The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-08-02

where could one see any signs OF civil
lization. The place is in Washabau
county in Pine Ridge reservation, rs
miles south of Kadoka. About the
18th of July there vas in the neigh
borhood of six or sever thousand
Indians gathered there from nine diff.
erent reservations. The northern
Cheyennes from Tongue River agency.
Mont had a delegation, the Arapa-
hoes from Wind River, Wyo., were
repr, scented, besides all the Siouxs
west Of the Big Muddy including the
Crow Creeks from Brule county.
On the morning of the 18th of July
bright and early messengers on ponies
were sent out thru the camps an
nouncing the council, the object OF
which was the old, old story,tl.e Black
Hills agreement of 1877. Many of the
original signers were there, bent with
age, some having to be led by their
squaws. A copy of the minutes and
proceedings Of the memorable council
of 1876 was produced, read and traus
lated ~ the older class. This copy
was secured from the executors of the
will OF j. ). Coll,us, of Omaha, Neb.,
a froDtiersman aud the official stenog-
rapher at that time. Many of the old
braves hal good memories aud all
agreed that the government vas not
living up - all of the good promises
which the commissioners made TO the
Indians Turing the agreement 1t was
pltiful to hear SOM OF the Oil Indians
bewail their loss of the Black Hills.
The n, 1t question was what was to be
done about it Some Que suggested
that they organize in one body and
centralizs what power they had ia re-
liglon, politics and pocket book, into
one executive committee To- act n once.
Election of officers took up a great
d, al Of time aud in a way it must have
resembled the republican convention
at Chicago, for every delegation had
their respective candidates. After
considerable speaking and arguing
the question of who was to be presi-
dent of the organization was settled.
Edward Swan of Scheyenne River
Agency, S. D, was elected from five
or six candidates. Charley Turning
Hawk of Pine Ridge Agency, S. d.,
was elected vice president, Reuben
Quick Bear, one of the commissioners
of Mellette county, was elected treas
urer, and c. III. Ga~llinesux was elect.
ed general secretary. They to retain
office for four years, aud while the
offices do not pay a salary, there was
a scramble for them as though they
did. On the third day OF the council
the question of whether to employ
legal help was taken up. Some able
assistance was rendered by n. NJ.
Robertson, of Pine Ridge, who is an
Indian lawyer and IA notary public.
| do not know how in the world
they found their way out there. but
five or six auto loads of white people
got there and among them were law.
yers who went to effect some contract
with the Indians in regard to the
agreement Of 1877. Judge +. NJ. Wal
colt of Valentine, Neb., was there per-
sonally, and probably would have
Landed the contract had the council
gone to a vote, but the matter of en-
ploying legal help was postponed for
a while. Geo. j. Jeffers, of Dallas, S.
d., was represented by Opie Cham
bers, of the same place. While there
is no doubt as to the ability of Mr..
LETTERS, his agent would have had
strong opposition in landing the job
for his man.
The council, under the able leader
chip, went as smooth as any white
mans convention and the business
was all flushed the next day.
A constitution and bylaws, which a
committee Of Indian boys framed, was
adopted by the council. Lack of space
prevents printing them this week.
The next regular meeting will be
held on the Standing Rock Reserva
ton, y. D., but the executive commit
tee composed of two representatives
from each reserve will meet in Rapid
City, S. D., during September when
the help of Congressman Eben w.
Martin can be depended on. This
will be our enitial attempt in legisla-
ton.
After q short farewell meeting in
which some very prominent Indians