The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-10-30
ABOUT FLATHEAD INDIANS.
Small Per Capita Appropriation.

To the Editor Neso Noraa- West:
I feel grateful to You for publication in
your paper Of October sd of an article
headed, Recalling Indians" a. it does JUS
tice to my efforts In restraining the Indians
under my charge from having any trouble
with citizens, and also gives information to
residents Of the Territory that they seem to
lack, viz:
"That an Agent cannot, n matter of legal
fact, compel an Indian not accused or con-
victed OF crime, to remain on the Reserva-
ton. as that would practically deprive him
of personal liberty, to which he is entitled
under the Constitution. The Ponca Indian
case, tried In Omaha, decided that, and 1t has
not been reversed that we have noticed"
In your article you kindly add that Major
Roman understands the case and twill do all
| he can, when advised, to right or redress a
wrong; and 1t should also be borne In mind
that unless accused and arrested for violation
Of law, It is altogether q moral pressure that
| compels an Indian to remain on his reserva-
| ton. Agent Roman is therefore entitled to
more credit than seems to be conceded to
him."
In special report to the Indian Office,
under date of October Ia, stated that
large number of Indians of this Reservation,
after harvesting their crops, went forth to
the hunting grounds to secure wild meat for
family use. 1 also stated that
THE BOUNTY LAWS OF MONTANA,
giving to the slayer Of each bear the sum of
eight dollars for every skin produced and
properly vouched for as having been killed
within the boundaries of the Territory, and
not on any Indian Reservation, is a great
incentive to the Indians to 60 out hunting,
as the bounty on bear and numerous other
animals is promptly paid to the Indian hun
ter, as well as to the white. I held. also,
that while such q temptation is held out to
the Indians to hunt off the Reservation, the
press and citizens should not be so loud in
their denunciation Of Indians leaving the
Reservation for the chase while such bride
is offered by law to disobey the regulations
Of the Indian office and the efforts of the
Agent to keep them at home.
In said report to the Commissioner of In
dian Affairs, stated that it has been the
custom of the confederated tribes Of this
Reservation to 60 out to the hunting grounds
every fall to secure meat and robes. In later
years, however, since the disappearance Of
the buffalo, the largely increased cultivation
of the soil by the Indians, and their atten-
ton being turned to stock raising and other
civilized pursuits, hunting parties from this
Agency began to disappear, with the excep-
tod Of small bands, who scatter out in differ.
ent directions from the Reservation to hunt
deer, elk, mountain sheep, ETC., both for
amusement and profit. This year, however,
a greater number have gone hunting after
harvesting their crops, owing, think, to the
enactment Of the bounty laws already alluded
to. have never offered any serious objec-
tions to the Indians leaving their Reserva-
ton to hunt, after work was completed about
their fields and farms, especially when each
party was accompanied by trusty Indian,
either policeman, chief or headman, whose
business 1t was to see that the Indians con-
Quoted themselves properly and committed
no overt acts among the settlers in fact I
never had any Department orders or instruc-
tions upon this point but was guided by
ing such
RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THE TREATY,
proclaimed April %, 1856, (See pager, Revis-
ion Of Indian Treaties), aud also the treaty
Of April IS, 1869, concluded at He'll Gate, in
the Bitter Root Valley, Art 3, page 1856 1856,
from which quote:
"The exclusive right of taking fish In all
the streams running through or bordering
said Reservation Is further reserved to said
Indians as also the right of taking fish at
all the usual and accustomed places, In CON-
mon with citizens Of the Territory, and of
erecting temporary buildings for curing;
together with the privilege of hunting, gath
ering roots and berries, and pasturing their
horses and cattle upon open and unclaimed
land"
No complaint has been made except that
the Indians are killing game. But
ORDERED THEM TO THEIR RESERVATION,
and as thirty lodges returned to-day from the
vicinity Of the Big Blackfoot, It will be seen
that the Indians accepted my advice and
counsel and obeyed the order without q
question, except mild protest that they bad
. treaty right to hunt off of the Reservation,
but would obey the orders Of their Agent.
THE MATTER OF RATIoNs.
IL has been stated in the press of Helena
that the Indians of this Reservation receive
ample annuities, and q supply of beef from
the government sufficient for their support.
How far this statement is from the truth will
appear from paragraph copy from my an
nral report to the Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs, for 1884, page 112:
y "In the list of appropriations
for Indians for the fiscal year 1Ss3-1ss4, those
who run may read For the subsistence and
civilization Of the Flatheads and other con-
federated tribes, including pay Of employees
$4,000. That this muniicent sum was not
exceeded can be verified at your office.
Therefore 1t will be evident that had the |
amount expended in their behalf been equal |
ly distributed among the 1 ZOO Indians of this |
Reservation, each would have been benefit |
ted to the extent of nearly eight dollars. 1t |
Is unnecessary to explain that wagon, for |
instance, valued, let us say, at $50, could not |
well be distributed in ten equal parts, and |
that when one Indian, of necessity, became |
the recipient Of the vehicle, the portions Of |
the appropriations assigned others were cor |