Collected by Amorin Mello & edited by Leo Filipczak

Green Bay Republican:
Saturday, November 5, 1842, Page 2.

Robert Stuart was a top official in Astor’s American Fur Company in the upper Great Lakes region. Apparently, it was not a conflict of interest for him to also be U.S. Commissioner for a treaty in which the Fur Company would be a major beneficiary.

A gentleman who has recently returned from a visit to the Lake Superior Indian country, has furnished us with the particulars of a Treaty lately negotiated at La Pointe, during his sojourn at that place, by ROBERT STUART, Esq., Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the district of Michigan, on the part of the United States, and by the Chiefs and Braves of the Chippeway Indian nation on their own behalf and their people.  From 3 to 4000 Indians were present, and the scene presented an imposing appearance.  The object of the Government was the purchase of the Chippeway country for its valuable minerals, and to adopt a policy which is practised by Great Britain, i.e. of keeping intercourse with these powerful neighbors from year to year by paying them annuities and cultivating their friendship.  It is a peculiar trait in the Indian character of being very punctual in regard to the fulfillment of any contract into which they enter, and much dissatisfaction has arisen among the different tribes toward our Government, in consequence of not complying strictly to the obligations on their part to the Indians, in the time of making the payments, for they are not generally paid until after the time stipulated in the treaty, and which has too often proven to be the means of losing their confidence and friendship.

On the 30th of September last, Mr. Stuart opened the Council, standing himself and some of his friends under an awning prepared for the occasion, and the vast assembly of the warlike Chippeways occupying seats which were arranged for their accommodation.  A keg of Tobacco was rolled out and opened as a present to the Indians, and was distributed among them; when Mr. Stuart addressed them as follows:-

The Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was a metaphor for infinite abundance in 1842.  In less than 75 years, the species would be extinct.  What that means for Stuart’s metaphor is hard to say (Biodiversity Heritage Library).

The chiefs who had been to Washington were the St. Croix chiefs Noodin (pictured below) and Bizhiki. They were brought to the capital as part of a multi-tribal delegation in 1824, which among other things, toured American military facilities.

I am very glad to meet and shake hands with so many of my old friends in good health; last winter I visited your Great Father in Washington, and talked with him about you.  He knows you are poor and have but little for your women and children, and that your lands are poor.  He pities your condition, and has sent me here to see what can be done for you; some of your Bands get money, goods, and provisions by former Treaty, others get none because the Great Council at Washington did not think your lands worth purchasing.  By the treaty you made with Gov. Cass, several years ago, you gave to your lands all the minerals; so the minerals belong no longer to you, and the white men are asking him permission to take the minerals from the land.  But your Great Father wishes to pay you something for your lands and minerals before he will allow it.  He knows you are needy and can be made comfortable with goods, provisions, and tobacco, some Farmers, Carpenters to aid in building your houses, and Blacksmiths to mend your guns, traps, &c., and something for schools to learn your children to read and write, and not grow up in ignorance.  I hear you have been unpleased about your Farmers and Blacksmiths.  If there is anything wrong I wish you would tell me, and I will write all your complaints to your Great Father, who is ever watchful over your welfare.  I fear you do not esteem your teachers who come among you, and the schools which are among you, as you ought.  Some of you seem to think you can learn as formerly, but do you not see that the Great Spirit is changing things all around you.  Once the whole land was owned by you and other Indian Nations.  Now the white men have almost the whole country, and they are as numerous as the Pigeons in the spring.  You who have been in Washington know this; but the poor Indians are dying off with the use of whiskey, while others are sent off across the Mississippi to make room for the white men.  Not because the Great Spirit loves the white men more than the Indians, but because the white men are wise and send their children to school and attend to instructions, so as to know more than you do.  They become wise and rich while you are poor and ignorant, but if you send your children to school they may become wise like the white men; they will also learn to worship the Great Spirit like the whites, and enjoy the prosperity they enjoy.  I hope, and he, that you will open your ears and hearts to receive this advice, and you will soon get great light.  But said he, I am afraid of you, I see but few of you go to listen to the Missionaries, who are now preaching here every night; they are anxious that you should hear the word of the Great Spirit and learn to be happy and wise, and to have peace among yourselves.

