The Tomahawk., 1919-09-25
of Minnesota in this matter"
Pioneer Press.

gested for the drainage of the Red
Lake reservation and the lands
lying along the Red River, and the
construction of works for control
ing the level of Red Lake and the
flow of the river, etc., and while
there is no question in our minds
regarding the beneficial results
which would accrue to all concern.
ed. especially in the enhancement
of land values for the Red Lake
Indians, yet we are reluctant to
approve the advisability of appro.
priating Chippewa tribal money
just at the present time: to defray
the expenses of such a project.
The legislation of 1889, known
as the Nelson Act, practically
merged every Chippewa Indian
reservation under one body and
every Chippewa Indian member
thereof to share on a $3.50 basis;
according to said Act it was dis
tinctIy provided that after the
completion of allotments of land
to all of said Indians the residue
of all lands, agricultural and TIM
Der, was to be sold for the benefit
of all of said Indians, etc. AL
though the Chippewa Commission
declared hlotments of land we're
closed on July Goth, 1900, the
Indians of the Red Lake reserva.
ton have not yet been allotted
land and as specified in the Act
mentioned. On the other hand
the Government has on several
occasions, since the enactment of
the so-called Nelson Act, entered
into separate agreements with the
said Red Lake bands for the pnr-.
chase and sale of both agricultural
lands and pine timber OH said Red
Lake reservation and have. vested
the money derived from such sales
solely for the benefit of the Red
Lake banes, notwithstanding the
fact that the law or act cited above
provided that all money derived
from the sale of lands or timber
was to be placed TO the credit of
ALL such Minnesota Chippewa"
as participated in the agreement of
1889.
Under the circumstances we
contend that it would be unfair
and unjust to call upon other
bands of the Minnesota Chippewas,
other than the Red Lake bands, to
help defray the expense of the
proposed drainage project.
The continued delay in making
allotments of land to the members
| of the Red Lake bands is not only
decidedly contradistinctive to the
provisions of the agreement of
1889 but falls little short of GRIM
inal negligence of the vital econ
omic interests of the Chippewas in
general and more especially OF the
members of the Red Lake bands.
During the past twenty years
ltne Indians of all other reserva-
|tions in the state have been allot
ted lands and from the time of
their ,allotments the allottees in
general have developed a most
wonderful spirit of modernism,
mentally and physically and have
sensed in ! marked degree the in
iative of progressive industry until
today fully 80 per cent of these
allottees stand second to none of
Minnesota.s average citizens. On
the other hand the members of the
Red Lake bands are isolated with
lin the narrow confines of reserva
ton limits. .4
Volumes of sentimental gush is
being printed and oceans of croca-
idle tears are being shed nDw-a.
days by professed Americans
pleading for the relief and free
dom of the worlds oppressed
nations, vet right here within the
very civilized center of the United
States portions of Americas first
/ citizens are suffered to grow up