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Show REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. 133 tnore. A great many of the things we received are becoming old and worn out; the wagon ' s old and not fit for much service; it is the same with the plows and tools, all of which we received several years ago, and they are all we have received from Washington. Through Mr. Fink boner we have received all of it. Mr. McKenney is far off from this place, and I foave never had an opportunity to tell him, and I want him now to know it. I am not a beg-gar for things from Washington ; all I want is thisHaud secured to my children, and the implements necessary to cultivate it, that my children may cultivate it wheu I am dead. This is all that is on my mind; that my children may have a home after I am dead. I am proud that the great chief from Washington is here, and that I can hear you talk. It is not the case with all the Indians. We are proud to see you and hear you. My patience is almost worn out as well as the farmer's patience ; so many will riot hear what is said to them. It is my desire that all the Indians should become good. If all t'he Indians become gotl, they will not die off from drinking whisky, and disease. That is all I have to say now ; if you have anything more to say we will be glad to hear you. HCNRY, ( Qui- E- NA.) I want to talk to the chief from Washington. I am proud to see you Jiere. It looks as if you would help us to become better children. I have been a Christian many years. God gave us this land to cultivate and live on it. I am proud to see you here. It is like as if the President had sent you to help us be good, and to keep the white men from taking our land, as many say they will do. The white people say when the railroad comes the land will be taken from us, and it makess us feel bad. For that reason we are glad to Bee you. You are the first one who came from the Presicent to see us and help us keep our lands. We have some children at school with Father Chirouse ; we want lands for them to live on. Our lands are not very large, and we want them secured. I know what you told the Indians yesterday. When the agents or chiefs talk to me, I always tell the Indians what they say. I heard what you said yesterday, and I hope to retain your counsel. I know that when I work for the whites I do not get high wages, but occasionally I have to go off to get food for myself and my children. If you will help us we are willing to work. I want to tell you my mind freely, because you have just come from the President. [ A map of the reservation was produced, and explained to the commission.] Mr. BKUNOT. I am glad to hear the Indian men talk as you do. I hope you will act as you talk. The white men believe that God gave all the land for the use of all the people, and that He intends they shall cultivate it, and whenever the white people see that the lands are lying unused, they think Gc- d intends them to be cultivated. You see they are coming away from the other ocean, five moons' journey from this one, and they cannot come fast, enough in wagons and canoes. They must make the iron road to come on, and, after a while, all along the sound, they will have their farms and towns. Some of the people will say, when the other land is full, " Here is good ground which the Indians do not cultivate; if we had it we would build houses and cultivate it." It is not right for them to want to take the Indian lands. The President and the friends of the Indians say it is not right; yet, when the whites see the land vacant, they say " We want it." Now the President wants you to help him keep the land for you ; he wants you to work on it, open farms, and make it like \ vhite people's land. If that is done, the white people will know they can never get it. They will see the Indians doing as well as they coufd themselves, and they will give up the hope of ever getting it. You say, " We would do this, but we must have something to eat." It is a mistake ; working gives food. The whites go somewhere and work till they get money with which they buy their land ; they then begin to work on it, and the food they need soon grows on it. But the Indian goes to the coal mines, or somewhere, and works for the whites. When he gets his pay he wastes it, or he sits down and eats it up. When it is gone, he goes and works more, and when he gets old he has no more than he had at first. Good white mea do not do that; they take care of ail they get ; it increases until they get rich and have comfortable homes, and can send their children to school. Thus they all be-come chiefs. I would like to see these young men do the same way. They get good wages for their work, but if they work awhile and then quit just when the man wants them, soon the white man will not have them. I heard man say, " I like to have the Indians work for me, and pay them, but soon they want to quit and go away off. If they do that way, I must quit tiring them. I must have Chinamen ; they will stay." That is bad. We want the Indians to have work. The President intends the Indians to keep this reservation ; you need not muid what white men say about it; they cannot take it; but your people must do what the President wants you to do. Sometimes there are disputes about the laud ; some-times white men have lands lying together, ftn < l they differ about the lines. . They havo the surveyor run the lines with his instrument, and what he says they agree to, ' and that settles it. It is the same way about this reservation. The Indians are not certain about the lines ; Bor are the white men. General McKenuey and Mr. Finkboner have been trying to have it surveyed, and I will tell the Commissioner at Washington, and we will try and have tue surveyor eome and survey it. I think it will be done, and then the Indians an'] whites must agree to the line. I am going to ask the President to make out lines on the reservation like the township lines. It may be some time before it is done, but then each man, when he builds , lumse, may build it on his own land, & ud no one can ever take it from him. After that is done, every man will have his own place, and it will be always his. The rest would belong to all of you, and when a boy grows up and gets married, and goes to work, you could give him a farm. |