The 1837 Treaty of St. Peters was mostly negotiated by Maajigaabaw or “La Trappe” of Leech Lake and other chiefs from outside the territory ceded by that treaty.  The chiefs from the ceded lands were given relatively few opportunities to speak.  This created animosity between the Lake Superior and Mississippi Bands. 

Your Great Father is very sorry to learn that there are divisions among his red children.  You cannot be happy in this way.  Your Great Father hopes you will live in peace together, and not do wrong to your white neighbors, so that no reports will be made against you, or pay demanded for damages done by you.  These things when they occur displease him very much, and I myself am ashamed of such things when I hear them.  Your Great Father is determined to put a stop to them, and he looks that the Chiefs and Braves will help him, so that all the wicked may be brought to justice; then you can hold up your heads, and your Great Father will be proud of you.  Can I tell him that he can depend upon his Chippeway children acting in this way.

One other thing, your Great Father is grieved that you drink whiskey, for it makes you sick, poor, and miserable, and takes away your senses.  He is determined to punish those men who bring whiskey among you, and of this I will talk more at another time.

Stuart would become irritated after the treaty when the Ojibwe argued they did not cede Isle Royale in 1842. This lead to further negotiations and an addendum in 1844.  The Grand Portage Band, who lived closest to Isle Royale, was not party to the 1842 negotiations.

When I was in New York about three moons ago I found 800 blankets which were due you last year, which by some mismanagement you did not get.  Your Great Father was very angry about it, and wished me to bring them to you, and they will be given you at the payment.  He is determined to see that you shall have justice done you, and to dismiss all improper agents.  He despises all who would do you wrong.  Now I propose to buy your lands from Fond du Lac, at the head of Lake Superior, down Lake Superior to Chocolate River near Grand Island, including all the Islands in the limits of the United States, in the Lake, making the boundary on Lake Superior about 250 miles in extent, and extending back into the country on Lake Superior about 100 miles.  Mr. Stuart showed the Chiefs the boundary on the map, and said you must not suppose that your Great Father is very anxious to buy your lands, the principal object is the minerals, as the white people will not want to make homes upon them.  Until the lands are wanted you will be permitted to live upon them as you now do.  They may be wanted hereafter, and in this event your Great Father does not wish to leave you without a home.  I propose that the Fond du Lac lands and the Sandy Lake tract (which embrace a tract 150 miles long by 100 miles deep) be left you for a home for all the bands, as only a small part of the Fond du Lac lands are to be included in the present purchase.  Think well on the subject and counsel among yourselves, but allow no black birds to disturb you, your Great Father is now willing and can do you great good if you will, but if not you must take the consequences.  To-morrow at the fire of the gun you can come to the Council ground and tell me whether the proposal I make in the name of your Great Father is agreeable to you; if so I will do what I can for you, you have known me to be your friend for many years.  I would not do you wrong if I could, but desire to assist you if you allow me to do so.  If you now refuse it will be long before you have another offer.

October 1st.  At the sound of the Cannon the Council met, and when all were ready for business, Shingoop, the head Chief of the Fond du Lac band, with his 2d and 3d Chiefs, came forward and shook hands with the Commissioner and others associated with him, then spoke as follows:

Zhingob (Balsam), also known as Nindibens, signed the 1837, 1842, and 1854 treaties as chief or head chief of Fond du Lac. The Zhingob on earlier treaties is his father. See Ely, ed. Schenck, The Ojibwe Journals of Edmund F. Ely

Naagaanab (Foremost Sitter) is likely the 2nd Fond du Lac chief mentioned here.

