TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

The Oneida Indians of Wisconsin originally came from the state of
New York. The Oneida Indians of New York came to Green Bay, Wisconsin
in 1821. There were approximately 600 Oneidas who sold some of their
land holdings in the state of New York and bought 500,000 acres from
the Menominee Indians of Wisconsin under the guardianship of the
United States. Of this 500,000 acres the guardian gave the Oneidas
approximately 65,000 acres exempt from taxation, to be held in trust
by the United States for the Oneida tribe of Wisconsin.

They started to clear land and build log houses on this Oneida
Indian Reservation of Wisconsin. They minded their own business. The
Chiefs of the tribe met and formulated laws to govern the Oneidas of
this reservation.

When the Damaractus came into being in 1887 the Oneidas were allotted
lands ranging from 14 to 45 acres to each individual. Married couples
received 90 acres. At this time the Oneida Indians were very much self
supporting. The Oneidas quarried stone for and built a large Episcopalian
church. During the time from 1888 to 1928 there were acts of Congress
whereby the heirs of a deceased allottee could sell lands by making an
application for a deed of the deceased allottee. The heirs soon sold this
property for very little plus some intoxicating liquor. Liquor has been
a great factor in getting the Oneida land for little or nothing. At this
time I wish to say "The Indians are not to blame," because the Oneida
Indians gave their blood, food and clothing for this country under General
George Washington. We have an agreement with the U.S. government that the
Oneida tribe shall have the U.S. as a guardian and shall never become poor.