OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 27 missions of the Episcopal Church, and the American Boa,rd, " (A. B. 0. F. M.?) effecting a good work with this people, gathering many into the Chnstian church, and preparing not a few for missionary labor among kindred Sioux hands. Winnebogoe8.-These Indians, numbering 1,440, a gain of 40 over last year, are located in the eastern part of Nebraska, on a reservation con-taining 128,000 acres, adjoining that of the Omahas, and lying about eighty miles north of the citv of Omaha. They are the remnant of a once powerful tribe which formerly inhabited Wisconsin, from which State they removed to Xinnesota under the treaty of 1837. At the out-break of the Sioux in 1862, they were peaceably engaged in agriculture, in a beautiful and fertile country, on the vaters of the Blue Earth Rirer, a majority being thriving and industrious farmers, many of them possessing considerable intelligence. Although the Winnehagoes were wholly disconnected with that outbreak, yet the citizens in their imme-diate vicinity, as vell a8 in other portions of Minnesota, were so determined that all Indians should be removed beyond the limits of the State, that Congress in 1863 passed an act providing for their remoral. They were first removed inMay, 1863, to Crow Creek, in Dakota, and, after great suftering and loss of lnany lives from exposure and starva-tion, were finally established updu their present reservation, which had been secured for them bv the Government under treatv.. stu.~ julations \\it11 the Oll~ahus.a nd :it"wl~i~t.hl~ey nrrivrd i l l so~i~:lIlI I ~ strnggling parlieu duri~lgth e Sear Idtil. They are now grndu~~ll1y.r pai11i11IgII (.IC far~ucr comfortaMe rind nrosnerons condition. Allotmrnts 01' I : I I I I ~ ~ ~ have been made to them.- heir agent reports that the past year has been marked by a steady improvement of the condition generally of the tribe. The men have nearly all adopted the dress of the whites, and the agent anticipates that the women will do the same so soon as they shall come to lire in houses, a number of which (50) of a better class than is usually provided for Indian occupancy, are now being erected, to be given to those most industrious and makiug the greatest progress toyard civilization. Considerable interest is manifested in education, there being three day-schools, efficiently managed, mith an attendance of 250 scholars, and there is probably in operation by this date also an industrial and boarding school, capable of accom~~~odat8i0n sgr holers. Under the provisions of the treaties made with them November 1, 1837. October 13.1846. and various acts of Conaress. thev have an an-n ~ ~ ~ r ~ b ~ ~ rofo $~52r,0i31a.8t4,i ai u~d~a s rna~~i~n~rdGncrui<t e(~ib r t l ~sra le nt' their 1:lntls in Minnesota, as t l ~sra me are beiog sold, 3 SIII:III porrio~r of ~v l~iicsl p~a id to tlrem per capira, and the resi1111ce xprn~ltttlt 'nl. their I~encfiti n the pnrcllasc of good^, in pn~inge u~plo).i.s,ir k in~provingth e reservation, for ecluentioual purposes, &c. Omahas.-The 0111aha8,ap eaeeahle and inoffensive people numbering 909, a tlcerease siuce 18'71 of 15, are natire to tlle country now o~:~rupied by them, and occnpy a reservation of 315,tiOO acres adjoining the Win-ncbarroes. Ther bare lands allotted to th6.m io scvereltv. aud hare made cons~ierahlea adancement in agric~iltnrea nd civiliza6on, though they . still follow the chase to some extent. Under the provisions of the act of Juue 10,1872,stel~as re being taken to sell 50,000 acres of the western part of their reservation. The proceeds of the sale of these lands will enable them to improve and stock their farms, build honses, &c., and, with proper care and industrj-, to become in a few years entirely self-snstaining. A few cottages are to be found w.o n this reservation. Pre- ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~~ I~aration<arc.b eing ~uad; for the erection, during the next stb:~3onof, an additional nunlbrr of 11r1.euth ouses for t l~en ~ of rhese 111(1ians. |