The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-17
THE HAPPY INDIANS.
They Live in Canada and Are at
Peace With the Whites.
SIOUX MUST Be iLL-TREATED
A Canadian Says the Cause of the Trou-
BILE Should Be Investigated
Stories Of Sitting Bull.

Among the present residents of Seattle Is j. A.
Carman, proprietor of The Coiontst magazine, OF
Winnipeg, who is perhaps as well posted on the
character of the Indians OF the plains as any
man in the country, for he has lived among them
in the northest provinces OF Canada Tor years
and has made five trips across the ROCKY mount
aims with them. He is strongly OF opinion thas
the present troubles in Dakota and Nebraska are
due TO unjust treatment OF the Indians. In an
interview with PosT-ISTELLIGENcER reporter
he said:
"There must be some Injustice at the bottom
Of this trouble. The Americans are broadminoed
and the government has made good provision 10Y
the Indians, but the Indians don't get 1t your
House ought TO be called upon to inquire INTO
the treatment OF the Indians and find out what
the cause OF the trouble is. We have large
bands OF Indians in Canada and they are more
warlike than yours, but they live peacefully.
think the cause OF this is that the Canadian
government shows a scrupulous regard ior
its treaties. One great cause OF the
trouble is that the settlers are cor
stantly trying to have the Indian
lands taken from them, and inducing the gov
eminent TO move them 10 new reservations.
tribe that has lived in q valley with stream
running through it and mountains on both
sides cannot settle down on prairie ground. A
better way ought to be found OF serving out
rations TO them. The Indians have always been
accustomed TO eating like gluttons. and when
their rations are served out they viii eat all at
two meals, and starve the rest of the week. The
agents ought TO teach them TO divide up their
rations over the time they have to last.
''In Alberta we should never have secured the
land If we had not made treaties and observed
them. We have 5000 white settlers scattered
over territory thousand miles long, and II the
Indians were to rise those white people would
have no chance against them. But we have
made treaties with them, and the government
sternly resists all proposals to break them and
take away the indiana lands Settlers are kept
off the reservation by the mounted police, and
the consequence is that the Indians live peace
fully. They have settled down to farming, and
we have put instructors on the reserves and
provide them with implements and stock. This
policy has been followed for about fifteen years
and in that time the younger men have become
quite good farmers. For instance, Pia-pot, one
of their leaders, and a willy politician, put zoo
tons OF hay into Regina for the mounted police.
The best load OF wheat in Manitoba last year
was brought in by an Indian We have lots OF
poor men among them, but we have long ago
learned that it is cheaper to feed and teach them
than fight them. Yet many OF them have be-
come such good farmers that the white people
are complaining of their competition and object
to the government protecting and helping them.
The government allows no whisky on the re-
serves, and when train enters the territory the
mounted police come ON board and search it.
Even Ii a man only has bottle in his satcbei 1t
is taken from him. 1t was necessary to take
care of them, for the buffalo, fish and birds are
nearly all gone. There are 300 or 800 buffalo be-
tween the Peace and Saskatchewan rivers and
the government and the Hudsons Bay Com
pany keep an eve on them, in order to preserve
them as a curiosity
"The result of this treatment is that the Indians
are loyal. Poundmaker, one of the famous chiefs
OF the Riel rebellion, so named from his ability
in making pounds to catch buffalo, went down
to Crowfoot, chief of the Bloods Piegans and
out the Whites cowoO: sad 1t Will be time time
when the Great Mother the QUEEN breaks faith
with u.s. Crowfoot then asked the agent to
wire Sir John Mcdonald that he would remain
Il have seen Sitting Bull He was clever
old schemer, but would always put others
%r.h to carry out MS tt she R Mao,
he fed into Canada after the Custer
campaign. is living at Winnipeg. He
as snail R detail S Of mounted ssp police and met
1000 or 1000 warriors. He notified Sitting Bull
that he would be expected to keep peace on the
ae ne Bn no n wn be- tse
penalty if | refuse? Walsh replied Il viii shoot
you on the spot Bull was paralyzed at the
handful of men, but he knew that if he refused
he would be driven out of Canada into the arms
OF the American troops, so he agreed to keep
peace, and did so.
"a band OF starving Sioux, who were refugees
from the Custer trouble, came across TO Moose
town In Assiniboia. in 1883, led by Black Bull
one OF Sitting Bulls captains. The Indian police
crossed the boundary and wanted them to re-
turn, but their leader told Black Bull that he
intended to stretch his neck. The Indians
thought he was safe where he was, and is with
us vet. He is prosperous and has about go
ponies.
1.-THE Indian is naturally a horse trader and
viii get the best of the best white horse trader,
and do not see why we should not make
stockman of him. They should be put in the
cavalry, for they like military dress and wheel
we'll The Indians are naturally divided into
two classes, the horseman and the eanoeman,
The horsemep are great fighters, and the further
north you go the more warlike they are.
81 don't agree with those who say that the only
good Indian is dead Indian. The Indians show
great ability in many directions and have proved
their capacity for civilization. They faithful
to their treaties and are peaceable when they are
well treated. There must be some serious cause
for this trouble in Dakota.