The Holt County sentinel., 1914-08-14
Among the Dakota Indians.
[BY REV. T. d. RoBERrs.l

The Dakota Indians are . branch
Of the Big Sioux tribe and occupy
reservations In North and South ia.
kota.
Those here are on the Sisseton and
wahpeton Reservation and number
about % or q hundred. This reser.
walton Is eighty miles long and from
twelve to twenty-five miles wide, and
is on the Continental Divide. About
twenty miles from where I an writ.
ing are lakes Traverse aud Big Stone,
with the south end OF Traverse and
the north end Of Big Stone one and a
quarter miles apart. with a town.
Browns Valley, Minnesota, situated
between the tao lakes.
whi,e Traverse slopes 10 the North
Big ~ one slopes To the south. We
have been to Big Stone lake twice
since We have been up here and In
two different places and found IL TO
be beautiful sheet Of water, clear,
with sand and gravel beach. II IL a
mile vide On an average and seventy
miles long. do not know the
dimensions OF Traverse.
This. Roberts county. South Dako.
ia, Is In the northeast corner OF the
state and Sisseton il the county seat.
Good VIII Mission, where We are
visiting our daughter, pansy and
family, is eight miles from the rail.
road and about one mile and a half
from the Indian Agency and the gov.
ernment school for the Indians.
Good Will Mission was established
here some ~ years ago and the lum.
Der for the first building was hauled
10y OK teams from For, Smelling, Min.
nesota. The work was begun by Rev.
Mr. Riggs, a congregational minister,
but II was after~ard turned over TO
the board OF Home Missions Of the
Presbyterian church. There IL a
farm and campus OF 100 acres, less
two and one half arres for an Indian
Presbyterian church grounds, includ.
Ing q cemetery. There IL q large
school building and q large dormitory
each for boys and girls, several houses
for superintendent and helpers. Good
barns and sheds for stock and
machinery. Farming Was carried on
and stock WAS kept on the farm, as !,
was The plan Of the Board Of Missions
TO make the institution partially sell
supporting, and TO train the Indian
youths In farm life. Hut the school
feature has been abandoned the past
year or two and the work among the
Indians turned Into settlement
work"
There are number OF Indian
Presbyterian churches on the Reser'
walton which have their own Indian
pastors and other church officers. ]
have heard several OF their ministers
and they speak with great earnest.
ness. They have, too, their own
Preshytery and other church courts
and gatherings.
They have their individual allot.
ment Of land and may dispose Of land
and other property by sale or trade
but Uncle sam keeps an eye on the
trade to see that the white man does
not yet the best end Of the bargain
Recently a white man traded ~
Indian an automobile for some stocI
| aud tl.a l..a tI l..a a. u.
was no good to the Indian and h,
sent the man word 10 bring the stocI
back and get his machine and III,
man did so promptly, The govern
ment has men TO travel over III,
reservation and draw up leases fo
the Indians and 10 look after thei
interests In general.
The Indians are great hands to AT
tend conferences, conventions an,
they take plenty OF time for It, too
They had q Y. NJ, G.. A. convention
In the Presbyterian church here, las
week. They met on Wednesday AM
adjourned Friday night. One OF TN
Indians here furnished a beef for Tn
occasion. Some OF the people brough
their tents and pitched them nea
the church. The women and child
rem were IN attendance, too, Tn
women cooking the meals for tn
company In common. ! asked Mr.
Stevenson what the Indians did will
their stock when they oil left hom
to attend some big gathering for {
number Of daysp Well, he said, the.
often take their stock with them, ev
en- to their chickens. They believe II
having a good time and to be fret
from cares. Possibly that account,
kfor the robust appearance Of the mos
OF them.
| ] intended to mention some otheI
matters touching the cTOps, weather