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CHIPPEWA THKATY,Proceeding* of a Council held by Governor Dodge, with the Chiefs and Head Men of the Chippewa Nation of Indians, near Fort Snelling, at the confluence of the St. Peter* and Mississippi River*. Wisconsin Territory, commencing on the 20lh July, 1837. Several chiefs came forward to ask qnes-Tunoiv, July i5ih. ^n,a ,,0,P*CU* m»r of 'ho country wi.h-Governor Dodge wa, informed .hi. morning «» be pu'cl.Med. «ni seemed .o unJcrsUnd that seventy-five or eighty Indiana belonging ™d ,9l‘ed»,,h • 1 he coucl1 ”dJourn-'to four or five different bands from Lakes de cd 1,11ie Iie I i* , «• Si Flambeau and Coutcreillc La Pointe, Ac. I had just arrived, accompanied by the sub-agent Mr. Bushnell, and Mr. Warren, the trader at La Pointe. These gentlemen waited upon Gov. Dodge immediately on their arrival, and informed him that the Indian* who had come with them could not go into council with him to-day. At their suggestion, therefore, and at the solicitation of Mr. Warren, the Governor postponed the meeting of the council until 9 o’clock to-morrow morning.Wednesday, July 2C.had talked together, and had chosen a speaker. I will repeat what the chiefs have to say to halt an hour had passed, the warriors and After waiting half an hour and none of tho you, and keep this paper for that purpose. ; braves to the number of several hundred, high-other chiefs having spoken, the Governor a-1 My father, the Great Spirit has given us a ly painted, with tomahawks andI spears in their gain took occasion to urge upon the Chippe- clear sky to talk together lo-day. W e must,hands, carrying before them the war flag of ways tho necessity of being at peace with the now rest, and when wo meet again we will the.r nation, andthe flag of the United Stole*. Silt;?ux. ! speak further. \dancmg round thc fagss to the sound of theirGov. Dodge. Do you wi*h me 4g| give you dru ms,with un occasional whoop were seen advmn* my answer this evening, or wait dmil to-mor- ing toward the bouyr where thutmncUuxu held, row’ morning? Aiiswer—-To-morruw morning, i Whon they had come near the place where tho Gov. Dodge. It is proper for me to explain j Govornor was sealed, Mage-ga-bo and Mato you, that your great father never buys land go-bai, two of the principal warriors advanced for a term of years. I will ngree that you shall and after shaking hands with him, Ma-go-bai have the free use of the rivers and the privilege said: My father, you see beforo you to-day tho of hunting on the lands you are to sell, during principal warriors who have spoken with you Ma-ghe-ga-bo, (The Trapper) and Pa-goona, lbe picasuro of your great father. If you sell sinco you have invited your children to meet pe-shig, (The hole in the Day,) came forward lhoge iandg, you must sell them as all theoth- you. My father, the Great Spirit looks upon as speakers in behalf of their nation. er l„Jian nations have done, and 1 tell you us all. The Master of life inadoall ihediifcr-Ma-gho-ga-bo, was dressed in the full In- this now that you may not hereafter say I have 'cut bands of our nation, and wo are brothers. Jian costume, naked, with the exception of his deceived you. Your groat father has aent me My father, the warriora ot our people wish tohero to treat you as his ehilditttApsy 7.*“ bo jual- °ur hnvo clothed and ad pnort-the whole value of your lauds, and not to deceive «d our young men, women, and children. They you in any tiling 1 may do or say. If you con- j hav© made our hearts glad, by being among suit with your two la'thers, (the sub-agents) Jus. We owe a debt to our traders and desire it is my wish that they may do vou justice, that they should be paid. Your children are You have spoken frequently of* your half- poor, and wot able to do them justice withoutThursday, July 27th. The Council met at 11 o'clock, A. M.- ww—w » 1 ” leggings, breech cloth and flapp, highly painted with red, his hair hanging loosely on his shoulders, a coronet of the feathers of the bald eagle placed on his head by the chiefs, and several medals hung around his neck. He ad-On mectinfT in Council this morning, in ad-'vanned to the Governor, and with the map be- , . . . , .dition to the Sjibbeways who had bocn pres- fore him, pointing to it with his finger, said: breeds. It is a good principle in you to wish (the assistants ©four great rather. When you ent before, a large number of others appeared. My father, this is the country which is the | to provide for them, but you must do so in mo- said you wished to buy our land your cnildren Tho following are the hand* to which they be- home of your children. 