Case: JOHNSON BLACKFEATHER, PRINCIPAL CHIEF, v. THE UNITED STATES
Abbreviation: Blackfeather v. United States
Decision Date: 1902-10
Docket Number: 
Citation: 38 Ct. Cl. 749
Volume: 38
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: JOHNSON BLACKFEATHER, PRINCIPAL CHIEF, v. THE UNITED STATES.
Judges: 
Pages: 749–749

Head Matter:
JOHNSON BLACKFEATHER, PRINCIPAL CHIEF, v. THE UNITED STATES.
[37 C. Cls. R. 233; 190 U. S. R. 368.]
On the cldmicmt'’s Appeal.
The petition alleges the taking and destruction of property belonging to individual members of the Shawnee tribe by white citizens of the United States. The case rests on treaty obligations, and jurisdiction is ascribed to the Acts 1st October, 1890, and 6th July, 1892.
The court below decides:
1. The Acts 1st October, 1890 (26 Stat. L., 636), andOthJuly, 189% (27 Stat. L., 86), refer to the obligations of the United States to the Shawnee tribe as such, and do not extend to the depredations of white men upon the property of individual members of the tribe.
2.' Neither the Treaty 10th May, 1854 (10 Stat. L., 1063), nor the Revised Statutes, sections 2154, 2156, create a liability on the part of the United States to individual members of theShawnee tribe; and no action can be maintained either by the individual members directly • or by the chief of the tribe on their behalf.
3. The United States as guardian of the Indians deal with certain distinct entities of Indians and not with the individual Indians composing such entities.
The decision of the court below is affirmed on the same grounds.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Peckham
delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court June 1, 1903.