Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-10-13
HISTORY OF THE TRIBE RE-
GENTLY IN REVOLT.
CONQUERORS OF THE SIOUX
But Later Fell Before the White
Mans Advance-Not Thieves but
Drunkards-Leech Lake Reserva-
ton and the Conditions Prevailing
Whereabouts.

way D "Sic OHcc tue IuiluS lTlDe OF
the northwest. They belong TO the
Algonquin family, and are the ancient
enemies of the warlike Sioux, of the
Foxes and the Iroquois, all of whom
they drove away from the territory
about the headwaters of the Mississ-
ippi and OF the Red River of the
North. For two centuries they oc-
cupied this country supreme, until
the all-conquering whites cooped
them up in reservations. The Pillager
Indians are branch of this tribe.
The French discovered the Chip
pewas, coming upon them in 1910 in
the vicinity of Sault Ste. Marie. At
that time they were engaged in their
great and successful war with the
Iroquois, Sioux and Foxes. They
first lived on the shores and islands OF
the upper lakes, but they increased
their territory by conquest. The
Sioux, with their bronchos, could
combat them on the prairies, but the
Chippewas drove their rivals from
the forests. The French sent mis-
sionarles among them and won their
friendship. They were allies of
France until the conquest of Canada
by the British. In 1712. they helped
in repelling the attack of the Foxes
on Detroit, and rendered many other
valuable services. They were parties
to Pontiacs conspiracy, however,
and allied themselves with the British
during the revolutionary war and the
war of 1912.
With the Miamis they fought Gen.
Wayne, but were defeated. Then
they helped the Americans in pacify-
ing the northwestern tribes. In 1917
they signed = way their lands in
Ohio. This left them still vast pos
sessions lying between Lakes Superior
and Michigan and the Mississippi
river, coming we'll down into what is
now Wisconsin.
But the whites gradually induced
them to cede first one tract and then
another. In 1851 all but a few lands
had gone west of the Mississippi, and
they have since been concentrated on
reservations.
The census of 1890 gave them 20,
$3.50 on the reservations in Michigan,
Wisconsin, and Minnesota. OF these,
1904 are the Pillager Chippewa of
Leech, Cass, and Winnebagoshish
lakes, Minnesota and $50 are Otter
Tail Pillagers. The Pillagers are all
in the White Earth consolidated
agency.
The last official report of the in
terror department on Indians has this
to say about the Leech Lake reserva-
ton, which is the seat of the recent
trouble:
THE Leech Lake reservation covers
about $50 square miles, exclusive of
the lake. 1t is all heavy timber, most
ly hardwood, sugar maple predominant
ing, but interspersed with pine ridges.
No effort Is made to open the land
for cultivation, and although the
country is a valuable stock range,
there was but one COW on Leech lake
giving milN. The government owns
three cows. There are II listed gov
eminent buildings at Leech lake, all
of which are, in fact, in a dilapidated
condition and of no use except to the
government. The Lcech lake tribe is
of % bands, numbering
Ills. They are now located on
their beautiful island and on the
shores of the lake, the most pictur-
esque sheet of water in the state.
There are 237 lodges, and the average
of persons to lodge is
4.73, which corresponds very closely
to our families There is % per cent.
excess of females and 10 per cent. of
deaths over births. Nearly one
half the males are married and eight
have more than one wife. There are
90 houses which shelter all, by
in nearly Il to a house, but
II we deduct the pupils in the govern
ment schools it will reduce the num-
Der to about IL. One in about 90 Is
either deaf and dumb or blind one
In $50 is demented in some way. The
sugar crop amounts in round num-
bers to 10 pounds per capita. The
supply OF potatoes is small, and the
ponies get most OF the corn MoSl
of the hay is sold to lumbermen. The
division between the medewln Che
lieves in the native religion) and
Christians. does not cover the whole
of Indians; but often, they
said. there were Indians that did not
or would not belong to either, which
class Is larger than is here indicated.
There are three trading posts az the
reservation. each doing a good BUSH
ness. with little. but the Indians to do
business with except the government
employees. There is not pillow that
can be used on this reservation. The
Indians get but few rations and claim
that there is a short supply of cloth
ing. Many have stoves and sewing
machines in the houses.
Since the advent OF the whites the
Chippewas have been decreasing in
and have been losing some
Of their old, vigorous, aboriginal
qualities. They are as a rule below
the whites in stature, although their
development is great. In