Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-07-17
REGARDING LAND LEASES


Owing to the apparent misunder-
standing Of 1essees and prospective
lessees on this reservation, as to the
regulations regarding the leasing of
land, we. have received the follow
ing lhunication from James B.
Kitch, Agency superintendent, re-
RardinR Indian trust land:
An application for . lease is not
an option, nor does it givel the ap-
plicant the right thereon OF traffic
in same. It has been called to my
attention that several prospective
tlessees have made applications for
lease, and finding that they have
the prior application, have UNDER
taken to transfer their imagined
rights in this land.
Application does not give q man
"a right or any interest in lease as
this office has and still reserves the
right to lease to q subsequent appli-
cant If it is for the better interests
of the Indian and where his best
interests are best conserved. All
persons are therefore warned against
buying or paying for any rights said
to be due an applicant as no lease
is valid or binding until signed by
the superintendent Of this reserva-
ton and the Indian or. natural
guardian to whom the land belongs.
The individual Indian must be
considered in leasing this land and
any attempts to coerce him or in
huence him to his detriment will
be considered sufficient grounds fol
denying the entire application of
the applicant. Persons are also
warned upon placing cattle on land
upon the mere application as Il,
many cases, applications now on
file in this office viii be rejected az
lthsy apply 70. land that viii not be
LEASED and all cattle now on thit
land will be subisct5sto tresspass
hss "a at is1kissl fales. 81,
Many men have assumed or ta.
ken for granted that they have !
fright TO Indian land contrary TO Re.
guhtions and all Of our Farmer
have been instructed to fully pro.
tect the interests Of the Indians
a white man does not consider .
deal closed with another white
man until his consent is obtained
and there is no rerson as / can e. e,
why q white man should conside,
- ! pv
the Indians acceptance simply be.
cause he app(ies and wishes for the
land.
Owing to the danger Of overleas.
ling as mentioned in this paper some
time ago. it has been necessary te
curtail and reject many leases now
on file and persons not holdin,
signed applications in their posses.
sion take personal risk in, placins
cattle on this land as we will not
be influenced in our consideration
tof these leases BY the fact that white
men have placed cattle thereon
without permission. We are doine
fall in our power to Craze unused
Indian land, but cannot permit the
unwarranted use Of this land 81
white persons.
trust that this warning will b
sufficient and that no persons
charged with trespass will attemp,
to evade the consequences ~ stat.
ing that he thought be had . lease.
All persons must recognize the
rights Of the individual Indian e
his own land the same as Il he wai
q white person. Steps will, be ii.
ken, through the federal court, Il
necessary, to protect these interests.
Persons are warned against MAX
ing contracts for summefing cattl.
with real estate men or others un.
less they can show that they have
A approved lease and the conse.
quent right to use this land
snd no leases Made with trust pat.
lent Indians outside 81 THU offlc.