===== page 1 =====

f
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A SHORT HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
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‘
AMONG MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA 2
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BY
MICHAEL PETER BURRIS
'
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4 290


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TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE ALLOTMENT ACT IN MINNESOTA AND THE NATION.........++02422
THE CHIPPEWA GENERAL COUNCIL, ...-e-..eeeseneee severe reese erence IT
3
THE MERRIAM REPORT AND MINNESOTA CHIPPEWAS.......
ce
"A. CHIPPEWAS IN THE CITIES......ccccccccccceccecceeeee25
B. CONCERNING INDIAN EDUCATION IN 1939..... ve ceeecuees 26
™
SYNOPSIS OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE PRESENT FORM
Lec ecceeees Lecce cuveceeeues
OF TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.......e000 28
ORGANIZING PROBLEMS IN BRINGING THE INDIAN
REORGANIZATION ACT TO THE CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA......e0e0..0.33
1. ORGANIZATION PROBLEM NUMBER ONE: HOW THE SIX
eee
RESERVATIONS WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER......... ees e34
2. ORGANIZATION PROBLEM NUMBER TWO: REPRESENTATION
AMONG MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA...........00% 42
becuase eceaae
A. TRIBAL DELEGATES.,....... 042
ee ucuues ee
B. SUB-CHARTERS........-. Leen cence aeeeees ..48
ene
.. ccc ce wc eee cme error eee eer er eee creer cee cr esr cere eee ee
CHARTS Dd = §0
oo
291


===== page 3 =====

PREFACE
THIS REPORT BEGINS AT APPROXIMATELY 1880 AND ENDS IN 1939. THE
THREE SOURCES, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, ARE THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.; THE BIA AREA OFFICE IN BEMIDJI, MN.; AND THE OLD
DOCUMENTS FILE IN THE TRI-CAP OFFICES IN CASS LAKE. THE MATERIAL a
HAVING TO DO WITH COLLIER, ZIMMERMAN, PHINNEY, THEIR STAFF PLUS
ALL VERBATIM NOTES OF MEETINGS ARE FROM THE ARCHIVES; THE REMAINDER
OF THE MINUTES ARE FROM BEMIDJIT; AND THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN
TRIBAL OFFICIALS ALONG WITH QUOTES BY LOCAL PEOPLE ARE FROM CASS
LAKE.
QUOTES USED HEREIN WERE TAKEN, FOR THE MOST PART, INTACT FROM
THE MATERIAL AND PAINS WERE TAKEN TO RELATE THEM IN CONTEXT. I AM
SUBMITTING WITH THE REPORT THE ORIGINAL SOURCES ALONG WITH MY
PERSONAL NOTES SHOULD THERE BE ANY QUESTIONS NEEDING CLARIFICATION
THAT ARE NOT FULLY ILLUMINATED IN THE TEXT.
THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE ON THE CHIPPEWA GENERAL COUNCIL
SECTION OF THIS REPORT. DUE TO THE TIME LIMIT AT THE ARCHIVES ONLY
3 OR 4 DOCUMENTS WERE USED FOR THIS SECTION.
THIS REPORT IS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.
Michael Peter Burris
Cass Lake, Minnesota
JUNE 1976
292


===== page 4 =====

"YOU SHALL NOW BECOME A MENTOR OF YOUR PEOPLE. THE THICKNESS
OF YOUR SKIN SHALL BE SEVEN SPANS --- WHICH IS TO SAY YOU WILL BE
PROOF AGAINST ANGER, OFFENSIVE ACTIONS AND CRITICISM. YOUR HEART
SHALL BE FILLED WITH PEACE AND GOOD WILL AND YOUR MIND FILLED WITH
A YEARNING FOR THE WELFARE OF YOUR PEOPLE --- WITH ENDLESS PATIENCE
YOU SHALL CARRY OUT YOUR DUTY AND YOUR FIRMNESS SHALL BE TEMPERED
WITH THE TENDERNESS FOR YOUR PEOPLE. NEITHER ANGER NOR FURY SHALL
FIND LODGMENT IN YOUR MIND AND ALL YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS SHALL BE
MARKED WITH CALM DELIBERATION. IN ALL YOUR DELIBERATIONS --- IN
YOUR EFFORTS AT LAWMAKING, IN ALL YOUR OFFICIAL ACTS, SELF-INTEREST
SHALL BE CAST INTO OBLIVION. CAST NOT OVER YOUR SHOULDER BEHIND YOU
THE WARNINGS OF THE NEPHEWS AND NIECES SHOULD THEY CHIDE YOU FOR
ANY ERROR OR WRONG YOU MAY DO, BUT RETURN TO THE WAY OF THE GREAT
---- CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS
LAW WHICH IS JUST AND RIGHT. LOOK AND LISTEN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE
SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT
WHOLE PEOPLE AND HAVE ALWAYS IN VIEW NOT ONLY THE PRESENT BUT ALSO
ADOPTED 1390
THE COMING GENERATIONS, EVEN THOSE FACES NOT YET BENEATH THE
SURFACE OF THE GROUND --- THE UNBORN OF THE FUTURE NATION."


===== page 5 =====

THE ALLOTMENT ACT IN MINNESOTA AND THE NATION
PRIOR TO THE ALLOTMENT ACT INDIANS OF THE RESERVATIONS WERE
GENERALLY LIVING IN ISOLATED COMMUNITIES. THE LARGEST
CONCENTRATIONS OF POPULATIONS BEING ESTABLISHED AROUND THE
AGENCIES, TRADING POSTS, AND WHAT FEW AREAS OF BUSINESS NORTHERN
MINNESOTA HAD TO OFFER
“INDIANS COULD NOT ACQUIRE LIQUOR NOR COULD THEY FREQUENT AREAS
THAT SOLD LIQUOR. IN FACT, IT WAS A FEDERAL OFFENSE TO SELL LIQUOR
INDIANS.
TO THE MOST SCHOOLING THAT INDIANS RECEIVED WERE FROM THE
CHURCHES THAT ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES IN THE SMALL TOWNS. INDIANS
WERE ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE STATUS QUO; ENTIRELY OUT OF THE
MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN LIFE. IN GENERAL, THEY WERE PROVINCIAL, POOR
ILLITERATE, WITH LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. AND_IN
MANY CASES THEY COULDN'T CARED LESS. EVEN INTO THE EARLY
TWENTIETH CENTURY THERE WERE SOME INDIANS ON THE MORE ISOLATED
PARTS OF THE RESERVATION WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A WHITE MAN. IN ONIGUM
INTO THE 1930'S ACCORDING TO INDIAN OFFICIALS, SOMETHING OVER HALF
OF THE POPULATION COULDN'T COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY IN THE ENGLISH
TONGUE. FOR THE MOST PART, THEY WERE ORGANIZED INTO TIGHT FAMILY
GROUPS WHICH LIVED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER. THEY DID
LITTLE TRAVEL AND WERE DEPENDENT ON THEIR AGENT FOR RATIONS TO
SUPPLEMENT THEIR DIET OF GAME AND FISH.
BEFORE THEY WERE CONFINED TO THE RESERVATIONS, THEY DID MOST
OF THEIR TRADING WITH THE POSTS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA TRADING PELTS
AND OTHER GOODS FOR FOOD, CLOTH, ETC.
a