1 have covered it w ith noy, and cannot give thorn laud. You have wero pleased. We thought you would givea paper, (lie had done so) and so soon as I rc- mentioned that you wish to receive one half I us a great deal, for tin hind and the tree you From Lac do Flambeau—Na-wn-ghe-wa. movo that paper the land shall he your*. I may ngree to give you in money, and the other want; and that wn should then bo able to pay' ‘ “ fs half in goods. I do not object to this, but have our traders. My father, the hearts of our war-ir long, and the names of the Chiefs.‘‘{••The Knoo,” O-gc-ma-gn, “The Dandy,” u Pa-se-quan-gis, “The Commissioner.” Wa-l»e-nc-mc-ke, “The White Thunder,” Pish-_ ka-ga-ge, “The White Crow.”Lake Cootorcille.—We-non-ga-bo. “The Wounded Man,” and Ke-wa-sc, “The Old Man.”a proposition to make to you now, which 1 jriors wore yesjtemay muuc learn, ami a aaric wish you to consider. Your great father re- cloud passed over our eyes, when we heard commends that you should take from year to what was said to you. My Father, we do nothave listened closely to the words the chiofe have told me to say to you.My father, when we first met here, we »mo-kod and shook hands together. Four times we commends that you should take from year have gone through the same c-romony. and 'year in part payment lor your lands, certain now, on the fifth, wo have come to give you sums of money to provide teachers to educate in answer. 1 stand here to represent the chiefs children and mako them wise ikewhich I jriors wore yesterday mudc learn, and a darkhiteLa Pointe. on Lake Superior.—Ghe-bi*h- wf ||l0 different bands of my nation, and retell people, farmers to teach you to cultivate tne ghe-kon, “Tho Buffalo,” and Ta-qua-ga-nai, u lhal u,ey agree to sell you the land you ground, for agriculturalI implements, and seeds “Joininff I-migM...... /wan,. *Gov. Dodge directed that in the future proceedings in the treaty, Stephen Bonga ami Patrick Quinn should interpret the English language into Chippewa, and Scott Campbell and lean Baptiste Dube, from Chippewa into English.Ho then addressed the Indians thus: My I Children of tho Chippewa Nation, assembled here: I have been informed that since I last met you, your people, whose absence had prevented the proceeding with our Council have arrived here. I wish now to learn from you if this is the case, and whether you are ready to proceed. I have before made a pro-My father, in all the country we sell you we wish to hold on to that which gives us life—the streams and lakes where wo fish, and the tree from which .we mako sugar. I have but few words to say. but they urc the words I of the chiefs, and very important. The beingwho created us, made us naked. lie gave you Ikingand shaking hands— ami your people knowledge and power to live Aish-kc-boge-kho-ze, (Flat Mouth) said well. Not so with us; we had to cover ourselves with inoss anti rotten wood, ami youfor tobacco, for blacksmiths, iron, Ac., and for mills and millers to grind tho corn you inay raise. If you consent to this, let me know early to-inorrow morning.Friday, July 28th, 1837.Tho Council met at 12 o’clock. After smo-My father, you children are willing to let you linvo their lands, but wish to rcservo the pri-wish to displease you: you have been kind to us since we have been here, and your look* have always been pleasant. If you will not pay what we owe to our traders, we will return to our country, and live upon our lands. We now wail for your answer.Tho Governor replied: Your great father is much pleased to find that his red children wish to bo just, and will assist you to pay w hat you owe to your traders. 1 will give seventy thousand dollars to pay your debts, in addition to the $800,000 which I promised to give your I people and half breeds. Your father will,” therefore, without taking any thing from that which you were to receive satisfy your traders.After the Governor had ceased speaking, all tho Chippowas present gave token of satisfac-must shew your generosity towards us. I he VI|P?0 0t making sugar from the trees, and anJ'assented to the offer which had beenchiefs will now shew you the iree we wish to g,.,lmg the.r living from the lakes and rivers ma(|e Thc (Iovernor Uten 8aid_ preserve. I his is it (placing ;,n oak sprig up- a9 they have heretofore done, and of remain- Nolllin.r more j9now necessary but to reduceon the table.) It is a different kind of treej position to you, which those then present have, fron, the ono you wish