My friend, we now know the purpose you came for and we don’t want to displease you.  I am very glad there are so many Indians here to hear me.  I wish to speak of the lands you want to buy of me.  I don’t wish to displease the Traders.  I don’t wish to displease the half-breeds; so I don’t wish to say at once, right off.  I want to know what our Great Father will give us for them, then I will think and tell you what I think.  You must not tell a lie, but tell us what our Great Father will give us for our lands.  I want to ask you again, my Father.  I want to see the writing, and who it is that gave our Great Father permission to take our minerals.  I am well satisfied of what you said about Blacksmiths, Carpenters, Schools, Teachers, &c., as to what you said about whiskey, I cannot speak now.  I do not know what the other Chiefs will say about it.  I want to see the treaty and the name of the Chiefs who signed.  The Chief answered that the Indians had been deceived, that they did not so understand it when they signed it.

Mr. Stuart replied that this was all talk for nothing, that the Government had a right to the minerals under former treaty, yet their Great Father wishes now to pay for the minerals and purchase their lands.

The Chief said he was satisfied.  All shook hands again and the Chief retired.

The next Chief who came forward was the “Great Buffalo” Chief of the La Pointe band.  Had heavy epaulettes on his shoulders and a hat trimmed with tinsel, with a heavy string of bear claws about his neck, and said:-

“Big Buffalo (Chippewa),” 1832-33 by Henry Inman, after J.O. Lewis (Smithsonian).

My father, I don’t speak for myself only, but for my Chiefs.  What you said here yesterday when you called us your children, is what I speak about.  I shall not say what the other Chief has said, that you have heard already.

He then made some remarks about the Missionaries who were laboring in their country and thought as yet, little had been done.  About the Carpenters, he said, that he could not tell how it would work, as he had not tried it yet.

We have not decided yet about the Farmers, but we are pleased at your proposal about Blacksmiths.  Can it be supposed that we can complete our deliberations in one night.  We will think on the subject and decide as soon as we can.

The great Antonaugen Chief came next, observing the usual ceremony of shaking hands, and surrounded by his inferior Chiefs, said:-

The great Ontonagon Chief is almost certainly Okandikan (Buoy), depicted here in a reproduction of an 1848 pictograph carried to Washington and reproduced by Seth Eastman.  Okandikan is depicted as his totem symbol, the eagle (largest, with wing extended in the center of the image).

My father and all the people listen and I call upon my Great Father in Heaven to bear witness to the rectitude of my intentions.  It is now five years since we have listened to the Missionaries, yet I feel that we are but children as to our abilities.  I will speak about the lands of our band, and wish to say what is just and honorable in relation to the subject.  You said we are your children.  We feel that we are still, most of us, in darkness, not able fully to comprehend all things on account of our ignorance.  What you said about our becoming enlightened I am much pleased; you have thrown light on the subject into my mind, and I have found much delight and pleasure thereby.  We now understand your proposition from our Great Father the President, and will now wait to hear what our Great Father will give us for our lands, then we will answer.  This is for the Antannogens and Ance bands.

Mr. Stuart now said, that he came to treat with the whole Chippeway Nation and look upon them all as one Nation, and said

I am much pleased with those who have spoken; they are very fine orators; the only difficulty is, they do not seem to know whether they will sell their lands.  If they have not made up their minds, we will put off the Council.

Lac du Flambeau Chief, “the Great Crow,” came forward with the strict Indian formalities but had but little to say, as he did not come expecting to have any part in the treaty, but wished to receive his payment and go home.

The 2d Chief of this band wished to speak.  He was painted red with black spots on each cheek to set off his beauty, his forehead was painted blue, and when he came to speak, he said:-

What the last Chief has said is all I have to say.  We will wait to hear what your proposals are and will answer at a proper time.

