Minnesota and Dacotah Part 16

What will it be called? If the practice hitherto followed of applying to territories the names which they have been called by their aboriginal inhabitants is still adhered to, this new territory will have the name of Dacotah. It is the correct or Indian name of those tribes whom we call the Sioux; the latter being an unmeaning Indian-French word. Dacotah means "united people," and is the word which the Indians apply to seven of their bands.[1] These tribes formerly occupied the country south and south-west of Lake Superior; from whence they were gradually driven towards the Missouri and the Rocky Mountains by their powerful and dreaded enemies the Chippewas.

Since which time they have been the acknowledged occupants of the broad region to which they have impressed a name. Several of the tribes, however, have crossed the Missouri, between which and the Rocky Mountains they still linger a barbaric life. We may now hope to realize the truth of Hiawatha's words:--

"After many years of warfare, Many years of strife and bloodshed, There is peace between the Ojibways And the tribe of the Dacotahs."

[1 The following description of the Dacotahs is based on observations made in 1823. "The Dacotahs are a large and powerful nation of Indians, distinct in their manners, language, habits, and opinions, from the Chippewas, Sauks, Foxes, and Naheawak or Kilisteno, as well as from all nations of the Algonquin stock. They are likewise unlike the p.a.w.nees and the Minnetarees or Gros Ventres. They inhabit a large district of country which may be comprised within the following limits:-- From Prairie du Chien, on the Mississippi, by a curved line extending east of north and made to include all the eastern tributaries of the Mississippi, to the first branch of Chippewa River; the head waters of that stream being claimed by the Chippewa Indians; thence by a line running west of north to the head of Spirit Lake; thence by a westerly line to the Riveree de Corbeau; thence up that river to its head, near Otter Tail Lake; thence by a westerly line to Red River, and down that river to Pembina; thence by a south-westerly line to the east bank of the Missouri near the Mandan villages; thence down the Missouri to a point probably not far from Soldier's River; thence by a line running east of north to Prairie du Chien.

This immense extent of country is inhabited by a nation calling themselves, in their internal relations, the Dacotah, which means the Allied; but who, in their external relations, style themselves the Ochente Shakoan, which signifies the nation of seven (council) fires.

This refers to the following division which formerly prevailed among them, viz.:-- 1. Mende-Wahkan-toan, or people of the Spirit Lake.

2. Wahkpa-toan, or people of the leaves.

3. Sisi-toan, or Miakechakesa.

4. Yank-toan-an, or Fern leaves 5. Yank-toan, or descended from the Fern leaves.

6. Ti-toan, or Braggers.

7. Wahkpako-toan, or the people that shoot at leaves.

-- Long's Expedition to Sources of St. Peter's River &c., vol. 1, pp.

376, 378.]

If it be asked what will be done with these tribes when the country comes to be settled, I would observe, as I have said, that the present policy of the government is to procure their settlement on reservations. This limits them to smaller boundaries; and tends favorably to their civilization. I might also say here, that the t.i.tle which the Indians have to the country they occupy is that of occupancy. They have the natural right to occupy the land; but the absolute and sovereign t.i.tle is in the United States. The Indians can dispose of their t.i.tle to no party or power but the United States.

When, however, the government wishes to extinguish their t.i.tle of occupancy, it pays them a fair price for their lands according as may be provided by treaty. The policy of our government towards the Indians is eminently that of protection and preservation; not of conquest and extermination.

Dacotah is the name now applied to the western part of Minnesota, and I am a.s.sured by the best informed men of that section, that such will be the name of the territory when organized.

PART III.

TABLE OF STATISTICS.

I. LIST OF POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS IN MINNESOTA.

II. LAND OFFICES, &c.

III. NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN MINNESOTA.

IV. TABLE OF DISTANCES.

I.

POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS.

I HAVE been furnished, at brief notice, with the following accurate list of the Post Offices and Postmasters in Minnesota by my very excellent friend, