The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1889-10-17
Work Of the Chippewa Commission
Comes to a Successful Ter
minatiOn.
Mile Laos Indians at Last Ac-
cept the Terms OF the
Treaty.

~~SD
judging from the manner In which the In
dams held their blankets, for the red men
also. But as the oldest chief rose at the
opening Of the mornings council and re-
moved his dilapidated hat from his. scanty
gray locks he remarked that the result
Of the council would probably be propitious,
rs the commissioners couid observe by look
ing st the armament that the, clouds had dis
appeared and Judging by the pleasant
weather providence wab favoring them. He
gave the commission to understand that the
business could not be closed that day, say
ing that the time would be devoted
to asking questions n reminding them
that, as the weather was very nice, no papers
spread put would suffer from rain, so he re-
.quested that il the commission had . map it
be produced that they might see the size OF
their reservation, that 1t might not only
be witnessed by the audience, but by
one on high VIC saw all things.
A map of all the reservations was laid on
the table, and the location and size Of all
the reservation in the state explained. But
when the Mile Laos reservation was reached
it was discovered that the Indians. under
stood the line OF land which they have a
right to occupy extended three miles further
north on the west shore Of the lake than the
boundary stated in the treaty, and
%", s~UBsrANT1ATE THEIR CLAIM
by showing that one of the trea ties provided
that o certain number of acres on the res
ervation should be broken, and that the land
actually broken was within the disputed ter
ritory, which has, however, since been pat
ented bv the government, and is now occupied
by well cultivated farms. This matter wal
brought out by the old chief, who said he
was The only living Indian witness of the
signing Of the treaty, at which time, he said,
Mr.. Rice was also PRESENT He was told that
the matter could not be adjusted at once, but
must be reported to the department.
The Mile Laos have had go slight a hold
on their reservation that tho conn.,
~missioners anticipated their repeated inqui-
ries as to the provisions of the act of con-
gress relative to their continued residence
on this reservation. One Indian asked that
the white Rice" tell them If IL were
really true that the government wished
to purchase the farming land and
the pinery, saying the young men had
asked him to use the very best Chippewa he
knew in stating tho question. He also
wanted to know what the children born in
the tribe hereafter would do for land, aud
delicately intimated that there would be a
good many children. Mr.. Rice told them.
they would receive all the land. needed by
their bands now or ar any future time,
and stated that a white man. NO matter
II he had a dozen children, received from
the government only 100 acres, while an
Indian, with the same number Of progeny
under age, was now offered $50 acres.
WHAT THEY NEED H.
F. One Of the chiefs declared that they needed
q saw mill blacksmith, shoemakers, phy-
sician and an overseer The commissioners
replied that the governments did not propose
to pull out their teeth and tell them how,to
eat tough meat, but that, they would re-
ceive under the ac5 all that
was necessary. for their, Advancement.
The morning session then adjourned,
after a polite request by the Indians that
they be shown a specimen Of the proves in
bunting OF DR.. Whiting Of the commission,
was reputed among them to be O great
sportsman, to which the doctor loosely re-
piled that he sent a government bullet after
II moose with q long. tail. After din
ner the Indians resumed the propounding
of questions in relation; to damages Ly the
reservoirs, the cutting Of hay upon the
reservation by whites. when they might hunt
deer. holding land purchased outside Of the
reservation by those entitled to receive ailot-
menus anu annulIles, an Oh winch seemed TO
be answered satisfactorily. = as at
the opening Of the council the next
it was evident that a few were get
ting their heads above the sea OF doubt in
up to that time they had been i'm.
.mersed, one of the leading bravesin address,
ing the Indians saying that the proposition
made would settle all their past troubles;
their Oldest friend, Mr.. Rice, had been
sent by the great father, INT that they should
not be fools, but " VI ~, =
ACCEPT THE OFFER MADE.
The speaker then referred to a Fmixed blood
who was among them getting names for
purpose, and said there was not. a man,
woman or child among them who. would
give him their names for any purpose, add
Ing. eve do not wish to drive him away, let
him stay, and whenever he gets ready TO-,
start, letshina co. ayItt I, aE.. .arz
the person named, who had. followed she
commission around from ,Leech Lake, where
he arrived after the pilIagers had signed the
agreement for the purpose, it IL supposed. OF
obtaining the consent of the Indians that
he be Empowered to act as their at
claims. At The afternoon council one of the
Indians made o quasi apology for tEe speech
referring to him. made in the morning, end
disclaiming any hostility toward the mixed
blood. but whether the explanation or
instigated BY the gentleman named, did
not appear. The last council held
Saturday afternoon brought out persistent
inquiries about the annnitiesswhich. have
been due for several years and the probable
the9 foT p pay%en That tne ,h o0mm Wonla mako sG'ai
no promises, but g that efforts would
be made to adjust all old diff
~ferencea. The old chief spoke again, saying,
as he took off his hat, that he did it 10 show
how bald he was. and affirming that he and
kSu"% all 1vr A In1inrn NAe n7orofN~l q 49, III
that the government had simply bor-
rowed the money, and would surely
return IT But that he wns now
an old man, and fearful, that he knew every
thing human was uncertain, and he implOre6
the commissioner 70 assist them in obtain
ACKNOWLEDGED AT WASHINGTON
ten years ago 20 be justly due, before the
amount became melted in with all the other
money he and two other chiefs had seen in
the great fathers vaults at the capitol.
At this point there fseemed a lufl in
the proceedings. and the Indiana were
evidently hesitaLing about further action,
but q chief finally roEe and said In Chippewa,
snow Is the time to act Do not keep the.
e ooa'. z 'iss =, s Uniting e., 4 - any n ONE e op,
speech ~favortng the negotiations, the
old chief said, .sYou know very we'll
that at the time the country Was ia difficulty
and there was an outbreak among the sioux.
The Mile Laos took the right attitude and
ment OF our great father. We wish
The government to know we. stand In
the same position now; and that we
covet the friendship OF the whites and the
protection Of the great father. AZ there was
evidently some hesitation about finally clos
ing the matter, MI. y, Rice made q
judicious speech, in which be- re-
gferred to their present situation and