Next came forward “Noden,” or the “Great Wind,” Chief of the Mill Lac band, and said:-

Noodin (Wind) is mentioned here as representing the Mille Lacs Band, though his village was usually on Snake River of the St. Croix.

I have talked with my Great Father in Washington.  It was a pity that I did not speak at the St. Peters treaty.  My father, you said you had come to do justice.  We do not wish to do injustice to our relations, the half-breeds, who are also our friends.  I have a family and am in a hurry to get home, if my canoes get destroyed I shall have to go on foot.  My father, I am hurry, I came for my payment.  We have left our wives and children and they are impatient to have us return.  We come a great distance and wish to do our business as soon as we can.  I hope you will be as upright as our former agent.  I am sorry not to see him seated with you.  I fear it will not go as well as it would.  I am hurry.

Mr Stuart now said that he considered them all one nation, and he wished to know whether they wished to sell their lands; until they gave this answer he could do nothing, and as it regards any thing further he could say nothing, and said they might now go away until Monday, at the firing of the Cannon they might come and tell him whether they would sell their country to their Great Father.

We intend giving the remainder of the proceedings of the treaty in our next.

Green Bay Republican:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1842, Page 2.

(Treaty with the Chippeways Concluded.)

Monday morning three guns were fired as a signal to open the Treaty. When all things were in readiness, Mr. Stuart said:

I am glad you have now had time for reflection, and I hope you are now ready like a band of brothers to answer the question which I have proposed.  I want to see the Nation of one heart and of one mind.

Shingoop, Chief of the Fond du Lac band, came forward with full Indian ceremony, supported on each side by the inferior Chiefs.  He addressed the Chippeway nation first, which was not fully interpreted; then he turned to the Commissioner and said:

in this Treaty which we are about to make, it is in my heart to say that I want our friends the traders, who have us in charge provided for.  We want to provide also for our friends the half-breeds – we wish to state these preliminaries.  Now we will talk of what you will give us for our country.  There is a kind of justice to be done towards the traders and half-breeds.  If you will do justice to us, we are ready to-morrow to sign the treaty and give up our lands.  The 2d Chief of the band remarked, that he considered it the understanding that the half-breeds and traders were to be provided for.

The Great Buffalo, of La Pointe band, and his associate Chiefs came next, and the Buffalo said:

My Father, I want you to listen to what I say.  You have heard what one Chief has said.  I wish to say I am hurry on account of keeping so many men and women here away from their homes in this late season of the year, so I will say my answer is in the affirmative of your request; this is the mind of my Chiefs and braves and young men.  I believe you are a correct man and have a heart to do justice, as you are sent here by our Great Father, the President.  Father, our traders are so related to us that we cannot pass a winter without them.  I want justice to be done them.  I want you and our Great Father to assist us in doing them justice, likewise our half-breed children – the children of our daughters we wish provided for.  It seems to me I can see your heart, and you are inclined to do so.  We now come to the point for ourselves.  We wish to know what you will give us for our country.  Tell us, then we will advise with our friends.  A part of the Antaunogens band are with me, the other part are turned Christians and gone with the Methodist band, (meaning the Ance band at Kewawanon) these are agreed in what I say.

The Bird, Chief of the Ance band, called Penasha, came forward in the usual form and said:

My Father, now listen to what I have to say.  I agree with those who have spoken as far as our lands are concerned.  What they say about our traders and half-breeds, I say the same.  I speak for my band, they make use of my tongue to say what they would say and to express their minds.  My Father, we listen to what you will offer for our country, then we will say what we have to say.  We are ready to sell our country if your proposals are agreeable.  All shook hands – equal dignity was maintained on each side – there was no inclination of the head or removing the hat – the Chiefs took their seats.

