now upon the reservation number about
l,4OO. the Pend d. Oreilles and Flatheads
each outnumbering the Kootenays.
They are making rapid advances in ag-
ricultural and mecha nical pursuits and
the education of their children; and,
altogether, are in better condition than
any tribe visited. At the council.
Michele, who had been selected to rep.
resent the three tribes, said empbatically,
that they wished their reservation to
remain as it is, and that they desired
to hold their lands in common
and not in severalty. The com
mittee found that much apprehen-
sion existed amongst them in regard to
the payment of $4,000 due them for the
right of way for the Northern Pacific
railroad, which passed through their
reservation. When asked il they wished
the Flatheads. Who adhered to the for.
tunes of their head chief Chariot, and
remained in the Bitter Root valley, to
come to their valley, Michelle replied
yes. that they were then brothers, and
that they would be glad to have them
come. An earnest appeal was made by
the chiefs for such measures as would
prevent the introduction of whisky and
playing cards on the reservation. The
good that the committee feel justified in
reporting that in very few years they
will be as useful and prosperous COM
The committee report that Chariot. the
head chief of the Flatheads, is an indi.
an of fine appearance, and impressd
That lie has been badly treated
is unquestionable, and the history q
the negotiations which eliminated in tue
division OF his tribe. part of them under
Arlee, the second chief, being nov on the
locke reservation and part still in the
Bitter Root valley with Chariot, is to
say the least, most remarkable. In 1856
u treaty was made between the United
States and Victor, chief OF the Flatheads
and father of Chariot By this treaty q
very large territory was ceded to the
government, and in yielding it Victoria
insisted upon holding the Bitter Root
valley above Lo-lo.fork as special re.
servation for the Flatheads proper. By
the ninth and tenth articles Of the treaty
the president was empowered to deter.
mine whether the Flatbeads should re-
main in the Bitter Root valley or 60 to
the Joco reservation. Up to the time of
Gen. Garfield's visit in lS73-seventeen
years afterward-no survey was made,
nor were any school masters, blacksmiths,
carpenters or farmers sent to the tribe,
as provided for in the treaty. In the
meantime the Bitter loot valley was be.
ing filled up by tho whites. and on Nov.
IA, 1871, tho president issued an
order declaring that the Indians should
be removed to the Jacko reservation.
This order the Indians refused to obey,
and serious apprehensions of trouble be.
tween them and the white settlers caused
the appointment by the secretary of the
interior of Gen. Garfield as special
commissioner to visit the Fiatheads and
secure If possible their peacable removal
to the Jecko reservations Gen. Garfield
stated in his report that he found the
Indians opposed to leaving the Bitter
Root valley, for the reason that the
government had for seventeen years
failed to carry ont the treaty of 1855.
and that no eteps had been taken toward
surveying and examining the Bitter Root
valley, as provided in that treaty. On
Aug. n, 1872, he drew up an agreement
carrying into effect the president's
proclamation 10 remove the Indians tu
the Jocko reservation. The committee
said:
i Chariot, although his name or mark ID
attixed to the published agreement, de.
clarea that he never signed il or author
lized the signing, and the original asrse.