The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-07
THE TURTLE MoryrIIy INDIANA
The Grounds on which o. 900, 900 IL 10 Ne
Raid 60 Z hem for Their Iaud CIaims.

IHH TURTLE MOtNIIIN INDIANA
The Grounds on which o. 900 600 IL 10 Ne
Paid TO Them for Their Laud Claims.
wAsHrSaToS. Nov. 8.-The aereeme emit Just
concluded with the Indians OF the Devils LAX Q
region. on the Canadian border, Is designed to
put an end to long controversy. The band
consists Of Pembina Chiprewas. who have cor
tain relations to Canadian Indians that have
been permitted to live on their rcserva-
ton. and tho determination OF the rights OF
the latter has boon point in dispute.
An Executive order. dated June 3. 1884. act
apart two townships In the extreme north OF
what was then Dakota Territory FOR tho occu-
patton Of this Turtle Mountain band. MS it is
generally known. and these two townships
have been confirmed to the band. and permits
sion also accorded to those who cannot find
room there to occupy. free OF taxation, allot-
monts on land outside.
Tho Indians. 1t should be said. hnvc long
claimed an ancestral right to a tract estimated
at between 100000 and 100000 acres.
lying north md northwest OF Devils Lake.
BY the treaty OF 1925. tho northern end OF the
boundary between tho Sioux and tho Chip
pewa country was from tho mouth OF Buffalo
River to Rcd River. and thence to tho mouth
OF Outard or Goose Crook.
In 1871 treaty was made with tho Chip
pewas by which they agreed to ccde certain
lands in Minnesota, Of which the western
boundary was u line running from n specified
point on Sranch OF the Goose River north TO
Canada. but that treaty was never ratified.
One 81 the Commit ssioncrs who negotiated IL
reported that not more than 800 Chippewas
roam beyond the western boundary Of tho
present purchase. and it IL thought that 1t
would not be difficult to inlucs them to unite
tyit h..r ct no riiN
centrated In the manner proposed
Passing to 1883. tho Rod Lake and Pemblna
Chippewas that year coded certain territory.
the southwestern and western boundary Of
which is along tho Cheyenne River from its
mouth to where 1t approaches the southwest
loint OF Devils Lake. thence bearing north
easterly and northcrly to the British line
leaving for their use and occupancy u speci-
iled tract. This Treaty. like the unratihed
one of twelve years before. included within
ot:ho North. and Slows that Chippewas then
occupied such lands. Tho lnduns ut that
tim; tins were rnpGrled s as ronssing Of Rel nenrs
ing n total OF 5it. and little, shells .hnn4 Of
x Indians and AZ hall breeds. making 4'"'.
that the pcmbina Chippewhs proposed 20 re-
serve all the country west of line running
and H H due north the 'H rsG ' bnnnda sr
OF their report. that tho l'emhina bands. who
themselves q tract OF country claimed pvthem.
embracing some of the present favO-ite pas
tnres OF that animal, north and northwest of
This. accordingly. furnishes. a definite
foundation for the claim Of the thippcwas to
also been III the habit Of hunting there. Gnt. Il
they hud any claim to it. this claim undoubt-
in which they Expressly renounced ali claims
to lands not included n the reservation thu,
Devils Lake. was very great md 1t may also
he observe, that great r@rt OF the Chtrpewas
sofa. However. neither the Rod Lake Chippc-
was nor the half breeds werc made parties to
the treaty Of 1853. although it allowed the
adopted lie hanits Of civiaed ife to take ca a
Homestead non est OF loO acres or scrip therefor.
the department either recognize their right
to all the territory on Turtle Mountain. and
chase u right on the White Earth reservation.
and order them to remooye:,,' This latter alter
obey on account 81 poverty. the distance. and
the persuasions of mon WHO were interested
n having them stay where they were. In 1sso
surveys within the lard thus claimed north
and west of Devils Lake. while in the Forty.
for tho ESTABLISHMENT Of tho Indian claims to
it. and the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs cx-
pressed the opinion that these claims We're en-
Meanwhile the condition OF these Indians had
begun to excite pity. In 1883 Congress ap-
propriated $4,000 to give them permanent
homes or homesteads upon the public lands
and for other purposes. They got $1,000
for each OF the two succeeding years toward
their support. and $1,000 year afterward:
and in 1856 it became necessary to us0 $1,000
year Tor their immediate relief from the
Indian distress fund. The fact seems to have
q good many Canadian Indians affiliated with
them to live there In 1880 the distress Mt
Turtl" Mountain was great. aud Bishop shan
10y examined the matter and sought help for
them. Not only did tho claims already men
toned exist. but an erroneous survey was
made in 1870 by which they had lost "a. 900
acres from their reservation.
This latter wrong was the first to he re-
paired. Congress making an APPROPRIATION OF
$4,000 to pay for tho land thus wrongly
taken. at the rate of $l.2o per acre. The next
claims to tho DEVILS Lake lands. outside u
their reservation proper. For this purpose n
commission was appointed. which has agreed
to pay 81 .OOO:O 900 for the extingnishmcnt OF
these clai ms. in twenty annual payments. n ne
tenths Of each in supplies and onc,tenth in
cash. Tho claims of the Canadian intruders
were not recognized. and they were ordered
away from tho reservation. Little Shell. whose
band WAS largely composed OF half breeds. op-
poses the treaty on this ground.
or course this arrangement must still BIO
submitte to tho ratification Of Congress. and
accordingly it is we'll to set forth tho basis on
which the largo sum Of s l.OOn.oOO is asked for
extinguishng the claims. tho agreement
is sanctioned it will certainly make great
difference In the condition Of this much en-
during band OF red men.