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IN THE EARLY DAYS, AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESERVATIONS,
SIOUX FROM THE DAKOTAS USED TO VISIT WITH THE INDIANS LIVING IN THE
NORTHWESTERN PART OF MINNESOTA. GEORGE SELKIRK, DELEGATE IN THE
DAYS BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, TOLD INDIAN
OFFICE OFFICIALS ABOUT SEEING SIOUX AND CHIPPEWA DANCING TOGETHER
EACH YEAR ON WHITE EARTH. SELKIRK REPORTED THIS IN 1934. IF SOMEONE
COULD HAVE TOLD THE INDIANS THEN WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE
NEXT FIFTY YEARS THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE BELIEVED IT.
- INDIANS HAVE HAD TO ADJUST IN THE SPAN OF A FEW DECADES AS FEW
PEOPLES HAVE HAD TO IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. THIS STATEMENT
NEEDS QUALIFICATION. THEY HAVE ADAPTED SUCCESSFULLY. SINCE THE
FIRST CONTACT WITH THE "HAIRY MEN" FROM THE SEA THE INDIANS HAVE
HAD TO ADJUST OR DIE. OBVIOUSLY INDIANS HAVE LONG SINCE LOST ANY
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MILITARY CAPABILITIES. THE OVER-RIDING QUESTION HAS BEEN THE MANNER
in WRICH THEY WOULD ADJUST TO THEIR CONQUEROR’S EDICTS,
HEREDITARY CHIEFS FROM THE SEPARATE BANDS USED TO GOVERN
.
COUNCIL MEETING. AND AFTER, FOR INSTANCE, THE WINNIBIGOSHIS, LEECH
LAKE, AND CASS LAKE PILLAGERS WERE SETTLED ON THE SAME RESERVATION,
THE HEAD MEN BEGAN TO LOSE THEIR POWER. THE BANDS INTERMARRIED TO
suCH A DEGREE THAT BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY THEY WERE CONSIDERED,
.
AS THEY ARE TODAY, AS ONE BAND. ORIGINALLY THERE WERE THREE
RESERVATION ON TRACTS OF LAND ON WHAT IS NOW THE LEECH LAKE
RESERVATION; BUT AFTER A TIME, THE INDIANS’ BAND LOYALTY BEGAN TO:
WANE. THE INDIAN OFFICE CONSIDERED THEM ALL LEECH LAKERS. A SIMILAR
TREND OCCURRED ON THE OTHER RESERVATIONS. IN THE MID 1830’S THERE
WERE APPROXIMATELY HALF A DOZEN RESERVATIONS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
-3-
295


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THE CHIPPEWA HAD BEEN TRADING WITH THE "AMERICANS" WELL BEFORE
THEY WERE CONFINED TO RESERVATIONS. BUT THE REAL PERIOD OF EXPOSURE
CAME WITH THE TIMBER BOOM IN MINNESOTA, OUTSIDE THE RESERVATION
BOUNDARIES SINCE THE CIVIL WAR MINNESOTANS HAD BEEN LOGGING, BUT IT
WASN'T UNTIL THE OPENING OF THE RESERVATIONS THAT THE BIGGEST
PERIOD OF MIGRATION STARTED. LUMBER COMPANIES BOUGHT LARGE TRACTS
OF WOODED AREAS IN THE GOVERNMENT "SURPLUS" LAND SALES FOLLOWING
THE GENERAL ALLOTMENT ACT OF 1887.
THE ALLOTMENT, OR DAWES, ACT WAS BROUGHT TO THE CHIPPEWAS AS
A MEANS TO ENTER "THE AMERICAN LIFE." PROFESSOR MILLER OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN A NEW INTRODUCTION TO THE MERRIAM REPORT
OUTLINED THE MORAL JUSTIFICATION TO ALLOTMENT IN SEVERALTY:
"MEANWHILE THE DOMINANT SOCIETY, AS REPRESENTED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING THAT THE SOLUTION
TO THE INDIAN PROBLEM WAS ASSIMILATION, REGARDLESS OF THE
DESIRES OF THE INDIANS. THE ASSUMPTION WAS THAT INDIANS COULD
NOT MAINTAIN A VIABLE WAY OF LIFE AS INDEPENDENT GROUPS ON
RESERVATIONS, AND THAT RESERVATIONS WERE ONLY TEMPORARY
REFUGES ON THE WAY TO COMPLETE ASSIMILATION. A MOVEMENT TO
PROMOTE RAPID ASSIMILATION WAS VIEWED BY MANY OF ITS
SUPPORTERS AS THE ONLY HUMANITARIAN ALTERNATIVE TO COMPLETE
THE SINE QU A NON OF ALLOTMENT WAS THE THEORY THAT IF ONE
EXTERMINATION OF THE INDIANS."
COULD CHANGE THE ECONOMIC BASE OF A PEOPLE A SALUTARY CULTURAL
MODEL WOULD EMERGE PATTERNED AFTER WHITE SOCIETY. AFTER ALL, IF AN
INDIAN ADOPTED A MORE CIVILIZED WAY OF LIFE, WHAT NEED HE FOR LARGE
AREA OF LAND? IN HIS TYPICAL TERSE STYLE, MILLER ADDED, 'AFTER ALL,
SLAVERY HAD BEEN ABOLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS
BEFORE, BUT NO ONE WAS URGING THE ASSIMILATION OF THE FORMER
SLAVES.


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THE DAWES ACT, TO USE A CLICHE, HAD FAR REACHING EFFECTS.
WITHIN FORTY-FIVE YEARS THE LAND BASE ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS HAD
FALLEN FROM 138,000,000 TO 48,000,000 IN 1934. AT FIRST THERE WERE
VERY STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE TYPE OF INDIAN TO GET
CONTROL OF AN ALLOTMENT. A COMPETENCY COMMISSION WAS DETAILED TO
TEST APPLICANTS AS TO THEIR ABILITY TO FUNCTION IN WHITE SOCIETY,
I.E., HANDLE MONEY, SPEAK ENGLISH, ETC. IN 1917 THE GOVERNMENT
RELAXED ITS REQUIREMENTS AND TWICE AS MANY PATENTS FOR INDIANS WERE
ISSUED IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. COMMISSIONER HUBERT WORK FOUND OUT
THAT A MAJORITY OF THE INDIANS WHO RECEIVED THEIR ALLOTMENTS
QUICKLY DISPOSED OF THEM. ONE SUCH INDIAN ATTENDED AN
ORGANIZATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR I.R.A. IN WISCONSIN AND TOLD ABOUT
HIS PATENT:
"I REALLY HAVE NO RIGHT TO SPEAK HERE, BUT I SPEAK TO
WARN OTHERS. I GOT A FREE PATENT, AND I SOLD THE LAND AND
BOUGHT AN AUTOMOBILE. I WRECKED THE AUTOMOBILE, AND NOW I
HAVE NOTHING BUT THE PANTS I STAND IN."
IN MINNESOTA EVERY RESERVATION BUT RED LAKE VOTED TO ACCEPT
THE DAWES ACT. INDIANS WERE OFFERED TRACTS OF EIGHTY ACRES ON THE
WHITE EARTH RESERVATION. ALLOTMENT WAS MANDATORY, THAT IS TO SAY
THAT EVERYONE EITHER REQUESTED AN ALLOTMENT OR HE WAS ASSIGNED
ONE. IT IS OBVIOUS JUDGING BY THE CORRECT DISTRIBUTION OF INDIANS
ON THE SIX RESERVATIONS THAT VERY FEW MOVED TO WHITE EARTH AND TOOK
UP THE PLOW. THE LAND LEFT OVER FROM "SURPLUS" LAND WAS SOLD BY THE
GOVERNMENT AT A FLAT RATE TO ANYONE WHO MADE AN APPLICATION. THE
PLAN WAS TO MOVE ALL THE INDIANS TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF
MINNESOTA AND OPEN UP THE MIDDLE FOR SETTLEMENT AND BUSINESS. OF
COURSE THE LAND ON LEECH LAKE AND GRAND PORTAGE
-5-


