Five thousand Indians of the Sioux nation and all but one of their major leaders gathered today in 1888 for discussions on a treaty that would open up lands in the Standing Rock reservation for settlement. Today marked the eleventh day of treaty proceedings and the commissioners still lacked a single signature.

The tribe first gathered on the night of July 23rd. Members of the tribe discussed the upcoming treaty proceedings and elected five leaders to represent and speak for the tribe. Those leaders were Chiefs Gaul, John Grass, Mad Bear, Big Head, and Running Antelope. Sitting Bull was not present. He was reported to be out hunting, though the Bismarck Daily Tribune reported that “it is believed the sly, old trickster has been at work among the Indians of other agencies sowing seeds of discord and urging them to oppose the measure.” The leaders were suspicious early on and warned everyone at the meeting to be careful what they said and to make no decisions without consultation.

The treaty they discussed that night would open up one-half of the reservation–or eleven million acres–for settlement. The land would be purchased by the government for one million dollars, most of which would go toward the development of the tribal lands. The land opened for settlers, meanwhile, would be sold for 50 cents per acre. A five percent interest of those profits would be credited to the tribe. Ratification, however, required the signatures of three-fourths of the tribe.

The leaders were skeptical of the treaty. Mad Bear warned the congregation “that if you sign this paper giving away your lands, you can never get it back again. No matter how much you pray, it will be gone forever.” Even before meeting with the treaty commission, the tribe voted unanimously against the treaty.

Official proceedings began on the 24th, and the entire day was spent taking role. Many Native Americans refused to even view the circulars explaining the treaty until Sitting Bull appeared. The tribes, however, refused to sign any papers for or against the treaty. On the 27th, a formal expression of disapproval for the treaty was given.

The leaders expressed their distrust for the commission and disapproval of the treaty stipulations. Chief Grass stated: “We have talked this matter all over in our councils; you tell us 11 million of acres of our land is to be given to the whites and we are to get 50 cents for every acres sold; one million dollars is to be advanced to us and we are to get five per cent of that for ourselves. One-half of this is to be used for industrial schools and we are to get the other half. This would give us about one dollar each. [Laughter among the Indians] We do not think this would make us very rich.” Again, no members agreed to sign the treaty.

On the 31st, Sitting Bull finally joined the congregation, though he did not speak until the next day. The frustrated commissioners continued to try and convince the tribes to sign the treaty, but to no avail. On August 3rd, they began threatening to condemn the land if the Sioux refused to sign either paper. Still, the Sioux stood their ground. They argued they would not sign the treaty, because the government had failed to live up to past treaties, and that the price is not enough.

Finally, on August 7th, John Grass told the commission that they would sign no paper for or against the treaty and would leave. The tribe left peacefully and victorious. The commissioners had failed in this first attempt to open the Standing Rock reservation for settlement.

By Tessa Sandstrom

Sources:
“The Sioux object,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. July 24, 1888: 1.
“Suspicious Sioux,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. July 25, 1888: 1.
“Not Encouraging,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. July 28, 1888: 1.
“Will not sign,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. July 29, 1888: 1.
“Still uncertain,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. July 31, 1888: 1.
“By the Great Spirit,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. August 1, 1888:1.
“Unchanged,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. August 2, 1888:1.
“It is freeze-out,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. August 3, 1888:1.
“Obstinate chiefs,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. August 4, 1888:1.
“Ration Day,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. August 5, 1888:1.
“The climax,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. August 8, 1888:1.
“A fruitless mission,” The Bismarck Daily Tribune. August 9, 1888:1.

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