The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-12-18
INDIANS CONSIDER
ACTION ON CLAIMS
ASSINNIBOINE MEETING AT
HARLEM RESULTS in
NO ACTION
Harlem Correspondence, Great Falls
Tribune)

Harlem Correspondence, Great Falls
Tribune)
Harlem, Dec. 16.-No action on the
proposal that the Assinniboine In
dams living on the Fort Belknap res
ervation should attach their alleged
claims to that of the Sioux against
the United States government for
money said to be due, under the
treaty of 1851, when the government
sold lands in Minnesota belonging to
the Sioux tribe, was taken at a tribal
meeting held at the Fort Belknap
reservation Friday night. The tribal
meeting was called to consider the
matter of hiring Victor j. Evans of
Washington, an attorney, to repre-
sent the tribe i nthe court of claims.
Dennis Wheelock Of Washington, an
Indian attorney, attended the meet
ing and explained for Mr.. Evans,
whom he represented, how the claim
would be handled.
Just at the present time no juris-
dictional bill has been passed in con-
gress, giving the Assinniboine In
dams the right to enter the court of
claims, but such a bill is said by In
dams to be sponsored by Congress
man Leavitt and it is expected that
it will be brought up at the present
session of congress.
Young and Old Disagree
The younger Indians said at the
tribal meeting that they are in favor
of waiting until this bill is passed be-
fore they make any arrangements to
hire a lawyer to represent them. The
older Indians said they favored ac-
cepting the proposition laid down by
Mr.. Wheelock, who advanced a prop
osition to get the Assinniboines en-
tered under the Sioux claim.
The Sioux have been permitted to
enter the court of claims with IN ac-
ton against the government to re-
cover indemnities under the treaty of
1851. Mr.. Wheelock gave as his rea-
for believing the Assinniboines
can come under this claim the fact
that the Sioux and the Assinniboines
have virtually the same language and !
A~ssinniboine means Little Sioux in :
he Sioux language. He thinks the
connection between the two tribes is
10 close that both of their claims can
,e considered as me .
Time Soon Expires i
The old Indians, who have been :,
for Is years to have some ac- :,
ion taken on this matter, say they !
re eager ''to do anything to get =
omething started" They say they ;,
would like to enjoy some Of the bene- !
before they die. Younger III ;
has told the meeting they are afraid .
o take chances on attaching their !
:laim to the Sioux for the reason that ;,
line to make the Sioux claim expires
n five months and they fear that if j.,
hey do not get anything done in that :
short time their claim will 90 by :,
lefault. .
Local Indians Take Part 6
This matter also has been taken up !
With the Assinniboine Indians on the :,
Fort Peck reservation and the young !
IT Indians there are said to be of .
lbout the same opinion as the young =
r men here. A delegation of Assinni- Z
,oines came from Poplar and Wolf !,
POINT Friday to be present at the :.
meeting here and are said to have :
lad much to do with swinging the :
ointment in favor of waiting until !,
he Assinnihoines get a jurisdictional !,
ill of their own passed. q
The meeting was presided over by q,
lick King, a young Carlisle gradu- >.
tie. William Bigby, another Carlisle &
nan, was secretary. Andrew White q,
orse was interpreter. Those present +e
rom Fort Peck were George Con- =,
ors. Jim Archdale, Meade Steel, .,
-rthur Fourstar, and Joe Wilson. -,
hey headed the delegation against ~
lring an attorney at the present time.
Garfield, Iron Horn, Red Feather
nd Weston Murdoch, represented o.
lie older Indians and were in favor il.