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WAS USELESS FOR FARMING OR GRAZING FARM ANIMALS BUT AT THE TIME IT
WAS AMONG THE RICHEST AREAS LEFT IN THE UNITED STATES FOR LOGGING.
THE-ALLOPMEN?T ACP -WANTPTED—PO-MAKE INDIANS FARMERS AND THIS_IN TURN >
WOULD MAKE THEM JUST LIKE OTHER AMERICANS. APPARENTLY LOGGING AS A
MEASURE OF CIVILIZATION WAS ASSIGNED A LESSER ROLE.
THESE "SURPLUS" LANDS WERE SOLD AND THE MONEY DEPOSITED IN THE
U.S. TREASURY IN A COMMON FUND FOR ALL CHIPPEWAS. KEEPING IN MIND
THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CHIPPEWA ALLOTMENTS WERE HAD ON WHITE
bow
EARTH BY 1932, MORE THAN 50% OF THE LAND ORIGINALLY ALLOTTED
sah
-
REMAINED IN INDIAN OWNERSHIP ON THE OTHER RESERVATIONS. NATHAN
MARGOLD, INTERIOR DEPARTMENT SOLICITOR, TOLD COLLIER IN OCTOBER
1935 THAT "...THERE REMAIN ON THE RESERVATIONS UNDER THE
JURISDICTION OF THE CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA AGENCY NEARLY 12,000
ACRES OF UNALLOTTED LAND." WHITE EARTH WAS NOT SO LUCKY, BY 1935
LESS THAN 4% OF THE LAND ORIGINALLY ALLOTTED REMAINED IN INDIAN
|
OWNERSHIP.
IN SOME AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES, PARTICULARLY IN THE
WESTERN STATES, THE LOSS OF "SURPLUS" LAND WAS NEARLY ABSOLUTE.
IN 1941 RED LAKE SUPERINTENDENT BITNEY WAS TO BRIEF COLLIER
ABOUT THE STRUGGLES GOING ON DURING ALLOTMENT:
"THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE RED LAKE BAND OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS
WAS ORIGINALLY ORGANIZED TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE RED LAKE
INDIANS AND TO FIGHT THE ALLOTMENT IN SEVERALTY OF TRIBAL LANDS ON
THE RED LAKE INDIAN RESERVATION. THE YOUNGER INDIANS ALL WANTED
ALLOTMENTS; SOME OF THEM STILL WANT ALLOTMENTS... THERE WAS A
RATHER BITTER FIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS AND THAT BITTERNESS HAS
NOT DIED DOWN."
298


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IT WAS BECOMING CLEAR TO SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, LIKE
COMMISSIONER WORK, THAT ASSIMILATION WAS NOT OCCURRING QUITE AS
RAPIDLY AS INDIAN LAND WAS DISAPPEARING. EIGHT YEARS LATER NEW
COMMISSIONER COLLIER WAS TO TELL A SENATE COMMITTEE:
"?WO THIRDS OF THE INDIANS IN TWO THIRDS OF THE INDIAN
COUNTRY FOR MANY YEARS HAVE BEEN DRIFTING TOWARD COMPLETE
IMPOVERISHMENT.
WHILE BEING STRIPPED OF THEIR PROPERTY, THESE SAME
INDIANS CUMULATIVELY HAVE BEEN DISORGANIZED AS GROUPS AND
PUSHED TO A LOWER SOCIAL LEVEL AS INDIVIDUALS.
.
DURING THIS TIME, WHEN INDIAN WEALTH HAS BEEN SHRINKING
AND INDIAN LIFE HAS BEEN DIMINISHING, THE COSTS OF INDIAN
ee
ADMINISTRATION IN THE IDENTICAL AREAS HAVE BEEN INCREASING."
aM
IT IS QUITE APPARENT THAT THE ONLY THING INDIANS WERE BEING
EMANCIPATED FROM WAS THEIR LAND AND NOT THEIR LACK OF "CULTURE" NOR
MANNERS OF CIVILIZED MEN.
THE
MUCH OF THE LAND LEFT TO LIVING ALLOTTEES HAD BEEN LEASED TO
WHITES. AND BECAUSE MOST INDIANS AT THE TIME DID NOT MAKE WILLS,
LANDS WERE THROWN INTO HEIRSHIP CASES. IF THE LAND WASN’T SOLD
MOST
FEW GENERATIONS THERE MAY BE HUNDREDS OF DESCENDANTS INVOLVING
IN A
EXPENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS.
“UPON THE ALLOTTEE’S DEATH, IT HAS .BEEN NECESSARY TO
AMONG
PARTITION THE LAND EQUALLY HEIRS OR TO SELL IT, AND IN
THE INTERIM IT HAS BEEN LEASED."
BY 1939 ON THE GRAND PORTAGE RESERVATION, AMONG THOSE INDIANS
STILL IN POSSESSION OF ALLOTMENTS, ONLY 10% WERE LIVING, THE OTHER
_
90%
TIED UP IN HEIRSHIP. ON LEECH LAKE, 12% WERE LIVING; FOND DU
LAC
33% WERE LIVING; ON WHITE EARTH 33% WERE LIVING; NETT LAKE 22%
WERE
LIVING; AND ON THE MILLE LAC RESERVATION 86% WERE LIVING.
299


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IN 1926 MILLE LAC WAS GIVEN ALLOTMENTS FROM THE CONGRESS. IT
HAD
VIOLATED THE TRUST CREATED IN 1889 AND DEPOSITED THE CEDED
LANDS
UNDER THE GENERAL LAND LAWS. CONGRESS THEN AUTHORIZED $40,000
TO
BUY LAND FOR "HOMELESS NON-REMOVAL MILLE LAC INDIANS WHO HAVE
HERETOFORE RECEIVED ALLOTMENTS," HOLDING THE LAND IN TRUST.
NOT
THE IDEA OF ASSIMILATION WAS HARDLY HEARD DURING THE NEXT FOUR
DECADES, THE CHIMERA OF THE REFORMERS. AMID THE DIN AND CRY OF THE
AUCTIONEER, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND INDIANS HAD LOST THEIR LAND.
COMMISSIONER COLLIER MADE NO BONES ABOUT THE ALLOTMENT act.
See
HE
CONSIDERED IT MORAL INJUSTICE. DURING A SENATE HEARING IN 1934 ye
BACKED UP HIS CLAIM WITH FACTS:
HE
"THROUGH THE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM, MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF THE
LAND VALUE BELONGING TO ALL THE INDIANS IN 1867 HAS BEEN TAKEN
AWAY FROM THEM; MORE THAN 85 PERCENT OF THE LAND OF ALL THE
ALLOTTED INDIANS HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY.
AND ‘THE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM, WORKING DOWN ‘THROUGH THE
PARTITIONMENT OR SALE OF THE LAND OF DECEASED ALLOTTERS,
MATHEMATICALLY INSURES AND PRACTICALLY REQUIRES THAN THE
REMAINING INDIAN ALLOTTED LANDS SHALL PASS TO WHITES. THE
ALLOTMENT ACT CONTEMPLATES TOTAL LANDLESSNESS FOR THE INDIANS
OF THE THIRD GENERATION OF EACH ALLOTTED TRIBE."
ORIGINALLY THERE WAS A TWENTY FIVE YEAR WAITING PERIOD BUT THE
CLAPP AND NELSON ACTS SPEEDED UP THE PROCESS AS WELL AS AN
ADMINISTRATIVE EDICT IN 1917.
TO COLLIER THESE WERE SURE INDICATORS THAN THE ACT HAD AT ITS
NO HUMANITARIAN INTENT. HE WROTE LATER IN A LETTER THAN HE
ROOT
CONSIDERED IT "...CRIMINALLY FOOLISH TO ASSIGN LAND TO PEOPLE WHO
WOULD NOT USE IT. OR TO PEOPLE WHO’ WOULD TRY TO MAKE AN EASY LIVING
OF LEASING IT TO A WHITE MAN AND MAKE NO PRODUCTIVE USE OF IT
OUT
THEMSELVES."
300