to get from us. Every .....' * time the leaves fail from it, we will count itI presume, communicated to yon, who liavi recently arrived, for the purchase of a portion of your territory. You havo deferred giving me an nnswer until your friends should arrive, and as I believe they are now all here. I will renew my proposition to yon, and will shew you a map explaining which part of your cornier {try it is I wish to buy.I will now place the map before me. and ! wish tho chiefs and head men, and partieu!as one winter past.My father: You have told us what you want, and I nnswer you in the name of tho chief*. I am no chief, but a warrior, andthe badge lhal I wear is to make me respected by my people.We have understood you will pay us in goods and money for our lands, and we wish io know now how much you will givi us foring in the country. It is hard to give up the laud. It will remain and cannot be destroyed, but you may cut down tho trees, and others will grow up. You know we cannot live deprived of lakes mid rivers. There is somegmlt;what has beennecessary igreed upon to writing.ThoSecretary will prepare the papers, and we will meet ag.’.in the touch ilio quill.repmeet ogf.in the afternoon, that the chiefs may l ilio quill.Mu-ge-ga-ho then requested, in the name*p-ly those from that part of the country which I them, wish to purchase, to wit: Lakes Do Flam- j Gov. Dodge then directed tho interpreterbeau and Coutcreillc, and tin* Chippewa, St. t© nay to them; As tin* lands belong to you. Igame on the land yet, and for that we wish to !of n„ ||l# braveg| pprmg8gion t0 h,dd a dancaremain upon it. Sometimes we st,'ar. !ne under the wall* of Fort Snelling. The request trees and eat the hark, i lie Great Spirit a- h#v| bcen nlrdi l|l0 -alcg cf lllo forl wcr8 , bovo made the earth, and causes it to produce c|o8gd . lhe ordcr8 of c ScoUlt; a9 ma/_ that which enables us to live. tcr Qjprecauflon% About thrco hundred bravesMy father, we would long ago have agreed immediaVciy aflerward8 conmenced the dance, to let you have the lands, hut whon we agreed of lheir ioy Bnd gaiisfaction that theirupon any point, there have been people to whis- w|g|icg |iaJ boci| accedt.d l0lt; T|ll8 appearedjcr m our ears-—to trouble and distract us. Vhat the chiefs said yesterday they ubido by.above placednen-I Croix and Rum River, to come forward and wi„h you to tell me who I you wish me to pay T|„.y cannot look back and change,examine it with me. as I direct it to he cx- you for it. If your cannot come to a eonclu- My fiulier, the Great Spirit aboplained, and after this examination I wish you 8joa among yourselves, I would recommend Us on this land; and wo want some benefit from to inform me, whether or not you will sell ibis you l0 ask ajd 0f your fathers 'the sub-agem* country to me. ' Vineyard A Bushnell.) But ifyou cau dcicr-Ghe-bish-ghe-kon. fThe Buffalo, from Lake niine among yourselves, do so.Superior,) replied: We have come from a dia- j Ma-ghe-ga-bo-My father. If vou offer uslance, and but lately arrived here, and what monoy a|ld good9 wo w,|| lake both. Yon seeyou have proposed to u«, we want more time 0^||nl |ny 0llfferaf (countingsix.) Everyto think about. The notice you have given us fi|1Ror counlH |„n. |’or H„ mauy years we wish is rather too short. Let ua wait another day, iyou {Q pay ug an anuully. After that our ttraiMrc-v and to-morrow we will be able to give you our answer.The Governor directed it to be said to them, that they could examine the map and have it b explained to them; consult each other between this and to-morrow morning, and he prepared then to give him an answer; that lie did not ““ wish to hurry them, but that he had already waited patiently during several days, and was ** anxious lo bring the business to a close as soon |!‘ as possible; that he would now he glad to hear *' any thing from any of the Chiefs who migl^ wish to speak to him. and that if they desire __ it, he would remain during the whole day fi that purpose. He tl\en explained the map fu in_ ly to the Chiefs and principal men, and n lr. pouted to them that he had hern informed that the country he w ished to get from them, was very destitnto of game, and of little value for agricultural purposes, hut that it abounds inpine timber, for which their great father the President of the United States, wished to purchase it front them for the uso of his white children; that he would give them a fair price for it; that he wished them to understand the map, and to enable them to do so, had mentioned and pointed out to them natutal