The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-11-03
THE KO0TENAIS, OF IDAHO
The Trouble Arising over Thier DispOsal
Seems te Have Beeu Finally
Disposed of.

Aue BUSINESS OF removing the upper
and middle bands of Spokane Indians
to the Coeur d'Alene reservation. in
Idaho, the ColvIlle reservation, in
Washington, and the Flathead reserva.
tion, in Montana, has been under tenn
porary suspension for certain reasons
stated Ia my last annual report.
March 10, 1894, George III. Newman
Of Tennessee was appointed as the sue
cessor Of Montgomery Hardman, to
complete the work of removing these
Indians to the reservations where they
elect and are entitled TO go. He was
instructed as to this unfinished business
April "a. 1894, aud is now engaged In
the prosecution of the work.
'Prior 10 the ratification of the
agreement with these Indians many
OF them had gone 10 tue Spokane res
ervation, Washington, regarding that
reservation as forming a part of the
Colville reservation, and believing
that they were acting in conformity
with the provisions of tile agreement
aud would be entitled To ali its bene-
fits. In this belief they were in error;
but congress, by ACT OF = ugust 10, 1894,
provided ''thaG moneys heretofore or
hereafter appropriated for the removal
of said Spokane Indians To the Canr
d. Alene reservation shall be exten ded
to or expended for such members of
the tribe who have removed or shall
remove 10 the Spokane as we'll as the
ColvlIie or Jocko (Fiathead) reserva.
tions
with this new legislation in force,
a1d from Information received respect
ing these Indians, am led to believe
that their proposed removal under ex-
listing law will be successfully accom-
plished by Agent Newman. In fact,
many have already gone to the reser-
vations named. Some have delayed.
awaiting the new legislation men
toned, and others TO defend their
rights to certain lands upon which
they have settled and made their
homes. being guaranteed title to such
lands by the agreement aforesaid. The
department of justice, upon request
from this office through the depart
ment, has instructed the proper United
States district attorney TO defend the
actions Instituted against these Indians
Tor their homes, and Agent New man
has been instructed 10 furnish the at
torney the in formation in his possess
Sion and TO aid him in the matter /
look for a completion of tn work
within u reasonable time"
Reference is made to the successful
carrying out OF the agreement with the
Yakima Indians for the settlement of
the Wena;chce fishery.
KOotenaI Indians of Idaho.
Concerning the Kootenai indians Of
Idaho. the commissioner says:
Reference was made in my annual
report of last year 10 the troubles of the
kootenai Indians, located near and
upon lands embraced in the town of
Bouner's Ferry, Idaho, and to the fact
that a special agent of this office had
been sent there 10 make a full ana COM
plete investigation OF he whole matter
and submit report thereon. Some of
these Indians had been assisted in
application fcg allotments by
tire United States Indiap agent of the
Fintnead agency, Montana. under in
from this office dated August
IS, 1853. Their claims had been Tres
passed upon by whites, and the In
dams deferred from attempting to inn
prove and cultivate some of the land
they had always used and occupied.
and TO which they were justly entitled
under the general allotment act as
"The rights of these Indians having
been reported by the special agent as
paramount TO those of the whites, this
office requested the general land office
to facilitate the survey of the township
in which the lands involved were situ-
ated, in order that the allotments
might be adjusted so as TO be made 10
10 ~ II
quest was granted, aud the allotments
were so ad justed by the special agent
Of this office. Under your instructions
patents were Issued for the lands al
lOtted to the Sc Indians, and, on August
IA, 1894, We're transmitted TO the Coaur
d. Alene local land officer, Idaho, for
delivery To The allOttees legally entitled
thereto. Through the guardians of
Arthur Frye aud by authority of the
department. the application for that
child, covering the lands upon which
the town of Bonner's Ferry is located,
Was rellnquished. This action ended
long and bitter contest.
THE non-reseTvation Kootenais,
numbering some 225, VINO few years
ago were in distressed condition and
gave alarm tn the Inhabitants of north
srn Idaho, have been disposed of by
making allotnents to those above re-
erred TO, 10y removing some of them To
he Flathead reservation, Mont, and
~ Inducing the remainder. who
claimed to be Canadian Indians, to
move across ihe international boundary
inc int" Cauads. Thus the Kootenai
question and troubles seem To have
Jeen finally settled. -
To lTriest@ Indian Lands.
The proposed irrigation al Fort Hall,