OCR Text |
Show 2 REPORTOF THE ferent bands, however, a suitable number of reservations, limited in extent, where it should be the policy to concentrate and confine them, and every exertion used to induce them to adopt the habits and pur-suits of civilized life. , As stated in the last annual report of my predecessor, we have no treaty arrangements with the Red Lake Chippewas and a few other scattered bands of Indians next to the British possessions, and in the valley of the Red River of the North. They are poor end need assist-ance, and it would be good policy to extinguish their title to lands in that region, and to locate them on a small reservation where they could be suitably and humanely provided for. The other Indians in Minnesota consist of the various bauds of the Dacotahs, or Sioux, and the Winnebagoes ; the latter located in the southern portion of the Territory, and reported to be doing well. The agent is, however, of opinion that their reservation is too large, and that it would contribute materially to their advancement to re-duce it, and to assign them a limited quantity of laud in severalty, so as to give them an idea of individual property, and a greater incen-tive to personal exertion and industry. The principal body of the Sioux consist of the four bands of Med-a-wah- kau-toans and Wah-pah-coo-tahs, known as the lower or Mis-sissippi Sioux, and the Wah-pay-toans and Se-see-toans, or upper Sioux. These are located on two reservations set apart for them by the treaties of July and August, 1851, where strenuous efforts are being made to induce them to improve their habits and condition. I t was a small outlawed and reckless band of these Indians that committed the murders and outrages at the white settlement at Spirit Lake in March last, but who, on the requirement of the department, have since been severely punished by their brethren for their lawless and atrocious conduct ; this having been determined to be a better course than to cause the chastisement to be inflicted by our troops. A portion of the Indians embraced within the two agencies for the tribes on and in the vicinity of the upper and headwaters of the Mis-souri river have, within the past year, been severely scourged by the smallpox ; as many as two thousand of them having, it is estimated, been carried off by that disease. Otherwise nothing of an unusual character has taken place among them. These' Indians comprise eight different hands of restless and wandering Sioux, with the Arick-srees, Gros Ventrea, Mandans, Assinaboines, and Crows, all withiu the lower, and the Blackfeet who are within the upper agency. But small portions of the country occupied by them are suited for agricul-tural pursuits ; and so long as the buffalo and other game within their reach afford them subsistence, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to break them of their wandering and unsettled habits. The agent reports that the Sioux to whom General Harney promised presents of clothing for their soldiers are very much dissatisfied with the non-compliance with that promise, and he recommends that Congress make provision for its fulfilment. An estimate for $200,000, tobe placed at the disposal of the department for that purpose, was presented by your predecessor to Congress at the last session of that body, hut no appropriation was made. Concurring in the propriety and imporb |