The White Crow next appeared to speak to the Great Father, and said:-

Listen to what I say.  I speak to the Great Father, to the Chiefs, Traders, and Half-breeds.  You told us there was no deceit in what you say.  You may think I am troublesome, but the way the treaty was made at St. Peters, we think was wrong.  We want nothing of the kind again.  We think you are a just man.  You have listened to those Chiefs who live on Lake Superior.  What I say is for another portion of country.  It appears you are not anxious to buy the lands where I live, but you prefer the mineral country.  I speak for the half-breeds, that they may be provided for: they have eaten out of the same dish with us: they are the children of our sisters and daughters.  You may think there is something wrong in what I say.  As to the traders, I am not the same mind with some.  The old traders many years ago, charged us high and ought to pay us back, instead of bringing us in debt.  I do not wish to provide for them; but of late years they have had looses and I wish those late debts to be paid.  We do not consider that we sell our lands by saying we will sell them, so we consent to sell if your proposals are agreeable.  We will listen and hear what they are.

Several others of the Chiefs spoke well on the subject, but the substance of all is contained in the above.

Hole-in-the-day, who is at once an orator and warrior, came forward; he had an Arkansas tooth pick in his hand which would weigh one or two pounds, and is evidently the greatest and most intelligent man in the nation, as fine a form of body, head and face, as perhaps could be found in any country.

Father, said he, I arise to speak. I have listened with pleasure to your proposal.  I have come to tie the knot.  I have come to finish this part of the treaty, and consent to sell our country if the offers of the President please us.  Then addressing the Chiefs of the several bands he said, the knot is now tied, and so far the treaty is complete, not to be changed.

Zhaagobe (“Little” Six) signed as first chief from Snake River, and he is almost certainly the “Big Six” mentioned here. Several Ojibwe and Dakota chiefs from that region used that name (sometimes rendered in Dakota as Shakopee).

Big Six now addressed the whole Nation in a stream of eloquence which called down thunders of applause; he stands next to Hole-in-the-day in consequence and influence in the nation.  His motions were graceful, his enunciation rather rapid for a fine speaker.  He evidently possesses a good mind, though in person and form he is quite inferior to Hole-in-the-day.  His speech was not interpreted, but was said to be in favor of selling the Chippeway country if the offer of the Government should meet their expectations, and that he took a most enlightened view of the happiness which the nation would enjoy if they would live in peace together and attend to good counsel.

Mr. Stuart now said,

I am very happy that the Chippewa nation are all of one mind.  It is my great desire that they should continue to for it is the only way for them to be happy and wise.  I was afraid our “White Crow” was going to fly away, but am happy to see him come back to the flock, so that you are all now like one man.  Nothing can give me greater pleasure than to do all for you I can, as far as my instructions from your Great Father will allow me.  I am sorry you had any cause to complain of the treaty at St. Peters.  I don’t believe the Commissioner intended to do you wrong, but perhaps he did not know your wants and circumstances so as to suit.  But in making this treaty we will try to reconcile all differences and make all right.  I will now proceed to offer you all I can give you for  your country at once.  You must not expect me to alter it, I think you will be pleased with the offer.  If some small things do not suit you, you can pass them over.  The proposal I now make is better than the Government has given any other nation of Indians for their lands, when their situations are considered.  Almost double the amount paid to the Mackinaw Indians for their good lands.  I offer more than I at first intended as I find there are so many of you, and because I see you are so friendly to our Government, and on account of your kind feelings for the traders and half-breeds, and because you wish to comply with the wishes of your Great Father, and because I wish to unite you all together.  At first I thought of making your annuities for only twenty years but I will make them twenty-five years.  For twenty-five years I will offer you the following and some items for one year only.

