Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-04-19
The Big Land Claim
by James Brown

An ltemlZed statement OF all prop
erty and expenditures for buildings
and other Improvements, for funds
appropriated with interest. and
such other charges made and col
lected from the tribe out of the pro-
ceeds of what is known as the big
Claim should be requested for ex.
animation; also for timber, water,
hunting and fishing rights and such
other damages caused the tribe in
the creation of Glacier National
Park from tribal ownership. auto
matieally changing its status to Ma
tional Park rules and regulations
that deprived the tribe of certain
rights and benefits retained under
its former status. 1t is important
and should be taken into considera-
ton and made a part of this claim.
The treaty of Ft. Laramie made
Sept. II, 1851. was ratified May "a,
1852 by the U. S. Senate, and the
territory designated for the Black.
feet nation is as follows:
Commencing at the mouth Of the
Musselshell river, up the Missouri
river to its source; thence along the
main range of the Rocky mountains
in southerly direction to the head
waters of the northern source of the
Yellowstone river; thence down the
Yellowstone river to the mouth of
Twenty-Five Yard creek; thence in
northerly direction to the head
waters of the Musselshell river;
thence down the Musselshell river
to the place of beginning.
This treaty was made and con.
cluded at Fit. Laramie by D. D.
Mitchell, Supt. of Indian Affairs,
and Thomas Fitzpatrick, Indian
Agent. who were duly authorized to
act for the United States, parties of
the fret part, and the following In
dian nations residing south of the
Missouri river, east tf the Rocky
Mountains and north of the lines of
Texas and New Mexico, parties of
the second part, the Sioux, Chey-
ennes, Arapahoes, Crows. Assioa.
boine, Crees, eros Ventre, Mandan
and Arickaras, who all agreed and
consented to the same.
The treaty of Oct. II, 1855 was
made at the council grounds on the
upper Missouri. near the mouth of
the Judith river, by A. CUMMINGS
and Isaac l. Stevens, Commission
ers. duly authorized to act Tor the
United States. parties of the first
part, and the chiefs and headmen
of the Piegans, Floods, Blackfeet
and eros Nentres, parties Of the Sec
ond part. representing the Black
feet nation and the Pen d. Oriele,
Flathead, Nez Perez and Kootenai
tribes representing the Flathead na.
ton.
Article 3 of this treaty states that
the Blackfeet nation consents and
agrees that all that portion of coun-
try recognized and defined by the
Fl. Laramie treaty as Blackfeet ter.
ritory as lying within lines drawn
from the He'll Gate or Medicine
Rock passes in the main range OF
the Rocky mountains and running
in an easterly direction to the near.
est source of the Musselshell river
thence to the mouth of twenty-five
Yard creek. thence up the Yellow.
stone river to its northern sourcs
and thence along the main range o
the Rocky Mountains in a norther
ly direction to the point of begin
ming shall be a common huntin,
ground for 80 years, where all tn,
cations, tribes and bands of Indians
parties to this treaty may EMO,
equal and uninterrupted privileges
of hunting. fishing. gathering fruit
grazing animals, curing meat ant
: dressing robes.
Article 4 Of the treaty states tina
the parties TO this treaty agree ant
consent that the tract Of country ~