St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-25
THE INDIAN COMMISSION
Engaged In Its work at the Red
Lake Reservation.

Lake Reservations.
Special to the Globe
RED LAKE INDIAN AGENCY, Mimi,
Aug. 24.-The Indian commission arrived
at this place on Saturday, the 14th, from the
! White Earth agency, and after a quiet Sab
baths rest began their arrangements for
council with the Red Lake Chippewas A
great many OF the Indians understood that
the commission was coming, and had gath
cred around the agency awaiting its az
rival, others had to be notified, and not
until Tuesday did the first council occur,
when the commissioners explained to them
the object of their visit, etc, after which
they desired to be left alone, and the COM
mission took an adjournment until the fol-
lowing day. Wednesday about 3 o'clock
the commission were notified that the In
dams were ready to council, when they
proceeded to the old school house and found
awaiting them about a hundred chiefs and
head men. AS soon as the commissioners
were seated, Med-Way- Gan -on-Int, the
head chief. approached the commissioners
shook hands with them, and commenced to
relate the injustices which the great father
and the white man had heaped upon them
He said: THE reservation that reserved
extended to the Wild Rice river; have
not been to Washington since the last
treaty was made with the great father; I
have not coded my peoples land Oh the
Wild Rice river, and it has made my heart
very sorry and lonely when [ see the
amount of pine that has been cut on my
possessions. Sometimes / speak about the
matter, and the only answer get is that it
is the great fathers dolngs; they use the
great father as a tomahawk against US.
This is the great obstacle in our way. This
,ho{a r., f.
sionels informed them that they were not
here at this time to redress any
WRONGS OF THE PAST,
but to try and provide, for their future well
fare. 1t seems that there is a misunder-
standing among the Indians as to the exact
boundary lines of their reservation. They
claim that their reservation extends to the
north shore of the Wild Rice river, taking
in valuable strip of pine, good deal of
which has been cut by the lurabermen, and
they think they have been unjustly dealt
With by the government, or somebody, and
that the wrong ought to be redreSsed before
another agreement is entered into. Col.
Sheehan, the agent, explained to them, in
a very lucid manner, the exact condition of
things. and that everything would be made
right which seemed to pacify them to a
great extent The agreement which the
commissioners will ask them to sign was
drawn up in rough, and read to them and
fully explained. 1t simply provides for
reduction OF their present large reservation,
and what land is taken from the existing
reservation to be sold in such a way as will
bring the highest price, and the money
therefor to be held in trust by the United
States and the interest thereon to be ex-
pended in a manner which will best pro-
mote their welfare and advance their civili-
zation. The commissioners will not COM
plete their negotiations here for several days
yet. They have a great deal of work be-
FORE them, and work which they cannot
push. The Red Lake Chippewas. like their
White Earth brethren, are a sober, indus
trious people. and as tine-looking body of
Indians as l have ever seen. Out of over a
hundred that were assembled at the eoun-
ell yesterday, there were scarcely any under
six feet in height. They have their church
and school house here also, and many Of
them are engaged in civilized pursuits. For
people who have had the opportunity they
have. they are making rapid progress.
They are learning the ways of the white
man very fast, and it will be but few
years ere the blanket Indian will be thing
of the past.