$12,500 in specie each year for 25 years, $312,500
10,500 in goods ” ” ” ” ” 262,500
2,000 in provisions and tobacco, do. 50,000

$625,000

This amount will be connected with the annuity paid to a part of the bands on the St. Peters treaty, and the whole amount of both treaties will be equally distributed to all the bands so as to make but one payment of the whole, so that you will be but one nation, like one happy family, and I hope there will be no bad heart to wish it otherwise.  This is in a manner what you are to get for your lands, but your Great Father and the great Council at Washington are still willing to do more for you as I will now name, which you will consider as a kind of present to you, viz:

2 Blacksmiths, 25 years, $2000, $50,000
2 Farmers, ” ” 1200, 30,000
2 Carpenters, ” ” 1200, 30,000
For Schools, ” ” 2000, 50,000
For Plows, Glass, Nails, &c. for one year only, 5000
For Credits for one year only, 75,000
For Half-breeds ” ” ” 15,000

$255,000

Total $880,000

With regards to the claims.  I will not allow any claim previous to 1822; none which I deem unjust or improper.  I will endeavor to do you justice, and if the $75,000 is not all required to pay your honest debts, the balance shall be paid to you; and if but a part of your debts are paid your Great Father requires a receipt in full, and I hope you will not get any more credits hereafter.  I hope you have wisdom enough to see that this is a good offer.  The white people do not want to settle on the lands now and perhaps never will, so you will enjoy your lands and annuities at the same time.  My proposal is now before you.

The Fond du Lac Chief said, we will come to-morrow and give our answer.

October 4th, Mr. Stuart opened the Council.

Clement Hudon Beaulieu, was about thirty at this time and working his way up through the ranks of the American Fur Company at the beginning of what would be a long and lucrative career as an Ojibwe trader.  His influence would have been very useful to Stuart as he was a close relative of Chief Gichi-Waabizheshi.  He may have also been related to the Lac du Flambeau chiefs–though probably not a grandson of White Crow as some online sources suggest.

We have now met said he, under a clear sun, and I hope all darkness will be driven away.  i hope there is not a half-breed whose heart is bad enough to prevent the treaty, no half-breed would prevent he treaty unless he is either bad at heart or a fool.  But some people are so greedy that they are never satisfied.  I am happy to see that there is one half-breed (meaning Mr. Clermont Bolio) who has heart enough to advise what is good; it is because he has a good heart, and is willing to work for his living and not sponge it out of the Indians.

We now heard the yells and war whoops of about one hundred warriors, ornamented and painted in a most fantastic manner, jumping and dancing, attended with the wild music usual in war excursions.  They came on to the Council ground and arrested for a time the proceedings. These braves were opposed to the treaty, and had now come fully determined to stop the treaty and prevent the Chiefs from signing it.  They were armed with spears, knives, bows and arrows, and had a feather flag flying over ten feet long.  When they were brought to silence, Mr. Stuart addressed them appropriately and they soon became quiet, so that the business of the treaty proceeded.  Several Chiefs spoke by way of protecting themselves from injustice, and then all set down and listened to the treaty, and Mr. Stuart said he hoped they would understand it so as to have no complaints to make afterwards.

The provisions of the treaty are the same as made in the proposals as to the amount and the manner of payment.  The Indians are to live on the lands until they are wanted by the Government.  They reserve a tract called the Fond du Lac and Sandy Lake country, and the lands purchased are those already named in the proposals.  The payment on this treaty and that of the St. Peters treaty are to be united, and equal payments made to all the bands and families included in both treaties.  This was done to unite the nation together.  All will receive payments alike.  The treaty was to be binding when signed by the President and the great Council at Washington.  All the Chiefs signed the treaty, the name of Hole-in-the-day standing at the head of the list, and it is said to be the greatest price paid for Indian lands by the United States, their situation considered, though the minerals are said to be very valuable.

The Commissioner is said to have conducted the treaty in a very just, impartial and honorable manner, and the Indians expressed the kindest feelings towards him, and the greatest respect for all associated with him in negotiating the treaty and the best feelings towards their Agent now about leaving the country, and for the Agents of the American Fur Company and for the traders.  The most of them expressed the warmest kind of feelings toward the Missionaries, who had come to their country to instruct them out of the word of the Great Spirit.  The weather was very pleasant, and the scene presented was very interesting.