BLIND DATE
Chapter IX
Kill the Indian, Save the Man
Source: National Antropological Archives, SI, Neg #37,644-G
Flathead Treaty council, 1855, by Gustasvus Sohon. Signed at Council Grove, near Modern day Missoula
In 1855 Isaac Stevens, the brash young governor of Washington Territory, used a broiler plate written instrument to treat with northwestern tribes in his effort to eliminate the "Indian problem." Thinking it was a peace document with the Blackfeet, the Flathead had no idea it was intended as huge land cession. Poor interpreters and a short-tempered Stevens assured there was little meaningful dialogue before the Indians were expected to sign a treaty they failed to fully understand. But it has since become a revered and consequential document that has long influenced western Montana history.
Flathead Chief Eagle
Source: Denver Public Library Special Collections, BS-28
The Treaty of Hell Gate, 1855
Preamble: "...do hereby constitute a nation"
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Article I: Land the tribes relinquished (more than 20 million acres--now considered, for legal purposes, aboriginal land)
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Article II: Boundary of new reservation (1.2 million acres "...for their exclusive use and benefit.")
Article III: ...the right to hunt, fish and gather roots and berries, in "usual and accustomed places" (which came to include aboriginal land outside the reservation).
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Article IV: Payment for relocation.
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Article V: Provisions for schools, buildings, tradesmen, and a physician
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Article VI: Provision for land to be surveyed into lots and assigned to tribal members who are willing to avail themselves of the privilege.
This article was purposely misinterpreted to allow for reservation-wide allotment, completely ignoring the requirement that they (tribal members) must be "willing to avail themselves of the privilege." The fact that they were never willing was cleverly overlooked in subsequent legislation.
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Article VII: Annuities will not be used to cover private debt.
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Ariticle VIII: Tribes "concede their dependence" on the government. (Acknowledged by the tribes but not fully honored by the government).
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Article IX: Exclusion of liquor.
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Article X: No claims will be allowed by Hudson Bay Company
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Aritcle XI: Designation of possible Bitterroot Valley reservation (never happens).
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Aritcle XII: Treaty is obligatory upon ratification (by Senate).
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Signatures with X's
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Flathead Reservation land status before and after allotment (1910)
1907
2014
Tribal lands in green, non-Indian fee land in cream, purple areas are federal reserves including the Bison Range. Small squares are state-owned school sections. Note land ownership around the lake.
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Source: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Department of Natural Resources
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