St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-04-17
The Indians Extremity.

Gen. c, H Howard United States Indian Inspec'r
"BuffalO gomez This is the lacOnic
way in which the Northern Indians
express the fact to them so significant.
The vast region above the great
bend of the Missouri, extending from
Dakota westward to the Rocky Noun
tains, and from the Missouri northward
to the British line, was, some years
ago, set apart by the government as
hunting ground for the Northern tribes,
who :,elonged TO THAT country, aud
whose ancestors from time immemorial
had subsisted there by the fruits of the
chase. The country is well watered.
grass is abundant, the "cOOlies"-small
deep valleys, with abrupt sides-affOrd
shelter from the winds, and it has long
been regarded as the natural home
of the buffalo in winter. There are
three agencies, and seven tribes, to
whom this immense tract was assigned
namely, the Yanktonais (SiouX), ASSN
naboines, upper and lower, the Gros-
ventres, Piegans, Bloods ANA Black
feet. There are about 5000 of these
Indians exclusive of the Crows),
though their number varies somewhat
by parties going to and fro across the
northern border. Thirty of Sitting
Bulls old band came in at Poplar
River few weeks ago. When there
is to be an annuity payment to the
British Indians their relatives on this
side know of the fact long before, and
some of them manage to gain resi-
dence there as quickly and effectually
as the rapid colonization of Southern
Indiana from Kentucky at the time of
election. The country south of the
Missouri has been filling up with set
tiers for some years, especially as the
| Northern Pacific railroad was extended.
| And as cattle-raiSing has, for few
years past, proved so profitable, all the
| great ranges not actually upon an
| Indian reservation have been taken
up. The Piegan and Blackfeet reserve
! has been once cut down at the com
mand of the cattle men. There has
been some complaint by all these
Northern Indians that their hunting
grounds were being circumscribed
| They hear the echo of the cry that
goes up to congress every year from
prospectors of every kind, for Il reduc-
ton of their reservation. A bill wa:
introduced last winter by Delegate
McGinnis to vacate large tract lying
to the eastward and nOrthward o
Fort Benton, thus taking away from
the Indians the Bear Paw Mountains
where they have been wont to hun
elk, deer, wolf, and in the streams
beaver. While was at Fort Belknap
this fall, one Assinnaboine, with hi
son. came in after an absence of abOu
two weeks in that region, bringin!
twenty-siX beaver skins. With tn
issue of clothing scanty at best, ant
especially as the winter supply q
blankets had not arrived, and ther
, was dismal prospect that the rive
would close and the annuity good
would not get through until anOthe
season, the fur product was a grea
relief to the few that were successtr
E in the hunt.
1t should be remembered that til
Government ration is now confined t
. flour and meat, and is never enough
- prevent hunger. Part of the proceed
q of the furs goes for sugar, coffee, bean
o or other food, and part for the clothin
4 absolutely necessary to keep the
n from freezing during the long col
winter. Even the -four and beef wei
. entirely inadequate in quantity. Coz
il gress has been gradually diminishir
Il the appropriation, perhaps with Il
hope of pushing these wild men in
l. civilized habits. JudiciOusly and h
d namely managed, this, no doubt, is t.
l. true motive to bring the Indian
ID work and self-support.
1T But most of those Northern trib
id can remember when they had no he
n from the government. They did Il
IN ask for ratiOns. They reminded Ii
1t in council, that they had made treat
if by which they We're restricted to CO
ne tain bounds, agreed not to hunt sou
RS of the Missouri and the YcllOwstOl
not to infringe upon the grounds OF
be Crows and Flatheads, not to go sol
.rt of the Marias river upon the great C
nut tie ranges of Montana-in short, not
ge follow their old habits of raiding a
-es marauding. But, strange to say, IL
Drt imagine there are two parts to trea
ler They have the absurd notion that
rs. government agreed to something on
TX part. They made bold to say to
m that the government promised
ri think of the ridiculous directness ;
ure simplicity of the word-promised
by support them anu see Iildt tiioH
all dren did not go hungry, unit! t
es- should have other means of living.
Die, Much is said in these days by wo'
at be reformers of the Indian pol
,er- about the folly of issuing rations to
on dians. And to DO one could the
stu effects Of the ration system he II
hey apparent than to one who, like my
on has for years closely observed its
and suits in all parts of the Indian coui
ross and especially with a sympathetic
and pose to devise something better.