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Show agency. These Utes were not anxious to move again, understandably so, for they had not even reached the area that they had just been assigned, and the Government was already asking them to consider moving again. Their presence at the general council later in the month indicated that the influence of both Watkins and Pfeiffer was indeed great with these Utes. After arriving at the Southern Ute Agency a council was called but had to be postponed for a week to await the arrival of the leaders of the three bands. 29 While the members of the commission were waiting for everyone to gather, a small council was held with Ignacio, Aiguillar, and Severo, each representing one of the three bands of the Southern Utes. During these discussions it became apparent that the Utes were against moving to the Northern Ute Reservation and preferred staying at their present location. 3° These leaders also spoke of their displeasure over the Brunot Agreement of 1874. No money had been received, and whites were settling in areas the Indians considered reservation land. The testimony of Aiguillar indicated the problems the commission was facing. We never knew the land was sold; never were asked; never knew anything about the treaty that was said to have been made. The great father took it and wanted to give us money, and the money didn't come. We didn't know anything about it and the white people came and settled on it. The agent didn't know about it either. You now come here - the great father has sent you; you see us, and we see you, and we are contented, you see us here, and you see we are all poor. Many years together at Cochito we were made many promises; we were full of hopes; we went to Santa Fe and had letters with big seals, but maybe the commissioner lied; he was a fat man; maybe he lied. He as an Indian, could not find any place so bad to come back to as Cimarron. We sold only the mines and we told them they could take the mountains; not for horses or anything, only for money, but we didn't get any money. ' Tis now six years [ 1872] since money came; we have not received anything for it. Who deceived us? 3i It was obvious to the commission that something was going to have to be done about the money situation, or they faced total failure in the negotiations. Before the rest of the Ute people arrived for the general council an attempt was made to fulfill the promises of the Brunot Agreement. The commission notified the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, E. A. Hayt, that the Southern Utes were unwilling to move and asked for further instructions. In his reply Hayt stated that the Ute annuity money was being sent to the agency for distribution as had been asked. He also stated that if the Utes refused to go to White River then the commission should try to remove them to fertile Indian land so these people could become self- supporting. Hayt's logic in this move was based on the fact that the House of Representatives' Committee on Indian Affairs was considering a bill which would remove all the Indians from Colorado and place their land for sale to Anglo settlers. 32 He felt that the Colorado people would create much pressure for its passage. It would be better to have the Southern Utes agree to move to another location, even if it was not the one desired by Government officials, rather than not move at all and face the possibility of being completely overrun by settlers. 29. Ibid., p. 6- 7. 30. Ibid. 31. Ibid., p. 9. Aiguillar indicates that no money had been received since 1872, two years prior to the 1874 agreement. 32. Ibid., p. 11. - 12- |