The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-25
HANNA BACK FROM
INDIAN COUNCIL
FARGO CONGRESSMAN VERY
MUCH ENJOYED BIG INDIAN
DANCE AND PoW.WoW AT Ell
Observation-Disclosures BEST
COUNCIL EVER ATTENDED.

Cong. L. 3. Hanna was back at his
desk this morning after his return from
the big Indian council and pow-wow
held at Elbowoods on the Fort Berth
old reservation. which he attended with
Asst. Indian Com. E. H. Abbott Of the
Indian office at Washington.
1T was really one of the most edu-
cational affairs ever had the OPP
portunity OF attending in my life. and
was exceedingly enjoyable as well,
Congressman Hanna told a Forum rep
resentative this morning. my only
regret is that there was not a mo-
ton picture machine there to get II
all and especially the Indians doing
their various dances"
Mr.. Hanna was exceedingly enthu-
siastic about the council and stated
that Mr.. Abbott had pronounced it the
best he had ever attended since he
had been a government official or con-
nected with the Indian office.
mr.. Abbott told me-" continued the
congressman. that he had been on
every Indian reservation in the United
States and he declared that this was
the best exhibition Of Indian work and
organization. as well as the MOST
peaceful and complete council he had
ever attended, which is indeed quite
a compliment to the North Dakota In
dams.
There were present at the council
representatives from the Blackfeet
tribes In Montana, from the Sioux In
dams on the Standing Rock reserva-
ton. representative from the Chip
pewas, the eros Ventres, the Rees and
the Mandans. The council was held
in mammoth tent at Elbowoods,
which must have seated anywhere be-
tween $500 and 1000 people.
When Mr.. Abbott and anghted
from the train at Garrison We were
met by a committee of braves in an
automobile and they started out with
us for the Indian reservation. When
we were nearly within sight of the tee
PEGS of the reservation station, a dele
cation OF Fort Berthold Indians met
us with all their war paint on and we
were escorted in style to the village.
There there were two long lines of
teepees where the Indians were camp
ed during the council and the big tent
where the sessions were held was rails
ed in the middle Of the open space be-
tween the two rows of teepees. In the
center of the big tent we were given
places OF honor on specially raised
platform and were surrounded by the
Indians of different tribes.
"They are an expressive people and
we would look down at them to see
how the different arguments that were
expounded to them struck their fancy
Whenever something appealed to them
they would grunt and whenever they
weren't pleased, they would keep sill
emit.
I'VE discussed the coal rights OF
the Indians, which is a great question
and too long to enter into any details
about this morning, for it would make
big story by itself. Then we took
up the dances and reached the agree
ment that the Indians should specify
in writing the names Of the dances
they wanted to maintain and which
were not barbarous, and they will al
so state to the Indian office the holt
days TIM want set aside for them
during the year.
"They danced for us, giving their
war dance, in which women took ac-
tive part, which was surprising fea-
ture to me, for never knew the wo-
men were permitted to engage in the
war dance. Their grass dance was al
so given for us, and that is a very
pretty dance. Then they played their
famous moccasin game, and performed
some excellent feats in roping and
bucking contests that were held.
During the council sessions, they
held a fair at which the Indians dis
played samples Of their vegetables and
various other products including
basket weaving and bead work. One
thing that particularly struck the
fancy Of Mr.. Abbott was some work
where porcupine quilts were used in
stead of beads This was quite elabor-
ate.
THE names Of the chiefs in attend
ance at the council were Old Dog ano
Drags Wolf Of two different bands OF
the eros ventres, Wounded Face OF the
Mandans, and Setting Bear of the Rees
and all the other prominent men Of the
various tribes were present"
Were you and Mr.. Abbott urged tc
join in the dances?" Mr.. Hanna was
asked.
mo they didn't invite us to dance
with them. but they gave US places OF
honor to watch them" he smiled in re-
turn.
Mr.. Abbott went to Devils Lake from
Fort Berthold to visit the Fort Totten
Indian school after which he will &c
directly to South Dakota and back to
washington, 90 he viii not have an
opportunity to visit Fargo on this
trip.