boundaries, commencing at the mouth of Crow Wing river, then to the source of the SL Crol* river, thence lo thc head water* of the \Vi«-consin snd down said river to thc Plover Port-ege, where the line dividing the territory from tho other Indians commenced; while on the west the tract would be bounded by the Mississippi river; that he wished them to be pro-| pared to-morrow to give him an answer wlieth-lu er they would sell the land, and their price for j i; that he wished them all to go home satisfi-ed, so that when they met their people there they might not be ashamed to tell thorn whatchildren, who will havo grown up, for themselves. We will consult with our there, (tho si^b-agents) and abk them what is the value of the land, and what unnuily we ought to receive for sixty years.My father, take the land you ask from us. Our chiefs have good hearts. Our women have brought thn half breed* among u*. They are poor, and wc wish them to bo provided for. “hey are here, and have left many of their cliil-uliind them. Wo wish to divide with I. This is the derision of tho chiefs.ppearctto uh to he intended as the greatest compliment and token of respect that could lie paid by thoIndians to tho Commissioner; it also affordedtho warriors opportunity to boast of their deeds of bravery, to ltd I how man^afclps they had '*•« “1° of 'f wc oould derive none, m lMkmi frulI1 ,|iejr enemies, illi^iiouiA Wo would not sell it, and wo want that benelit | ob-orvod a grMt many of the Sioux standing ourselves. I did not intend to speak; what I neaf l|(0 nd w||ef0 l||0 danc0 wa8 held say is the languuge of the chiefs. 1 was not | loMnff on wilh an air 0f apparent indifference, in council yesterday, because I w-as not well. nnd |jeUminjr quietly as each warrior success-I have heard many thing# said—that we were ivo, rolaUjd ,|i8 feats of arms, in the pauses of oing to put out the fire* of tho white people fhe (,unce Afler l)|Q dari(0 wa9 endcd| lhe country—that we were going to send the Chipp#wng agaifl aMonililed in council for the taHiLo1 I*; l1 1 k,,ow uboul ,l» purpose of signing tho treaty which had beenoak, it is not with sugar in my prCpar(,d by lbc Secretary of tho Commission.t .... • • i 1 Afler many of the chiefs had touched the quill,j children are rejoiced to see lho inlcrpreler wa8 directed to ask! the ageotsWe to-day, one of whom is to live Pish-ka-ga-ge, (Tho White Crow,) to puton Lake Superior, and the other on the Mia-Jh;8 8ignatureto the paper. r sissfpni, to keep peace in the country. We are pleased that our agents may estimate thovalue of our lands, that our young men, women, ffom ll)a( rl of lJ|0 C||; ud children may go lioin* wiih«ieir hearts had botjn purchafcd by l(l)^ l .... . t.M J A J I* lm tlm ll«at ease. We will wait to hear wVat you offeignature to the paper. This chief, (from Lake do Flambeau; had not spoken during tho holding of the conned, although ho had eomopewit country which io Government, andwasunderstood lo be tho most influential chieffur tho lands, and will then make you our an- • b|a ,)a|)d The wiiito Crow having advan-o have met hero this morning we havo **wer. We will depend upon our two fathers | ced and ghaken hand# w|lh the Govcrnor, said;ldit.(G is* I_ It ss srjsi \ «.»-rtogether, and that he | (They did ao, to the number ‘b'rty and up-le with . one peand .elect out of .heir n1StewoYhW.''7n not lot go your hand unlil I have counl^ thewhom they had confidence, to apeak for then,; | of*,, StafJ ‘e^rca f P*‘that he wi.hed to meet them all in council, but f*' ade tlm earth Ui'nand |,ght, but it ha. that not more than two .hould .peak, to .are »» .^ome heavier. We do not wi.h to dm-.. time, that they .hoold direct the two .poker. W‘ you and ornr great father beyond the L. I whit to .ay to him; although they wore of mountatne in the object you had in coming here n-1 different hand., yet they were of the earn.- m- Wc therefor, gnat «u the country you wanl tion, and their ii.tere.ta were in common; that; »“d ihe ehfefi. who repre.ent all he* he wi.hed them .11 to be .atiefied will, what | villagee within lU hmiu are now preeent, .tho(agent.) to internal thomeelvee fdr nej and My father, while lhe chiefs of my people havo will submit it to them whether wkat you oiler la|kcd wjjj, y0Ut j |iav© yet said nothing. Bui usisonough. !you „,U8t not suppose that lam unsbls toMy lather, there are many of your children 8peak on proper occasions, or that ray people here from a distance, nnd among them ar® ' do not listen. Tho Great .Spirit looks upon me,IU uu. ..s.. urixuB, u..» tutpuu, j-~-ith1ree ,C,,iuf8 fr°n* lhe 9blPP®2* TaTerV “k! and in0t wl,cnI lr°^ “PJ«lh#tho benefits of it. Wo w.ll hold firmly what they »ay .11 tho omtrion ^to ,and occu^,ic,, ^ . IS I ^at you giro us that nobody may get it from | people living thero. 