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OF COURSE THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO SINCERELY BELIEVED THAT
THE ALLOTMENT ACT WAS GOOD FOR THE INDIANS. IN A LETTER TO THE
MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA, TRIBAL ATTORNEY HOUGAN SPOKE ABOUT THE FEARS
MANY YOUNG INDIANS FELT WHEN THE I.R.A. WAS PASSED. HE SAID, "MANY
OF THE YOUNGER INDIANS WERE FEARFUL LEST THE ROAD TO ASSIMILATION
WOULD BE BLOCKED TO THEM -- A LIFE THAT SEEMED DESIGNED TO DEPRIVE
THEM OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE WAY OF LIFE OPEN TO ALL AMERICAN
YOUTH."
GEORGE SELKIRK AT A MEETING IN NETT LAKE SAW THE 1887 ACT FROM
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE: 'THE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM, WHILE IT WAS A
FAILURE, THE INTENTION (TO GIVE INDIANS RESPONSIBILITY) WAS RIGHT.'
BUT HE WAS VERY CRITICAL ABOUT THE METHODS AND IDEAS USED TO CARRY
OUT THE SCHEME. "THE CHOICE TIMBER LANDS WERE ALLOTTED TO A VERY
FEW INDIANS. THE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM IN THE BEGINNING WAS INTENDED TO
GIVE THE INDIANS A START IN AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS, BUT THEY FOUND
OUT THEY COULD NOT MAKE FARMERS OUT OF INDIANS." HE ENDED HIS
SPEECH ABOUT ALLOTMENT WITH THIS REMARK: "IT TOOK A HUNDRED YEARS
TO DEVELOP AND EDUCATE THE WHITE MAN. THEY EXPECT THE INDIAN TO
BECOME A FARMER AND WORK A YEAR AND BECOME A SUCCESS."
BY JUST LETTING THE LAND SET AND NOT ALLOTING WOULD HAVE BEEN
AN AID TO THE CHIPPEWAS IN THE FUTURE. DR. RIE CLOUD, INDIAN OFFICE
OFFICIAL, COMPLAINED TO A T.E.C. MEETING IN 1938 THAT "WE HAVE
LOST SO MUCH LAND THAT UNLESS WE GET SOME MORE LAND BACK IT IS
GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SETTLE A GREAT MANY OF OUR OTHER
PROBLEMS."


===== page 13 =====

ON JULY 1, 1922 THE INDIAN OFFICE DECIDED TO ABOLISH THE WHITE
EARTH AND LEECH LAKE AGENCIES AND CONSOLIDATE THEM IN THE TOWNSHIP
OF CASS LAKE UNDER THE TITLE OF THE CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA AGENCY.
THE NEW AGENCY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE ALLOTTED RESERVATIONS IN THE
STATE.
THE BECKER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROTESTED THE MOVE.
".,.IF SUCH A MOVEMENT ACTUALLY MATERIALIZES INTO ACTUAL FACT [fT
WILL NATURALLY LEAVE TO THE MERCY OF THE PUBLIC A LARGE NUMBER OF
OLD AND INDIGENT PEOPLE."
'
FELIX COHEN ONCE WROTE THAT "...THE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM WAS
INCAPABLE OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF THE 3
INDIANS." APPARENTLY IT DIDN’T IN THE EYES OF THE
COUNTY OFFICIAL TO BECKER COUNTY EITHER.
ALTHOUGH THERE WAS OF BITTER OPPOSITION TO THE ACT, IT
WAS ADOPTED IN THE MAJORITY OF INDIAN COUNTRY. IT WOULD NOT BE
UNTIL COMMISSIONER INSTITUTED THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE TO MAKE
THE FAMOUS MERRIAM REPORT FOR HIM DID ANYTHING CHANGE.
DURING THE YEARS UNTIL THE ADOPTION OF THE I.R.A. THERE WAS
OPPOSITION TO THE ALLOTMENT ACT. IT WASN’T MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE
THE ACT WAS IN FORCE THAT COMMISSIONER OVERLY REPORTED THAT:
“CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION TO THE ALLOTMENT HAS
BEEN DEVELOPED FROM TWO SOURCES. THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE
WISDOM OF TRIBAL OWNERSHIP, AND IN THE POLICY OF CONTINUING
THE INDIAN IN HIS ABORIGINAL CUSTOMS, HABITS, AND
INDEPENDENCE. OPPOSE IT BECAUSE IT WILL EVENTUALLY DISSOLVE
HIS TRIBAL-RELATIONS AND CAUSE HIS ABSORPTION INTO THE BODY
POLITIC."
THE OTHER SOURCE OF OPPOSITION WERE THOSE WHO FELT THAT THE
ACT DIDN’T "EMANCIPATE" THE INDIAN AND HIS LAND - -
~“~—""PINALLY, THE SECOND GROUP WON OUT AND WITHIN FIFTY YEARS 90,000,000 .
ACRES OF INDIAN LAND HAD LEFT INDIAN CONTROL.
-10-
302


===== page 14 =====

A. THE CHIPPEWA GENERAL COUNCIL (C.G.C.)
"THERE EXISTS TODAY QUITE AN AMOUNT OF (ILL) FEELINGS BETWEEN
RED LAKE INDIANS AND OTHER CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF MINNESOTA AND THIS
FEELING OF DISTRUST WILL NEVER BE DISPELLED."
IN DECEMBER 1935 SUPERINTENDENT R.H. BITNEY OF RED LAKE SENT
THIS REPORT TO JOHN COLLIER WHEN ASKED WHAT HIS VIEWS WERE ABOUT
HAVING RED LAKE JOIN THE OTHER RESERVATIONS IN A GENERAL COUNCIL
UNDER THE I.R.A. HOW DID THIS FEELING OF ANIMOSITY DEVELOP WHAT
FORCES ACTED TO MAKE A MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA TRIBE WITHOUT THE RED
LAKE INDIANS? THE CHIPPEWA GENERAL COUNCIL.
FOLLOWING THE DAWES ACT IN MAY OF 1913 THIS COUNCIL WAS FORMED
TO ACT AS A MEDIUM BETWEEN THE VARIOUS CHIPPEWA AND THEIR MONEY IN
THE "CHIPPEWA IN MINNESOTA FUND." SINCE THIS MONEY WAS HELD JOINTLY
BY ALL CHIPPEWAS "EACH LITTLE COUNCIL HAD TO GET THE CONSENT OF ALL
THE REST, SINCE THEY ARE ONE TRIBE, WITH ONE TRIBAL FUND IN ORDER
TO SPEND THE MONEY." SINCE MANY INDIANS FROM THE OTHER RESERVATIONS
WERE TAKING ALLOTMENTS ON WHITE EARTH IT WAS THOUGHT BEST AT THE
TIME TO FORM A COUNCIL BASED ON POPULATION INSTEAD OF
REPRESENTATION ACCORDING TO RESERVATION. IN NOVEMBER OF 1935
COLLIER'S ANTHROPOLOGICAL TEAM REPORTED THAT "REPRESENTATION IN THE
FORMER COUNCIL WAS ON A POPULATION BASIS, THUS PERMITTING ONE
RESERVATION TO DOMINATE OVER THE OTHERS." THAT RESERVATION WAS
WHITE EARTH.
MIXED BLOOD VERSUS FULL-BLOOD INDIANS
MIXED BLOOD INDIANS WERE, GENERALLY, THOSE INDIANS WHO HAD
ADAPTED TO THE WHITE MAN'S WORLD. HE KNEW ENGLISH OR AT LEAST
11


===== page 15 =====

HAD A WORKING VOCABULARY. HE UNDERSTOOD MONEY MATTERS, I.E.,
CREDIT, BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS, ETC. IN SHORT, HE WAS WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED A "COMPETENT" INDIAN. THIS TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL
GENERALLY HAD FEW TRIBAL LOYALTIES.
FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAWES ACT,
THESE INDIVIDUALS ON THE RESERVATIONS IN MINNESOTA WERE AMONG THE
FIRST TO RECEIVE THEIR EIGHTY ACRES. LATER ON THEY WOULD, AS A
GROUP, BACK THE NELSON AND CLAPP ACTS TO SPEED UP THE ALLOTMENT
PROCESS. ON SOME RESERVATIONS, THERE WAS MORE FREQUENT CONTACT WITH
THE NON-INDIAN POPULATION AND INTERMARRIAGE. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY
THE CASE ON THE WHITE EARTH RESERVATION, WHICH FOR MANY YEARS HAD
BEEN THE HOME OF THE WHITE EARTH AGENCY WHICH DISTRIBUTED RATIONS
AND VARIOUS OTHER SERVICES TO THE INDIANS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
THIS GROUP WAS STRONG ENOUGH ON MOST RESERVATIONS TO FORCE
ACCEPTANCE OF THE ALLOTMENT ACT. AND THE ONLY RESERVATION THAT HAD
SUCCEEDED IN STOPPING THIS TREND WAS RED LAKE. BECAUSE OF ITS
GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION THERE WAS VERY LITTLE CONTACT AMONG ITS
POPULATION WITH THE INFLUENCE OF WHITE PEOPLE AND THUS LITTLE
INTERMARRIAGE. COLLIER’S ANTHROPOLOGICAL TEAM REPORTED THAT "THE
RED LAKE PEOPLE HAVE MORE. INDIAN BLOOD AND WOULD WISH TO DRAW THE
MIXED BLOOD LINE AT A HIGHER RATIO THAN THE REST... WHEREAS THE
CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA MIGHT DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE AROUND A
SIXTEENTH OR A THIRTY SECOND, THE RED LAKE INDIANS WOULD DESIRE AN
EIGHTH OR A QUARTER."
UP UNTIL THE PASSAGE OF THE ACT THIS "BLOODY. ~ -
CONFLICT HAD BEEN A SOURCE OF DISCONTENT ON MOST RESERVATIONS BUT
MOST PARTICULARLY ON THE WHITE EARTH RESERVATION DUE MAINLY
-12-
304


