March
28, 1836
Articles of a treaty made and concluded at the
city of Washington in the District of Columbia,
between Henry R. Schoolcraft, commissioner on
the part of the United States, and the Ottawa
and Chippewa nations of Indians, by their chiefs
and delegates.
ARTICLE FIRST. [Designation of boundary lines
ceded to the United States.]
ARTICLE SECOND. From the cession aforesaid the
tribes reserve for their own use, to be held in
common the following tracts for the term of five
years from the date of the ratification of this
treaty, and no longer, unless the United States
shall grant them permission to remain on said
lands for a longer period, namely: One tract of
fifty thousand acres to be located on Little Traverse
bay: one tract of twenty thousand acres to be
located on the north shore of Grand Traverse bay:
one tract of seventy thousand acres to be located
on, or north of the Pieire Marquetta river, one
tract of one thousand acres to be located by Chingassanoo,
-- or the Big Sail, on the Cheboigan. One tract
of one thousand acres, to be located by Mujeekewis,
on Thunder-bay river.
ARTICLE THIRD. There shall also be reserved for
the use of the Chippewas living north of the straits
of Michilimackinac, the following tracts for the
term of five years from the date of the ratification
of this treaty, and no longer, unless the United
States shall grant them permission to remain on
said lands for a longer period, that is to say:
Two tracts of three miles square each, on the
north shores of the said straits, between Point-au-Barbe
and Mille Coquin river, including the fishing
grounds in front of such reservations, to be located
by a council of the chiefs. The Beaver islands
of Lake Michigan for the use of the Beaver-island
Indians. Round island, opposite Michilimackinac,
as a place of encampment for the Indians, to be
under the charge of the Indian department. The
islands of the Chenos, with a part of the adjacent
north coast of Lake Huron, corresponding in length,
and one mile in depth. Sugar island, with its
islets, in the river of St. Mary's. Six hundred
and forty acres, at the mission of the Little
Rapids. A tract commencing at the mouth of the
Pississowining river, south of Point Iroquois,
thence running up said streams to its forks, thence
westward, in a direct line to the Red water lakes,
thence across the portage to the Tacquimenon river,
and down the same to its mouth, including the
small islands and fishing grounds, in front of
this reservation. Six hundred and forty acres,
on Grand island, and two thousand acres, on the
mainland south of it. Two sections on the northern
extremity of Green bay, to be located by a council
of the chiefs. All the locations, left indefinite
by this, and the preceding articles, shall be
made by the proper chiefs, under the direction
of the President. It is understood that the reservation
for a place of fishing and encampment, made under
the treaty of St. Mary's of the 16th of June 1820,
remains unaffected by this treaty.
ARTICLE FOURTH. In consideration of the foregoing
cessions, the United States engage to pay to the
Ottawa and Chippewa nations, the following sums,
namely. 1st. An annuity of thirty thousand dollars
per annum, in specie, for twenty years; eighteen
thousand dollars, to be paid to the Indians between
Grand River and the Cheboigun; three thousand
six hundred dollars, to the Indians on the Huron
shore, between the Cheboigan and Thunder-bay river,
and seven thousand four hundred dollars, to the
Chippewa's north of the straits, as far as the
cession extends; the remaining one thousand dollars,
to be invested in stock by the Treasury Department
and to remain incapable of being sold, without
the consent of the President and Senate, which
may, however, be given, after the expiration of
twenty-one years. 2nd. Five thousand dollars per
annum, for the purpose of education, teachers,
school-houses, and books in their own language,
to be continued twenty years, and as long thereafter
as Congress may appropriate for the object. 3rd.
Three thousand dollars for missions, subject to
the conditions mentioned in the second clause
of this article. 4th. Ten thousand dollars for
agricultural implements, cattle, mechanics' tools,
and such other objects as the President may deem
proper. 5th. Three hundred dollars per annum for
vaccine matter, medicines, and the services of
physicians, to be continued while the Indians
remain on their reservations. 6th. Provisions
to the amount of two thousand dollars; six thousand
five hundred pounds of tobacco; one hundred barrels
of salt, and five hundred fish barrels, annually,
for twenty years. 7th. One hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, in goods and provisions, on the ratification
of this treaty, to be delivered at Michilimackinac,
and also the sum of two hundred thousand dollars,
in consideration of changing the permanent reservations
in article two and three to reservations for five
years only, to be paid whenever their reservations
shall be surrendered, and until that time the
interest on said two hundred thousand dollars
shall be annually paid to the Indians.
ARTICLE FIFTH. The sum of three hundred thousand
dollars shall be paid to said Indians to enable
them, with the aid and assistance of their agent,
to adjust and pay such debts as they may justly
owe, and the overplus, if any, to apply to such
other use as they may think proper.
ARTICLE SIXTH. The said Indians being desirous
of making provision for their half-breed relatives,
and the President having determined, that individual
reservations shall not be granted, it is agreed,
that in lieu thereof, the sum of one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars shall be set apart as a
fund for said half-breeds. No person shall be
entitled to any part of said fund, unless he is
of Indian descent and actually resident within
the boundaries described in the first article
of this treaty, nor shall any thing be allowed
to any such person, who may have received any
allowance at any previous Indian treaty. The following
principles, shall regulate the distribution. A
census shall be taken of all the men, women, and
children, coming within this article, As the Indians
hold in higher consideration, some of their half-breeds
than others, and as there is much difference in
their capacity to use and take care of property,
and consequently, in their power to aid their
Indian connexions, which furnishes a strong ground
for this claim, it is, therefore, agreed, that
at the council to be held upon this subject, the
commissioner shall call upon the Indian chiefs
to designate, if they require it, three classes
of these claimants, the first of which, shall
receive one-half more than the second, and the
second, double the third. Each man, woman, and
child shall be enumerated, and an equal share,
in the respective classes, shall be allowed to
each. If the father is living with the family,
he shall receive the shares of himself, wife and
children. If the father is dead, or separated
from the family, and the mother is living with
the family, she shall have her own share, and
that of the children. If the father and mother
are neither living with the family, or if the
children are orphans, their share shall be retained
till they are twenty-one years of age; provided,
that such portions of it as may be necessary may,
under the direction of the President, be from
time to time supplied for their support. All other
persons at the age of twenty-one years, shall
receive their shares agreeably to the proper class.
Out of the said fund of one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, the sum of five thousand dollars
shall be reserved to be applied, under the direction
of the President, to the support of such of the
poor half-breeds, as may require assistance, to
be expended in annual installments for the term
of ten years, commencing with the second year.
Such of the half-breeds, as may be judged incapable
of making a proper use of the money, allowed them
by the commissioner, shall receive the same installments,
as the President may direct.
ARTICLE SEVENTH. In consideration of the cessions
above made, and as a further earnest of the disposition
felt to do full justice to the Indians, and to
further their well being, the United States engage
to keep two additional blacksmith-shops, one of
which shall be located on the reservation north
of Grand river, and the other at the Sault Ste.
Marie. A permanent interpreter will be provided
at each of these locations. It is stipulated to
renew the present dilapidated shop at Michilimackinac,
and to maintain a gunsmith, in addition to the
present smith's establishment, and to build a
dormitory for the Indians visiting the post, and
appoint a person to keep it, and supply it with
firewood. It is also agreed, to support two farmers
and assistants, and two mechanics, as the President
may designate, to teach and aid the Indians, in
agriculture, and in the mechanic arts. The farmers
and mechanics, and the dormitory, will be continued
for ten years, and as long thereafter, as the
President may deem this arrangement useful and
necessary; but the benefits of the other stipulations
of this article, shall be continued beyond the
expiration of the annuities, and it is understood
that the whole of this article shall stand in
force, and inure to the benefit of the Indians,
as long after the expiration of the twenty years
as Congress may appropriate for the objects.
ARTICLE EIGHTH. It is agreed, that as soon as
the said Indians desire it, a deputation shall
be sent to the southwest of the Missouri River,
there to select a suitable place for the final
settlement of said Indians, which country, so
selected and of reasonable extent, the United
States will forever guaranty and secure to said
Indians. Such improvements as add value to the
land, hereby ceded, shall be appraised, and the
amount paid to the proper Indian. But such payment
shall, in no case, be assigned to, or paid to,
a white man. If the church on the Cheboigan, should
fall within this cession, the value shall be paid
to the band owning it. The net proceeds of the
sale of the one hundred and sixty acres of land,
upon the Grand River upon which the missionary
society have erected their buildings, shall be
paid to the said society, in lieu of the value
of their said improvements. When the Indians wish
it, the United States will remove them, at their
expense, provide them a year's subsistence in
the country to which they go, an furnish the same
articles and equipments to each person as are
stipulated to be given to the Pottowatomies in
the final treaty of cession concluded at Chicago.
ARTICLE NINTH. Whereas, the Ottawas and Chippewas,
feeling a strong consideration for aid rendered
by certain of their half-breeds on Grand river,
and other parts of the country ceded, and wishing
to testify their gratitude on the present occasion,
have assigned such individuals certain locations
of land, and united in a strong appeal for the
allowance of the same in this treaty; and whereas
no such reservation can be permitted in carrying
out the special directions of the President on
this subject, it is agreed, that, in addition
to the general fund set apart for half- breed
claims in the sixth article, the sum of forty-eight
thousand one hundred and forty-eight dollars shall
be paid for the extinguishment of this class of
claims to be divided in the following manner:
To Rix Robinson, in lieu of a section of land,
granted to his Indian family, on the Grand river
rapids, (estimated by good judges to be worth
half a million,) at the rate of thirty six dollars
an acre: To Leonard Slater, in trust for Chiminonoquat,
for a section of land above said rapids, at the
rate of ten dollars an acre: To John A. Drew,
for a tract of one section and three quarters,
to his Indian family, at Cheboigan rapids, at
the rate of four dollars; to Edward Biddle, for
one section to his Indian family at the fishing
grounds, at the rate of three dollars: To John
Holiday, for five sections of land to five persons
of his Indian family, at the rate of one dollar
and twenty-five cents; to Eliza Cook, Sophia Biddle,
and Mary Holiday, one section of land each, at
two dollars and fifty cents: To Augustin Hamelin
junr, being of Indian descent, two sections, at
one dollar and twenty-five cents; to William Lasley,
Joseph Daily, Joseph Trotier, Henry A. Levake,
for two sections each, for their Indian families,
at one dollar and twenty-five cents: To Luther
Rice, Joseph Lafrombois, Charles Butterfield,
being of Indian descent, and to George Moran,
Louis Moran, G. D. Williams, for half- breed children
under their care, and to Daniel Marsac, for his
Indian child, one section each, at one dollar
and twenty-five cents.
ARTICLE TENTH. The sum of thirty thousand dollars
shall be paid to the chiefs, on the ratification
of this treaty, to be divided agreeably to a schedule
hereunto annexed.
ARTICLE ELEVENTH. The Ottawas having consideration
for one of their aged chiefs, who is reduced to
poverty, and it being known that he was a firm
friend of the American Government, in that quarter,
during the late war, and suffered much in consequence
of his sentiments, it is agreed, that an annuity
of one hundred dollars per annum shall be paid
to Ningweegon or the Wing, during his natural
life, in money or goods, as he may choose. Another
of the chiefs of said nation, who attended the
treaty of Greenville in 1793, and is now, at a
very advanced age, reduced to extreme want, together
with his wife, and the Government being apprized
that he has pleaded a promise of Gen. Wayne, in
his behalf, it is agreed that Chusco of Michilimackinac
shall receive an annuity of fifty dollars per
annum during his natural life.
ARTICLE TWELFTH. All expenses attending the journeys
of the Indians from, and to their homes, and their
visit at the seat of Government, together with
the expenses of the treaty, including a proper
quantity of clothing to be given them, will be
paid by the United States.
ARTICLE THIRTEENTH. The Indians stipulate for
the right of hunting on the lands ceded, with
the other usual privileges of occupancy, until
the land is required for settlement.
In testimony whereof, the said Henry R. Schoolcraft,
commissioner on the part of the United States,
and the chiefs and delegates of the Ottawa and
Chippewa nation of Indians, have hereunto set
their hands, at Washington the seat of Government,
this twenty-eighth day of March, in the year one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-six.
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