Evening star., 1932-04-06
BY ALICE LEE JEMISON.

BUFFALO, N. Y April (NAN.A)
Independence! Glorious word so dear
to the Indian. Supervised independence
today, it is true, but independence
nevertheless. Four tiny nations, the
Cneidas and Cayugas having been dis
possessed each with an independent in
ternal government. All within the ter
ritorial limits of the State Of New York,
but not under State jurisdiction.
Where the reservation line begins,
there the State law ends. unless specifi-
cally and officially invited by the In
dams to enter Our homelands! All
that we have left of the vast territory
We once owned.
At the height of our power, during the
period of colonization, the French and
British both courted the favor of the
Indian League of the Ho de ne son neh.
BY chance, a Frenchman, Champlain,
was the first ever to fire a gun upon the
astounded Indians. A hatred OF the
French sprang up, which time intensi-
fed. Holding them at bay, the Indians
formed a strong bulwark along the st.
Lawrence and Niagara Rivers, Lakes
Ontario and Erie, behind which the
English colonist grew and proSpered.
Prospered upon the rich fur trade with
the Indians, firewater and firearms
being the chief articles of barter.
Stirring times of the Revolutionary
period!
Asked by the united colonies to re-
main neutral, the league agreed, with
the exception of the MohaWks. Leo by
Joseph Brant, whose sister was married
to a commissioned officer OF the British
forces, they fought with the English.
The Onondagas and Cauygas maintained
a fair neutrality. The OneidaS, Tus-
caroras and later the Senecas helped
freedoms cause.
Allies of the Colonists.
War for independence! Throwing
off the yoke of tyranny. Side by side
with their white brothers fought the
red men. To the Oneidas came Gen.
Scheyler asking food for Washington
and his ragged, starving army at VAL
ley Forge. Six hundred bushels OF
grain they gathered and Washington
did not forget Ever just and merci-
full, our friend and protector, we called
him the Great White Father.
No provision was made for the In
dians in the treaty of peace. Jubiiant
Americans pushed ever westward into
Indian territory. Fear sprang into be-
ing in the Indian mind, fear of ex-
tinction. Peace, peace, counseled the
old chiefs.
I'VE are outnumbered," said Corn
planter. They are as numerous as the
sands of the sea-
"War!" answered the young war
riors, war for our very lives, our right
to live"
Incited by the French and British to
the north of them, they raided and
plundered their former allies. What a
part firewater played here!
Gen. Sullivan was dispatched to sub
due them. A sword in one hand, a
treaty in the other. Ever the way OF
the white man; We accepted the
treaty. Washington gave us peace by
three treaties, Fort Stanwix, Fort Har-
mar and in 1794 Canandaigua BY the
terms of these the Indians agreed to
make war no more upon the people of
the United States, and in return all
the lands which they then possessed
we're secured to them for their free
and undisturbed use and enjoyment
until such time as they should choose
to sell to the people of the United
States.
Sacred treatiesl Made between ma
tions at time when the infant United
States were scarcely more united than
the members of our own league In
1870. speaking to some of the chiefs,
Washington said: Remember my
in your friendship for the United
States and you may rely upon
their kindness and protection The
United States will be true and faithful
to their obligations"
And we have relied upon your friend
ship and protection. Always we look to
Washington and the Federal authori-
ties to guide and to guard us. We are
sovereign nations by the constitutional
right of our treaties. The passage of
the intercourse acts, 1890, 1893 and
1902, made us semi-dependent, but the
right to govern our territory is our
own.
Nation Within Nation.
No mention of State authority here.
BY act of Congress. the jurisdiction Of
the Federal Government. is extended
to include our reservations. A Fed
eral marshal is the only white man
who can lawfully arrest an Indian upon
the reservation, and then only in ma
jor crimes. The eleventh Federal Cen
sus Bulletin reports, 'in law and in
fact these reservations of the Six Ma
tions in the State of New York are,
each and every one, independent. $
They are a nation within a nation
They were created more through fear
of the Indian and the desire to get
rid of him and keep him at peace at
any price than as an act of justice. In
New York they are wonder to the
curious and an expectant haven of
hope to many spectators"
The highest of State and Federal
courts have upheld this fact. In his
opinion, Snow VS.. Mulkins, Judge