===== page 16 =====

TO THE COHESION AND EXPLOITATION SAID TO BE ENGINEERED BY LOCAL
WHITE BUSINESS MEN AND MIXED-BLOODS.
IN JANUARY 1932 AT CASS LAKE THE PILLAGER BAND MET TO DEBATE
ON WHETHER TO OPT FOR A PER CAPITA PAYMENT OR TO SPEND SOME OF THE
MONEY ON INDIAN SCHOOLING. WILLIAM MORRELL, AN EDUCATED INDIAN WHO
HAD RETURNED TO LEECH LAKE, ARGUED FOR THE PER CAPITA PAYMENT AND
GEORGE CLOUD, A LONG-TIME RESIDENT, ARGUED FOR THE LATTER.
WILLIAM MORRELL: FRIENDS, I WANT TO ANSWER GEORGE CLOUD. HE.
SPEAKS WELL, BUT I TAKE PITY ON HIM AS HE IS
NOT EDUCATED... THE WAY THIS MONEY IS TO BE SPENT IS PLAINLY
STATED IN THE BILL. THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED FOR SCHOOLS
Bee
AND NOT TO BE PAID TO THE INDIANS. (PROPOSED BILL.)
aS
IN A FEW MINUTES GEORGE CLOUD ROSE AND ANSWERED MORRELL’S
.
ARGUMENTS :
GEORGE CLOUD: MR. MORRELL DOES NOT FAVOR ANY OF THE MONEY
TO BE USED FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE
SCHOOLS. HE EVIDENTLY WANTS THE CHILDREN TO REMAIN IGNORANT.
SINCE MANY INDIANS HAD EITHER A LIMITED’ VOCABULARY IN ENGLISH
OR NONE AT ALL OFPTIMES,.THE..EDUCATED. INDIANS. .HELD .: THE. FLOOR:. WHEN
THE
INDIANS: MET: WITH .THE*INDIAN- OFFICE. AND OTHER, OFFICIALS. ON LEECH |
LAKE AS LATE AS 1939 A SOURCE OF COMPLAINT AMONG THE INDIANS
..,°
VISITING THE TRIBAL COUNCIL WAS THAT THEIR SPBEGHES~IN-THE-ZNDIAN
.
LANGUAGE.-WERE~ NEVER “PART+ OF: THE ‘OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS USUALLY AN
INTERPRETER WAS REQUESTED FROM THE AUDIENCE BUT THERE WAS NO FUNDS
UNTIL LATER TO PAY THEM WITH. GEORGE:CLOUD:AMONG--OTHERS FREQUENTLY -
REQUESTED THE TRIBAL TO CONDUCT THEIR MEETINGS
IN THE.CHIPPEWA LANGUAGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INDIANS PERHAPS
BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT SINCE THE INDIAN OFFICE OFFICIALS KNEW ONLY
ENGLISH THAT THE MEETINGS WERE CONDUCTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
IMPRESSING THEM.
.713-
305


===== page 17 =====

IN JUNE OF 1934 FRANK SMITH, CHAIRMAN OF THE WHITE EARTH FULL-
BLOOD COUNCIL, WROTE TO COLLIER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LACK OF
COMMUNAL RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF MIXED BLOODS. THERE WAS A
RUMOR AT THAT TIME THAT THE MIXED BLOODS WERE PLANNING TO FROM A
COUNCIL AT PONSFORD.
.WE CANNOT SEE HOW YOUNG CARELESS MIXED BLOODS, WHO CARE
NOTHING FOR THE .WELFARE*-OF ASSUME CHARGE AND
ORGANIZE A COUNCIL TO REPRESENT THE PINE POINT DISTRICT. IF THEY
WANT TO ESTABLISH A COUNCIL LET THEM COVER ONLY THE MIXED BLOODS."
IN JULY 1917 IN BEMIDJI A RESOLUTION WAS INTRODUCED THAT
",,.,PROVIDES FOR THE ENROLLMENT, IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW, OF
CHILDREN BORN OF A WHITE FATHER AND-AN INDIAN MOTHER OFF THE
RESERVATION" IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT BY THE MIXED BLOOD FACTION TO
ENFRANCHISE THE MIXED BLOODS, EXCLUDED BY THE DAWES ACT, FROM
RECEIVING ANY BENEFITS. Aan.
IN THAT SAME YEAR PETER GRAVES, REPRESENTING THE RED LAKE
BAND, WAS TO CALL FOR THE DISMISSAL OF THOSE MIXED BLOODS FROM THE
TRIBAL ROLLS THAT THE INDIANS FELT SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS
"COMPETENT WHITE MEN." THE WAS REFERRING TO THE MIXED BLOODS FROM
THE WHITE EARTH RESERVATION IN PARTICULAR WHOM HE DID NOT CONSIDER
INDIANS BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF INDIAN "BLOOD" AND THEIR, LACK .OF
‘
RESPONSIBILITY TO THOSE WHOM. ! THEY REPRESENT,
SR pS TE? HELNTIRET Vee « ED, patna tad a A
PR- MARGARET. FISHER,, FIELD. ANTHROPOLOGIST, ..REPORTED ‘ON THE:
WHITE EARTH MIXED BLOODS TO COLLIER IN AUGUST OF 1935.
|
"THE TREATY GIVES (DAWES ACT) A PER CAPITA SHARE TO ALL
DESCENDANTS IF ENROLLED, AND-A CHILD WITH HALF A DROP OF INDIAN
BLOOD IS ENROLLED SO LONG AS IT WAS BORN ON THE RESERVATION. THERE
ARE PLENTY OF ENROLLED "INDIANS" THAT EVEN HITLER WOULD ACCEPT AS
NORDICS! THE WHITE EARTH SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE. REALLY SOMETHING TO
SEE--MANY OF THEM EVEN BLONDER THAN YOU--AND ALL ENROLLED. BUT THEY
HAVE A LEGAL SHARE IN THE TRIBAL FUND. IT WOULD BE FINE, I BELIEVE, -
IF SOME OF THEM COULD ONLY BE PAID OFF AND FORGOTTEN ABOUT, BUT THE
LEGAL COMPLICATIONS OF THAT MIGHT PROVE INSURMOUNTABLE.
IN THE SUMMER OF 1918 E.B. LINNEN, CHIEF INSPECTOR, AND C.L.
ELLIS, SPECIAL SUPERVISOR, WERE ASKED TO DRAW UP A REPORT "SHOWING
BASIS FOR PRESENT ILL FEELING AND DISSENTION BETWEEN CERTAIN GROUPS
OF RED LAKE INDIANS." THE REPORT WAS ENTITLED
-14-
306


