The evening times., 1897-06-12
REDSKINS OF WISCONSIN
Three Tribes, Aggregating $500
Indians, i'm the State.
SCHOOLS in THEIR MIDST
Allies of the American Army During
the War of the Many
Have Left Their Reservations and
Are Prosperous Citizens Else
where-voters Under State Laws.

The Indian Bureau is IN POSSESS on OF
much interesting data concerning the
Indians in wisconsin The popular belief
that all the Indians live in the land of the
setting sun is far from accurate. The
Green Bay agency, the postOffioe or which
| is Keshena, Wis, comprehen ds three tribes,
three reservations, three distinct languages
and three distinct stages Of civilization
These reservations are the Menominee,
the Stockbricge and Munsee and the Oneida
Their aggregate population is $3.50. Ke-
shena, Sha wan county, is the headquarters
Of the agency, and is located on the Memo
ninee reservation, eight miles fIom The
county seat OF Shawano county, which
is the nearest railroad and telegraph sta
tiun
The rockbridges and Munsees have
been in contact with civilization the long
est, and are the most advanced of the
three tribes Originally these Indians lived
in ,he western part Of Massachusetts and
the eastern part of New York. During the
Revolutionary war they we've the friends
and allies If the Americans, and shed their
blood freely on many battlefield for the
American cause.
They were removed westward several
times, and IN 1856 the Government pur-
chased for them reservation from the
Menominees. and on which they still live.
Many, however, have left the reservation.
ara are now prosprring in various parts Of
the United states Those who have re-
NAMED on the reservation speak English
4 md f,ar fsrtff " Cannpt
read aud write. Their agent declares
that they are a much civilized as the same
number of white men would he under SINH
lar conditions. The Government holds in
trust for these Indians 5000, and they
are paid the interest semi-annually as a
per capita annuity.
1t is the opinion OF most OF the Indian
authorities that these Indians should be
PAID theil trustfund ill fun, that their lands
should be allotted 70 them in severalty and
in fee and that they should be compelled to
become citizens in fact. as at present they
are voters under the constitution of the
state OF Wisconsin, and exercise that right
OF every election. 1t is maintained that
they would make a desirable citizens as
the average American or foreign-born CIti
Zeas who are their neighbors- As IL Is,
the tri'.. il divided into parties and fac
tons anu there is constant diSoord among
them
III, nlaint aimed that the tribe Will sooner
OF later begin to retrogTade. il the members
are compelled to retain their tribal reia-
tiCns Only about oue-half OF these Indians
live on their reservation. the balance he
lug scattered in various parts of the United
States and Canada who take care OF them
selves and only come TO the reservation dur
ing an annuity pa yment. ThoseOf the tribe
who live on the reservation maintain them
selves hy culuvating small farms and work
ing for luu5ermen. The day school on this
reservation. supported by the Government,
is well attended and many of the young
men and women are attending various
other Indian schools in different parts Of
the Country.
Tie OncIdas have their lands allotted in
Severalty aud are engaged quite extern
sivcly in agriculture Their reservation
/ hut d short distance from the fl0uriSh'ng
cities 81 Green Bay, Depere and Seymour,
,huS giving them excellent markets for
their produce
The resa arvation of the Menominees COM
prises ten townships Two of them are
sandy plains. covered IN places with
small growth of sCruhby pine. There is
also quite an area that j. covered with
growth OF poplar, birch, wild cherry, and
tamaraC IL the swampS and low grounds.
Nearly all the MeuomInees have small farms,
but are a. a general thing Indifferent
aiOut Cultiva'ng them. The Indian Office
believes that there is no reason why the
Indians on this reservation could not make
a coufortahle living by tilling the SOIL If
they were given the proper encoura cement
and could be induced TO adopt economical
hahltS
Tie Menominees have several hundred
thousand dollars that is held in trust by
the Government. on which they are allowed
interest This fund has been developed
principally from the sale OF logs cut and
banked ny them. The interest is now used
to support the reservation school and To
purchase various articles for the use of
the tribe and the agency. The Older
Indians are constantly asking that the
interest on their funds he paid them IS
an annuity They argue that they are too
old to learn new ways Of living and that
they should he allowed to receive some
direct renefit from their funds before
they die.