1 luy toll me to say to beon ,l0r0t my m,nd has been disturbed by thoit.. fL.u— —____....... rneAnt.uonii y ou th at they ha vo gran ted a pri vi lego to some irtiking of many people, (alluding to the tr»-men of cutting timber on their lands, for which dflra^ gQ t|iat \' W99 not satisfied io apeak tothey are paid in tobacco and animuniiion far y0|Jlt; j ailJ pjbl8ed with what the chiefs havohunting. They wish you not to break their 8aid and wbal has been done,word with these people, but to allow them to . .j.j|0 Governor then said, at Pish-ka-ga-ge didcut timber. They have granted you all you notarrjVe in time to receive any of thepreaoQtoasked of them, and they wish you now to grant gjven t0 th0 principal chiefs, he shall vei re-W:h™r^pi.^iuItto^w“dlIr;ill,ucovT'Cig.. M, m n;«L7owWp.*.^^.u.ib^^uf. rX^; Sr S® w®* feat WftJ a ssnow er your rcoue.l to bo permitted to make .»g»r Mr. Antwerp) .ud .1 th.Mm.My father, we understand you have been «'la1’8’ “d ou -*» 1^’Zl hwiff ‘i10 1 ,ouch *11 th* wbUke» iB J°told that our country i. not grid to cultivate. In. plcaaure to hunt and fiah on them. It wu ^It is not true. There is no belter ground to cultivate than it uotil you get up to where the pino region commences.My father, you will now see all your children in whose behalf 1 speak. All the chiefstadcup our minds to comply w ith your es. My father, wc will not look back at what has happened before, but will begin our business anew with you from this day. What you propose to give us, we wish to share only with our half breeds, that our people may co- (j»ywh __ . , _us. My father, we once more recommend |y®« our hall breeds to your kindness. They are very numerous. We wish you to select a place for them on this river, where they may live and raise thoir children, and have their joys of life. If I have well understood you, we can remain on the lands and hunt there.—probably be many years beforcyour great lath-, #pb0 rem9i0ing chiefs then present signed er will want all these lands for the 0 13 Jbe treaty, and the Indians immediately pre*white children. A* you hare asked me what ^ to return to their country I will give for the country, I will now toll you, |r ■■■■■■mrji * wn*j—i - — - — - ,the manner io which it | CaiOAco^-Accordingtothe Oemoen^p^ u. For thatpartofyour,liahed in that city, it now contains 8000 in-giveand will recommendcountry0which i wi.Mo b„r, ih'. j h.blWl, W oTfo' ^sum of #100,000. I prop ova to give you .» |ci.n., 19 pubU. hotue.. ISjS-JJSshould bo done; that their great father, the President of tho United Statof, would be just to them, and that they should be just towards each other—that in their consultation* he desired they should remember their half breed relatives, and be iust towards their trader*, and that ho would now be glad to hear any thing the chiefs might have to aav.Pay-a-jik replied, that be and his brothersnumber of the villages (nineteen) is marked on this paper, and 1 present it to you in acknowledgment that we grant vou tho land. This piece (retaining in his hand another piece of paper) we will keep, because wo wish to say Homelhing more on it. At tho conclusionof f ‘ quill askannuity for twenty years of $20,000 in goods and money, one half in each, or all in goods if you choose, to pr°?jde *3,000 a year for the same time, to provide you with blacksmith*, Ac., Ac., (os io the treaty.)After the Governor had finished speaking, tho council was adjourned.Saturday, July 29th, 1837.There were preaent about twenty chief* at the opening of the council thia morning. Afler the pipe was passed among them. Gov, Dodge said, he was now ready to proceed with the business before them, and Wished to know whether thev had agreed to accept the price he had offered them for the land they had sold to their great father, and whether they would accept the payment in the manner beimmediate cbtA HUM K-gng^-mm I dk -M p“. *** J*im ms waning born# for meney to pay for •1 a oooo aacu*a.—A womajt caetotooarsAi^papers, and “a quantity of small groceries, coffee house*, we presume. The * vers ^number of monthly letters published, is about WO, nnd the postmaator’s naUy about.$9000. C hi-
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Iowa News
Du Buque, Wisconsin, US
Sat, Sep 02, 1837
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