===== page 18 =====

"GENERAL REPORT OF AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CHIPPEWA RESERVATIONS IN
THE STATE OF MINNESOTA." IN.APRIL:-OF.“PHAT YEAR’THE RED LAKE BAND~
ADOPTED: AN“ ORGANIZATION ‘OF THEIR OWN -AFTER,- IN JULY, SENDING A
RESOLUTION TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL.
-HAVING MORE CONFIDENCE FOR JUSTICE AND FAIR PAY FROM
THE GOVERNMENT THAN THEY SHOULD EXPECT FROM YOUR COUNCIL, WHICH IS
CONTROLLED BY MEN WHO ARE FULLY COMPETENT AS WHITE MEN, AND WHO
IGNORE, THE, REAL CONDITIONS OF LESSER, COMPETENT INDIANS OF THE
DIFFERENT "BANDS... AND WHO HAVE ASSUMED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
RED LAKE BAND BY ATTEMPTING TO HAVE CONGRESS ENACT LAWS
INCONSISTENT TO PRESENT LAWS ENJOYED BY THE RED LAKE BAND."
IN THE CHIPPEWA GENERAL COUNCIL RED LAKE HAD VERY FEW
eee
REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE OF THEIR SMALL POPULATION. (APPROXIMATELY
tur
ONE-SEVENTH OF THE ENTIRE TRIBE) AND COULD BE OUTVOTED ON MATTERS
AFFECTING THEIR RESERVATION AND THE GENERAL CHIPPEWA FUND.
SEVENTEEN YEARS LATER BITNEY WOULD REPORT TO COLLIER THAT:
"GOING BACK OVER THE HISTORY OF THE CHIPPEWAS IN MINNESOTA IT
WOULD BE FOUND THAT THE RED LAKE INDIANS,. PARTICULARLY THE OLD,
FULL-BLOOD ELEMENT HAVE BITTERLY FOUGHT ANY ATTEMPT TO ALLOT THEIR
RESERVATION AS THEY FELT THAT THE HOLDINGS SHOULD BE HELD IN
COMMON. THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE VARIOUS TREATIES PARTICULARLY THE
RICE TREATY OF 1889. AFTER THE CLAPP AND THE NELSON ACTS WERE
PASSED IN MINNESOTA AND THE WHITE EARTH RESERVATION LOOTED, A VERY
SERIOUS ATTEMPT WAS MADE BY THE MIXED BLOOD INDIANS IN MINNESOTA TO
ALLOT THE RED LAKE RESERVATION AND DISSIPATE THE PROCEEDS."
IN 1933 AT HAYWARD, WISCONSIN ACCOMPANYING THE RED LAKE CHIEFS
PETER GRAVES WAS TO REITERATE THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT ALLOTMENT, "WE
MAINTAIN THE BELIEF THAT THE GREATEST EVIL EVER PERPETUATED WAS TO
ALLOT LAND IN SEVERALTY."
IN 1924 THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE STUDY COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE
MERRIAM REPORT SHOWED THAT ONLY 3.6 OF THE ALLOTMENTS ON WHITE
BARTH WERE INDIAN CONTROLLED. THAT THE RATIO OF INDIAN TO WHITE
POPULATION WAS ONE TO TEN IN EVERY COUNTY EXCEPT MAHNOMEN WHERE IT
WAS ONE TO FOUR. AND THAT IN MOST OF THE COUNTIES LESS THAN HALF OF
THE ORIGINAL ALLOTTEES STILL WERE IN POSSESSION OF THEIR EIGHTY
ACRES.
THROUGHOUT THIS TIME THE RED LAKE RESERVATION HAD ALL OF ITS
LAND INTACT WITH FORESTS AND LAKES FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING.
-15-
307


===== page 19 =====

THE ALLOTMENT ACT WAS BEGINNING TO ACHIEVE ITS PURPOSE "TO
ACCOMPLISH A GRADUAL RATHER THAN AN IMMEDIATE TRANSITION FROM THE
TRIBAL RELATIONSHIP AND DEPENDENT WARDSHIP TO FULL EMANCIPATION AND
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY."
IN AN INFORMATIONAL LETTER THE ACTING SOLICITOR IN 1935
INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH IN HIS REPORT, "ALL OTHER
MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA WERE TO BE ALLOTTED ON THE WHITE EARTH
RESERVATION AND PROVISION MADE FOR THE REMOVAL OF ALL BUT THE RED
LAKE INDIANS TO THE WHITE EARTH INDIANS." PERHAPS IT WAS INEVITABLE
THAT THIS CONFLICT WOULD DEVELOP BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAD CHOSEN TO
CONTINUE LIFE IN A COMMUNAL FASHION IN STEAD OF FASHIONING THEIR
LIVES AFTER THEIR WHITE NEIGHBORS.
EDWARD ROGERS, CASS COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND FUTURE T.E.C.
PRESIDENT SUMMED UP THE FEELING OF THE INDIANS CHOOSING THE OTHER
WAY OF LIVING IN A LETTER TO FRANK BROKER. HE EXCHANGED THOUGHTS
ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWAS:
"AT FIRST I DEBATED WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE ADVISABLE TO
ESTABLISH COMPACT INDIAN COMMUNITIES. AFTER GIVING THIS
CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT I DECIDED AGAINST IT. I THINK OUR SALVATION IS
TO KEEP THE INDIANS SCATTERED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE UPON LANDS
ASSIGNED THEM. IN THIS WAY THEY WOULD HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THEIR
WHITE NEIGHBORS."
RACIAL PREJUDICE BEING WHAT IT IS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA THIS
.
SEEMS A RATHER NAIVE STATEMENT TO MAKE. LATER IN THE SAME LETTER,
HOWEVER, RODGERS ADVOCATED INDIAN SCHOOLS FOR THOSE INDIAN PUPILS
WHO CANNOT ADJUST TO THE WHITE CONTROLLED SCHOOLS.
RED LAKE DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE REST OF
THE CHIPPEWA BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T CONTROL THEIR MIXED BLOOD
CONTINGENT.
IN 1926 CONGRESS PASSED A LAW PERMITTING A SUIT TO BE FILED IN
THE COURT OF CLAIMS AT WASHINGTON, D.C. ON BEHALF OF THE CHIPPEWA
INDIANS OF MINNESOTA AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. THE SUIT INITIATED BY
THE MIXED BLOOD FACTION SOUGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RED LAKE
FUNDS. PETER GRAVES APPEARING BEFORE THE MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA TRIBE'S
T.E.C. SUMMED UP THE _CONFLICT.
-16-
308


===== page 20 =====

.. THE RED LAKE HAVE PAID 1/7 PROPORTION OF THE FUNDS FOR
LAWYER'S FEES FOR YOU FOLKS TO SUE THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST THEM
(I.E. RED LAKE)... OF COURSE THEY DON’T LIKE IT, YOU DON’T BLAME
THEM IF THEY HAVE TO PAY YOUR LAWYERS. THEY HAD TO GO AND HIRE
LAWYERS THEMSELVES TO DEFEND THEIR SIDE OF THE CASE BUT THEIR
LAWYER'S FEES CAME OUT OF THEIR TIMBER FUND AND NOT OUT OF THIS
MILLION DOLLAR FUND. (I AM TOLD) THE EXPENSES (FOR LAWYER’S |
EXPENSES) WAS ABOUT $ 75,000 FOR THE DEFENSE. THAT LAWSUIT (H-76)
WAS PENDING FOR 11 YEARS. THE COURT OF CLAIMS FOUND.:.THAT THE RED
LAKE INDIANS WERE ENTITLED TO THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE RED
LAKE RESERVATION WITHOUT GIVING THE REST OF THE INDIANS ANY PART OF
THE MONEY."
Sow
THE SUIT STEMMING FROM A 1904 LAND SALE ON THE PART OF RED
LAKE TO THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH RED LAKE RECEIVED ONE MILLION
DOLLARS. IT WAS FINALLY SETTLED ON OCTOBER 14, 1935. "THE SUPREME
COURT OF THE UNITED STATES ENTERED AN ORDER DENYING THE PETITION
FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI IN THE CASE OF THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF
MINNESOTA VS. UNITED STATES, EL AL, NO. 42. OCTOBER TERM, 1933."
THIS ACTION ON THE PART OF THEIR FELLOW CHIPPEWAS CAUSED MORE
THAN ANYTHING THE FEELING OF BITTERNESS ON RED LAKE’S PART. LATER
IN 1835 THEY WERE TO PETITION THE OTHER RESERVATIONS TO SEGREGATE
THEIR SHARE IN THE. TRIBAL ASSETS WHICH HAD DIMINISHED FROM
SEVENTEEN MILLION ON 1889 TO $ 600,000 IN 1935.
IT IS PERHAPS APPROPRIATE NOW TO RETURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE
PCL cuceaterem ED EWA NG ENERAT:COUNCID A%3 * |
UNTIL 1918 JOHN G. MORRISON WAS THE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE
c.G.C., OWNER OF THE CHIPPEWA TRADING COMPANY. MORRISON IMMEDIATELY
APPOINTED A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, ACCORDING TO BEN CASWELL,
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE MEETING THUS DEPRIVING THE DELEGATES OF
PASSING JUDGEMENT ON THE SELECTIONS. CASWELL FURTHER CHARGED
*
MORRISON OF APPOINTING PEOPLE FROM WHITE EARTH WHO WERE MIXED BLOOD
FRIENDS OF HIS. CASWELL SAID THAT "THE MAJORITY OF THE INDIANS DO
NOT APPROVE OF THE DELEGATES SO SELECTED BY THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE
THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE DOES ‘NOT REPRESENT THE WISHES OF THE
MINNESOTA CHIPPEWAS, AND THEY REPUDIATE THEM ABSOLUTELY FOR ALL THE
ACTS THAT THIS LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ASSUME TO BE THE WISHES OF THE
MINNESOTA CHIPPEWAS."
.
-17- .
309


