Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1891-05-01
NORTH DAKOTA.
The Devils Lake Indians.

The country west OF Devils Lake, in
and about the Turtle mountains, con.
tains class of residents that have al.
ways been q source OF much trouble
to both county and state officials,
says special telegram. Reference is
made to what is known as the half.
breed element. Many Of these people
are the wards OF tthegovernment, when
it comes to parceling out appropria.
tions Justly belonging to full blooded
Indians. In fact, few, if any, OF them
are entitled to anything in this way.
Most of them are really Canadian
halt-breeds, who resort to all sorts OF
practices to mera the peace of the
settlers who go into that district.
Cases have come to the knowledge OF
state officials where school lands have
been leased by settlers, and after they
have been put in shape to raise q crop,
some half-breed would come along
and settle upon the land, claiming his
right as an Indian entitled him to 10.
cate upon any land he might choose,
and when appeal is made to the local
civil authorities, they announce them.
selves powerless to act, owing to the
half breed being able to shield himself
behind the government privilege ex.
tended to Indians who take lands in
sevralty.
This is not the worst phase of the
situation. Many of these people own
property and should pay taxes, both
real and personal. 1t is almost next
to impossible for an assessor to get a
list OF what they have, and then it is
quite as difficult to collect what NAV
be listed. The halfbreeds Simply re-.
fuse to pay any attention to the civil
authorities, and most OF this difficult
ty has existed since the government
abandoned Fort Totten and Withdrew
the troops. AS long as soldiers were
in that vicinity, these people kept
themselves within peaceful bounds.
This turtle mountain territory Is open
to invasion by Canadian halfbreeds
and the remnant of Indians who es-
capped after participating in the fam
GUS Minnesota massacre OF 1862, now
known as Shoshones, butreally mix
ed set of Indians who, not daring to
come over into the state as q body,
come over as individuals, and help
to keep up dlscontent and un-
easiness among their descendants. 1t
is also open to visits from the Indians
about Fort Stevenson and Berthold,
who are continually visiting this local
ity by way OF q pass in the mountains
southwest of Minot, much to the dis
comfort of the stockmen in that Sec
ton.
Prominent citizens OF that part Of
the state are seriously considering the
advlsability OF calling upon the state
authorities to take steps to bring
these halfbreeds to the standard Of
lawabiding people, but as yet no
definite action has been agreed upon.
This has been suggested by the thought
that on the first of next month the
assessors will begin their work OF list
ing property, and they may expect to
experience more or less embarrass-
ment in the performance of their
duties.
The state has two troops ofcavalry
in the vicinity OF these mountains, un-
der command of Maj. w. H. Makee,
OF Dunseith, and it was in this neigh.
borhood where the most apprehen-
sion was felt last winter when Sitting
Bull was killed at Standing Rock. At
that time these half breeds were re-.
ported to be carrying on the ghost
dance, being inspired to the practice
by Indians who would slip by the
i Gn.snnted police on the Canadian side,
and by the runners who carried the
news to them from Berthold and Stew
enson. A new militia company has just
been organized at Devils Lake, and 100
stands OF arms and ammunition are
deposited with the county officials.
Besides this the towns of Bottineau,
Willow City and Minot have been sup
piled with arms by the state, and if
any serious trouble should occur with
these half breeds, they are well pre-
pared.