Year: 1879

and ccssion by the tribe shall be understood or
construed in such manner as TO deprive, without
his consent. any individual member of the tribe of
his rights to any tract OF land selected by him as
mentioned in other parts OF THIS treaty.. (See
article 6.)


Serenth-Article 16 says:-"The United States gov
ernment hereby agrees and stipulates that the
try north of the North Platte River and Of the
summit of the Big Horn Mountains shall be held and
considered to be unceded Indian territory. and
also stipulates and agrees that no white per-
son or persons shall be permitted to settle
upon or occupy any portion of the same, without
the consent of the Indians first had and obtained to
pass through the same and it is further agreed that
within ninety days after the conclusion of peace with
all the bands of the Seven Nations the military posts
now established in the territory named in this
article shall be abandoned and that the road leading
TO them and by them to the settlements in the Ter


just and sensible citizens of the United States we
say:-Because the honor of a great and powerful
nation was pledged to keep all the obligations
agreed to as above represented; because especially
the honor OF that great nation was pledged thus
toward us by the chief of the army and
some Of his closest followers we had
tertained the firm hope that all trouble
was forever ended s We thought the srfe,a feasy
ton of the good will of the Great Father
for his Indian subjects. and as executed by
would command the respect of all the people and
no white man would ever molest us. or that ii
eventually some restless young men among the
whites should disturb our peaceable relations
the Great Father and his chie soldier would at once
see to it and protect the Indians It was not SO.
however The moneys, the goods. the build
ings. everything was apparently neglected or
such little attention given to the mat
ter would have made us believe
we did not have to deal with tho sacred word of
government 1t is hard for us to think that the
United States government and its army had intended
the destruction OF our property and OF our lives.
Yet with all the beautiful expressions OF the vari-
GUS articles Of the Sherman treaty in our favor,
left unprovided and unprotected from the attacks
of restless whites, because did not be silent un-
der their blows. but tried. at least some OF u.s. to
repel the same as best We could for sef-prorecton,
we were considered as open enemies of the
white people. How hungry would our people
it not been that God provided for us an
abundance Of bufalo No treaty ever made on
earth received little attention as the one we We're
ent things, however. OF which we have reaped
an abundant harvest. It is the hatred
Of threats. of Soldiers and arms. We thought at
times the Great Father trying the hearts and
sSs OF his ouns Dy Tas
that there was gold found in our lands
than the white people came in crowds: IN clear
ernInent. and settled upon and took possession OF
the same. We might then have sileneed
our treaty. and having yet faith and conf
dence III the government and the army. we
secured by solemn agreement protected. From time
to time some OF our bands visiting the whites would
Immediately be shot by them. as If we had been
nothing else but savage and dangerous beasts.
all this own lands. the peaceable
possession Of which had been assured to us in so
solemn manner. Was it possible the United States
government or the army powerless in repress-
Ing the wrongs they must surely have known
!" Be tnns sy WHY Should Sha We no
do our best for our own protection? For not only
did lose number OF our people, assassinated.
it were by intruders of all sorts, but when some
of their own numbers would fall victims to the
pacty of their associates often disguised as Indians
necessarily great alarm. II the United States. We
said. mean to keep their pledges to us why don't


the mead ns aa ay en
we, many OF us, had assembled together
to deliberate what to do the news came to us that
great army was coming upon us, not for our liberia
ton protection but tor our entire determination.
For eight days retreated toward the hills from


there i0r ~sr We did not WANT to ghs We had
enough trouble already and had good right accord
ing to our treaty to expect that army was coming in
due fulhment OF the obligations contracted toward
us by the United States government.


Upon close examination the long.haired
soluier (Custerl followed by q large detachment:
coming straight to us in our retreat What shonld
we do? One Of ours was Immediately sent to meet
Hi Ma ssm w,h the wnasS mss i He had sos
bullet for answer. Decidedly all white men were
against US: They had forgotten all their promises
to us. and the chief of the army, who protsssed to
be such strong friend at the time OF the treaty,
must have sent the long-haired soldier and all his
bands to kill the last OF us.


such fathless act provoked greatly, and of all
our men made lions who would not die without
dealing fatal blow to their enemies. Since then.
Allied the land and the wrongs done to white people.
whether by Indians or Others are all credited to Sit
ting Bull and Black Moon and their bands. just and
sensible citizens, the white people weep their dead,
and the orphans and widows for fathers
and husbands who never returned from that battle
field. Will the government of the United States
and the army and people look upon the hills
where we are exiled and without compassion the
tears and suerings of our own orphans and widows?
Will they without emotion as the nights return hear
the waings OF the lonely. fatherless exiledY


Mater Ohle, the Bears Coat General Miles,.
has taken the place of the long. haired
soldier. and Psrpstaases' with many snsr O,hers
ter of the poor, forsaken Western Indians for
imaginary wrongs, and through his voice and
upon everything Indian. Our only hope is in your
just and sensible citizens 1t was quite enough for
the Indians to have been submitted to receive
all. part parcel thereby under
the inspiration of officers and soldiers who stood by.
sword in hand, in threatening manner. as If to
say:-'You filthy Indian. If you dare to utter word
OF complaint what you will get.'


Generally. commanding .flcers. agents aud
traders are all one for everything and every pur-
pose. and If they disagree for while it is to plunge
deeper in the Indian goods box ut the first chance
when they are all again one with determination
stronger than fire to devour the Indians. May tho
Great Spirit save the whites and their children from
the distribution OF annuities to be made
Last fall of the United States officers,
the who commanded the expedition when the
long-haired soldier killed. came to speak to us.
We had lost ali faith in them. and it was on ac-
count OF 1t that VIC took up squaw to answer
Wazi-bi Cypress Hills. We thought when such
solemn treaty as that which concluded at Fort
Laramie in 1858 could not be kept and that although
the soldiers OF the United states knew well
how wrongfully accused aNl treated, they
had upon US. on our own ands. to exterininate
us. We thought their word, which ought to be ac-
cording to us the most strict and honorable. was
not now worth more in estimation,
than that OF q squaw and that there must be some
other way to settle our difficulties. We therefore
now appeal to you. leaving to good friend of
ours and OF yours who here to ask lis to
surrender ami give satisfaction to the govern
ment and people OF the United, States to publish
these words. 80 they may come before the
Af VISA In tnnaf Mo al irA
peace, but cannot have peace long
we pursued by army men who seem
to be bound to drive us into hight when we desire
anything but fighting. We desire TO see ourselves
and children educated in the medicine of
life-religion--of the black gown. 1t will
take time before all people
become farmers. Give back. therefore,
our hunting grounds or such part thereof will
not interfere with the settlements and pursuits of
the whites. Give that and give your protec-
ton.


TATANKA YoTANKE Sitting Bully, Chief Soldier