===== page 21 =====

PETER GRAVES, ORGANIZER OF THE REBEL RED LAKE COUNCIL, GAVE
TESTIMONY TO THE INSPECTORS. HE MAINTAINED "THAT THE GENERAL
COUNCIL OF THE CHIPPEWAS OF MINNESOTA IS CONTROLLED BY A FEW MIXED
BLOOD INDIANS OF THE WHITE EARTH RESERVATION, WHO-.ARE AND SHOULD BE
CLASSIFIED AS COMPETENT WHITE MEN." GRAVES FELT THAT MORRISON AND
HIS "GANG," WHICH INCLUDED AMONG OTHERS GUS BEAULIEU, BEN L.
FAIRBANKS, HEAD OF B.L. FAIRBANKS COMPANY, JOHN CARL, EUGENE WARREN
HENRY WARREN, GEORGE BERRY, T.H. BEAULIEU, AND CLEM BEAULIEU, WERE
ONLY OUT TO EXPLOIT THE INDIANS. HE ALSO MAINTAINED:
"THAT THESE MIXED BLOODS WHO ARE CLAMORING FOR THE REMOVAL OF
ALL RESTRICTIONS SHOULD BE TREATED INDIVIDUALLY AS THEY REQUEST,
BUT NOT TO ALL INDIANS AS THEY REPRESENT. .
THAT THE INDIANS SHOULD BE COMPETENT IN THAT OF KNOWING THE
VALUE OF LAND FIRST, NOT THE KIND OF COMPETENCY THAT HAS BEEN
SHOWN, BY THE SAD EXPERIENCE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE INDIAN
ALLOTTEES ON THE WHITE EARTH RESERVATION THE RESULT OF
MISREPRESENTATIONS OF INDIANS BY THE MIXED BLOODS, BY WHOM THE
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES HAS IN THE PAST BEEN PREVAILED UPON
TO ENACT LAWS, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN A MOST DEPLORABLE CONDITION
TO THE WHITE EARTH BAND..."
IN BEMIDJI ON JULY 9, 1918 JAMES L. COFFEY CALLED A REBEL
COUNCIL OF THE C.G.C. TO PROTEST ALLEGED ACTIONS BY THE MORRISON
LEGISLATIVE AND CREDENTIALS COMMITTEES. AMONG OTHER THINGS HE HELD
THAT IN 1915 MORRISON "HELD AN ILLEGAL COUNCIL AT WHITE EARTH" AT
WHICH TIME MORRISON AND THE MEN CHARGED BY GRAVES PLUS OTHERS WERE
TO ACT AS ATTORNEYS "TO PROSECUTE CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES,
“
““““KRISING UNDER OLD TREATIES; THAT THE CONTRACT STIPULATED A
COMPENSATION OF 10% TO BE PAID TO THE ATTORNEYS ON ALL SUMS TO BE
RECOVERED FROM THE UNITED STATES.
IN DECEMBER 1916 COFFEY WAS APPOINTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE AND HE FOUND THAT "THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE HAD FORMED A BILL TO BE INTRODUCED ON CONGRESS
APPROPRIATING AN AGGREGATE OF ABOUT §$ 108,000 TO BE PAID TO GUS
BEAULIEU, BEN L. FAIRBANKS, AND OTHERS OUT OF CHIPPEWA TRIBAL FUNDS
TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR WORK THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE DONE FOR THE
INDIANS IN PROSECUTING THE MILLE LAC CASE."
310


===== page 22 =====

AT THE NEXT GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING COFFEY BROUGHT THIS MATTER
UP TO THE SURPRISE OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT HE SAID. THE RESOLUTION
ASKING THE $108,000, HE TESTIFIED, HAD THE SIGNATURES OF JOHN
MORRISON AND PAUL BEAULIEU, SECRETARY AFFIXED TO IT. THE RESOLUTION
WAS RESCINDED AND THE CLAIM REJECTED. COFFEY FURTHER CHARGED THAT
AFTER THE MEETING IN NOVEMBER OF 1917 "AT A MEETING OF THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BEN FAIRBANKS PRESENTED A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW
HIM $5,000. THE BEAULIEU ESTATE $5,000 AND CERTAIN INDIAN CHIEF
OTHER SUMS, AGGREGATING ABOUT $48,000 TO BE PAID OUT OF CHIPPEWA
TRIBAL FUND." HE ADDED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON
"HAD THE MINUTES OF THAT MEETING FUSED UP TO SHOW THAT THE
RESOLUTION WAS CARRIED, AND THEY TRIED TO HAVE THIS CLAIM PRESENTED
IN THE FORM OF A BILL TO CONGRESS, TO WHICH HE OBJECTED."
COFFEY WAS QUESTIONED FURTHER ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE:
"HE STATES THAT SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THEY PROPOSED WOULD
AMOUNT TO PRACTICALLY CREATING A RECEIVERSHIP FOR THE ENTIRE ESTATE
OF THE CHIPPEWAS OF MINNESOTA, AND THAT THE ONLY BENEFIT ACCRUING
WOULD BE TO GIVE THESE MEN WHO HAD CREATED THIS CLAIMS COMMISSION
A TUNNEL TO WORK IN TO RECEIVE A COMPENSATION OF 10%.
HE STATES AT ONE OF THE MEETINGS (ATTORNEY) MR. BALLINGER
STATED "THAT THIS PROPERTY IS WORTH ANYWHERE FROM $10,000,000 TO
$18,000,000, SO THAT THIS 10% WOULD AMOUNT TO $1,000,000 OR MORE TO
BE DIVIDED AMONG THE NINE MEMBERS OF THE CLAIMS COMMISSION."
COFFEY WITHDREW HIS NAME FROM THE COMMITTEE AND WENT HOME.
THERE WAS CALLED IN APRIL 1918 A GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING AT WHICH
TIME THE DELEGATES DISMISSED MORRISON, BEAULIEU, AND THE ENTIRE
COMMITTEE THEN IN WASHINGTON.
IN JULY 1918 BOTH MORRISON AND COFFEY'S GROUPS CALLED FOR A
MEETING OF THE C.G.C. IN THE SAME TOWN. COFFEY APPARENTLY HIRED
CITY HALL FOR HIS MEETING BUT THE MAYOR REFUSED ENTRY AT WHICH TIME
COFFEY HIRED ANOTHER MEETING PLACE. MORRISON'S COUNCIL MET IN THE
CITY HALL SOMETIME AFTERWARDS.
IN SUMMARIZING COFFEY'S TESTIMONY THE RECORD STATED THAT:
"IN CONCLUSION HE STATES THAT THIS COTERIE OF WHITE EARTH
MIXED BLOODS HERETOFORE MENTIONED HAVE BEEN GOING TO WASHINGTON FOR
THE LAST TWENTY YEARS OR MORE PRETENDING THAT THEY ARE THE
AUTHORIZED DELEGATES OF THE MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA, LIVING AT THE
EXPENSE OF THE TRIBE, WHILE AS A MATTER OF FACT THEY WERE
PROSECUTING THE MILLE LAC CASE, AND OTHER MATTERS FOR THEIR OWN
INTERESTS UNDER A COMPENSATION PROVIDED BY CONGRESS, AND THAT THE
CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF MINNESOTA EVERY WINTER IN THE CITY OF
WASHINGTON PULLING THE WOOL OVER THE EYES OF THE OFFICIALS DOWN
THERE WITH THESE FORMS OF PROCEEDINGS THEY HAVE GOTTEN UP IN LOCAL
COUNCILS."


