Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-12-04
A DAY WITH RED MEN.
The Chiefs and Headmen in Council at
Ross Fork.

The Chiefs and Headmen in Council at
Ross Fork.
Messrs. Goodwin and IIoyt of the
commissioners to treat with the Indians
of the Fort Hall reservation, and Sem
ator Fred T. Dubois met the chiefs and
headmen Of the Shoshones and Ban
nocks in council at the Ross Fork
agency last Saturday, says the Pocatello
Tribune. The chiefs, headmen and
leading and Indians of the two tribes
to the number of 200 were present at the
conference, which lasted about two
hours, and was most satisfactory in
every particular. An excellent feeling
prevailed; the Indians were friendly
and anxious 10 discuss the questions
pertaining 10 the reservation; to give
their views and ask for information on
points that they did not understand.
Most of the chiefs and headmen re-
membered Senator Dubois from the
ime when he was an employee at the
agency. They knew his present posi-
lion and accepted his statements as
authoritative.
The scene at the agency was most
Interesting one. 1t was ration day and
go "~5co bucks in blankets and feath-
ers, aud squaws with papooses were
present to receive their weekly supply
of acef, flour, coffee, salt, baking pow
Ger, t, and they fought and wrangled
Tor he best places in the line like boys
Scrambling tor advantage at a circus
ticket wagon. Everything was good
natured, however, and everybody was
finally served to his or her entire salts
faction. The bucks were dirty and with
out dignity, and the squaws homely and
even repulsive. Most of them ore
blankets, but some were dressed in
ragged citizens clothes, i'll fitting and
awkwardy worn. Occasionally among
them was seen well-dressed, self.pos
sessed man, who except for his copper
skin, might have passed anywhere for a
prosperous business man. An occasion
al squaw, mostly half-breed, wore the
dress of civilization and carried her
baby in her arms instead of strapped to
a board on her back.
Among the young bucks were some
handles. One was particularly notice
able, and was the ideal young warrior
He was tall and looked wiry and muscu-
tup nd
that paved the sand Of the little knoll
where he stood apart from the iostling
crowd at the distribution of rations. He
was dressed in bright red muchly be.
fringed leggins, gaudily beaded mecca
sins and rolled to the eyes in bright
blue blanket. His straight black hair
shone with oil and in 1t were stuck a
couple of eagle feathers, He aat on his
horse without saddle as motionless as a
statue and was the picture of the best
type of the young aboriginal warrior
The conference with the chiefs was
held in the big council hall, oeginnin g
at O'Clock and lasting until after {
o'clock. The chiefs sat silent and dig
nified until Captain Jim, powerful In.
: dian, with the calm and benevolent face
of philanthropist, opened the council
The gutteral tones of the Shoshone
tongue fell from his lips in sentences
that were not without rude eloquence oil
their own, and the assembled chiefs
: grunted their approval.
|
Senator Dubois made the first speech
He assured them that as a member of the
Great Fathers council at Washington
he was representative of the Indian as
, well as the white man; the Great Father
!, wished for the bdst for Indian and
white man; that all were his children
alike nd that his protecting care was
extended to all alike. He told them that
their treaties were now expiring, and
that the Great Father wished them each
to take his own lands and to improve
them that their children might have
something after them, and in order that
they might improve their lands the
,, Great Father was building big irriga.
ton ditch, and had sent them three wise
men with whom they might arrange
to sell part of their lands SO that they
would have money with which to build
themselves homes and buy implements
Their treaties were expiring game was
getting scarce; the laws were made for
both white men and Indian, and that
they must now prepare to become self
supporting, and he assured them that
whatever arrangement thar ananaau \