Year: 1876




tioDs for ourselves and children from
the wealth the children of the Great
Father will find in the Hills, and want
our children cared for as long as that
wealth lasts.


After expressing hope that they
might be allowed to hunt in part Of
the country surrendered, Antelope told
how good he was and said he always
wanted to see good things and talk OF
good things. He agreed with Grass in
his expressions but wanted a carriage
to ride in, wanted span of horses and
a wagon and numerous other things.
He also plead for Kill Eagle.


Two Bears said, Hail Great Spirit,
hail Great Father, and hail friends. A
year ago we went to Red Cloud to talk
about these things but our talk was not
satisfactory, and we now talk again.
The Great Spirit gave us this land and
told US it was good but what we have
formerly subsisted upon has passed
away and I must now look to him for
subsistence. For three winters the
young men Of our Father have been
carrying wealth from our country and
now that he proposes to pay for it my
heart is glad. There have been five
generations of Sioux; we are the sixth
and I want the Great Father to provide
for our children and five generations
more. I make this trade because am
not yet able to live like white man. l
do not know how to eat; how to get
along with a little like the white man.
The Great Spirit fed me in great guam
titles and l want the Great Father to
feed me in the same way. The gold
that the young men will get from the
Black Hills viii fill many houses and |
want much provisions and for many
years to pay for it.


He wanted horses and almost every
thing and wanted the young men to see
the Great Father. He told how easily
he was frightened by frightful things
or battles and how much bad words
shocked him. He said under the old
agent he was starving for two winters
and ate his horses and dogs, and he
feared the day would never come when
good men would come and talk. He
said many young men from the agency
had gone to hunt for food and some had
found trouble, but we want to take
these men back if we make this treaty.
He said the hostiles pointed weapons at
Kill Eagle and Little Wound, killed
their horses and beat them, but they
had escaped and he wanted them releas
ed and they would be good. If they
were released others would hea- of it
and come in. He wanted the laws Of
the Great Father; wanted the Northern
Pacific built because it would be useful
to the Indians, but he Aanted pay for
the land. He said, | have never fought
the soldiers but my people owned the
country from Red Hill to Devils Lake
and to Fort Thompson and we want
pay for it.


He said the present agent, Col. John
ston, treated them well ar d gave to each
band all that belonged to it. He did
not want to get rid of him but he want.
ed civilian agent when this one should
go away. He gave the Rees, he said,
200 horses when the Great Father wan.
ted him to make peace with them and
kept nothing for himself. He wanted
to 20 to Bismarck and meet the Rees
aad get something in return.


Big Head said, these Wise men have
come to talk and [ am pleased that they
prayed to the Great Spirit and that they
| have listened to what the chiefs have
said of the former agent. The white
men want the Black Hills. Others have
said yes and say yes. an in a hur.
ry for the things that other chiefs have
asked. l repeat all they have said
The surrender of the Black Hills is a
matter of great Importance to us but we
give all the Great Father asks. lie
wanted Kill Eagle released as soon as
the council was over.
Mad Bear said when one had a good
thing they valued it highly and We
want much for the Black Hills. II We
had the things that the children Of the
Great Father has to work with we could
support ourselves, and we want your
help to get these things. The chiefs
who have talked before have talked as il
in fear and perhaps some may not &C
cept fully the statements you have made
to us. l am a poor miserable Indian
but would be ashamed to do the things
which some white men who have been
sent to US have done. The GreatSpirit
would hate me. The white men nave
stolen from US and used the money stolen
to protect them. The cattle sent US
have oeen counted on horseback at u
gallop and they would make two hun
dred out of one hundred, and divide
these. When one man is turned away