===== page 23 =====

COFFEY’S COUNCIL AFFIRMED THE ACTIONS TAKEN AT BALL CLUB IN
APRIL.
THE MINUTES OF THE MORRISON COUNCIL WAS COMPRISED MOSTLY OF
RESOLUTIONS.
THE FOLLOWING ARE TAKEN FROM THE RECORD OF THE INSPECTORS:
ONE RESOLUTION CALLED FOR. THE ABOLISHMENT OF THE INDIAN
BUREAU; ONE ASKED FOR A COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF THREE MEMBERS TO
INVESTIGATE THE B.I.A. AND ITS OPERATIONS WITH VIEW TOWARD
"ABOLISHING BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOLS, UNNECESSARY ONE
tea
RESOLUTION INSTRUCTED THE COUNCIL AND ITS OFFICERS TO DISREGARD THE
245
INVESTIGATION THEN BEING CONDUCTED BY US; ANOTHER APPOINTED WEBSTER
BELLANGER ATTORNEY FOR THE TRIBE; "RESOLUTION NO. 16 PROVIDED FOR
THE PAYMENT TO WAY-WE-YAY-CUMING $5,000, ETC." IN SHORT IT AFFIRMED
COFFEY’S ALLEGATIONS; RESOLUTION NO. 13 SOUGHT TO PROTECT YOUNG
INDIANS FROM "VILE OUTRAGES BY MALE EMPLOYEES AND BOYS, AND WHICH
SCHOOLS ARE SO CONDUCTED THAT OUR CHILDREN DERIVE NO BENEFITS
THEREFROM."
THE NETT LAKE AND RED LAKE DELEGATES LEFT THE MORRISON COUNCIL
AND WENT OVER TO THE COFFEY COUNCIL OR AS IT WAS CALLED THEN THE
'FULL-BLOODS" COUNCIL. ALSO SOME DELEGATES FROM WHITE EARTH AND
LEECH LAKE LEFT MORRISON’S COUNCIL.
FOLLOWING THE TWO COUNCILS THE TWO INVESTIGATIONS VISITED THE
LEECH LAKE, NETT LAKE, RED LAKE, AND WHITE EARTH RESERVATIONS AND
THE LOCAL COUNCILS "AT VARIOUS POINTS... DENOUNCED THE LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE AND ITS ACTS, AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE BOUND IN
ANY MANNER BY THEM. IT APPEARED THAT THEY WERE ALL SUSPICIOUS OF
THE ACTS AND INTEGRITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE,
AND WERE FEARFUL THAT THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING AGAINST THE INTERESTS
OF THE INDIANS AND THE TRIBE AS A WHOLE."
THE RED LAKE COUNCIL VOTED AFTERWARDS IN FAVOR OF CANCELLATION OF
THE LICENSES OF THE CHIPPEWA: TRADING COMPANY AND THE B.L. FAIRBANKS
COMPANY.
THE MORRISON COUNCIL WAS BELIEVED BY THE FULL-BLOOD COUNCIL TO
FAVOR THE ABOLISHMENT OF SCHOOLS SO THAT MONEY IN THE CHIPPEWA FUND
—_. --..
COULD NOT BE SPEND AND LEAVE IT FREE ‘FOR OTHER __-
-20-
312


===== page 24 =====

THE INVESTIGATORS ENDED THE FIRST SECTION OF THEIR REPORT WITH
THIS COMMENT:
"IT IS PERTINENT TO STATE THAT THE PERSONS WHO ARE FOREMOST IN
THE FILING OF COMPLAINTS AND CHARGES, ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THE
SCHOOLS AND AGENCIES OF THESE CHIPPEWA RESERVATIONS ABOLISHED, AS
ALSO THE INDIAN BUREAU, AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP ANY FURTHER USE OF
CHIPPEWA FUNDS FOR SUCH PURPOSES, WHICH WOULD THROW THE BURDEN OF
EDUCATING ALL THE CHIPPEWA CHILDREN, AND PROPERLY CARING FOR THE
INDIGENT, CRIPPLED, BLIND, AND HELPLESS INDIANS ON GRATUITY
APPROPRIATIONS BE MADE BY CONGRESS, ARE COMPOSED OF A COTERIE OF
MIXED BLOODS PRINCIPALLY FROM THE WHIT EARTH RESERVATION LED BY
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM THE
INDIANS STATE HAVE NO RIGHTS ON THEIR RESERVATIONS, AND WHO HAVE
BEEN WRONGFULLY ENROLLED AND ALLOTTED. THEY VOTED IN SEVERAL
COUNCILS TO HAVE STRICKEN FROM THE ROLLS THE NAMES OF 86 PERSONS
‘NAMED IN THE BRIEF FILED IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS OF THE UNITED
STATES, DEPARTMENTAL 158".
R.C. BELL, ASSISTANT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IN CHARGE OF
LAND LITIGATION AT WHITE EARTH BELIEVED THAT THE ACTION OF STRIKING.
THE NAMES SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN.
AT THE COFFEY COUNCIL, WHICH HAD 116 DELEGATES FROM VARIOUS
RESERVATION AND 67 FROM WHITE EARTH IN ATTENDANCE, IN RESOLUTION
NO. 3 ASKED THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO STRIKE OUT THE NAMES.
OF THE 86 PERSONS' NAMES FROM THE CHIPPEWA ROLLS.
ga eS Oe RIE ogy sm = oye
FOLLOWING THESE CH. Mose currPewas LOST
| oie §
INTEREST IN THE JOUGSG UD GTHESORGANT TZATION ZATION, DISAPPEARED 9
AFTER THE LAWSUIT THAT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THEIR MONEY THE RED
LAKERS DEVELOPED A PARANOIA ABOUT THEIR HOLDINGS, PERHAPS A VERY
HEALTHY AND REALISTIC "PARANOIA". IN 1934 WHEN THEY..FIRST HEARD *OF
A NEW GOVERNMENT ACT TO 2 PHESIND LANG"PH BE RYCOUNGLLSENT “THE
FOBLOWING,,.DOCUMENTHIO
"RESOLUTION #1: WHEREAS, ALL COUNCILMEN...CAME TO ‘THE
CONCLUSION THAT THE RED LAKE BAND OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS ARE NOT AT
THIS TIME, NOR IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE QUALIFIED FOR THE DUTIES OF
,
SELF-GOVERNMENT
THEREFORE, BE, AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, THAT THIS COUNCIL
BELIEVES THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE RED LAKE BAND OF CHIPPEWA
INDIANS DO NOT WANT ANY OF THEIR RESERVATIONS LANDS SUB-DIVIDED
AMONG THEM THAT THEY BELIEVE THEIR PRESENT STATUS IS THE VERY BEST
THAT CAN BE ACCORDED TO REAL INDIANS OF AN INDIAN RESERVATION."
IF IT WERE NOT SUCH A SERIOUS MATTER ONE COULD ALMOST SEE THE
SARCASM IN THE FACE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS A VERY GRIM JOKE. ON THE
OTHER HAND WE MAY SEE A PEOPLE WHOSE LEADERS ARE INVITING THE WORLD
TO LOOK UPON THEM AS BACKWARD AND IGNORANT IF THAT COULD ENABLE
THEM TO HOLD ONTO THEIR RESERVATION.
313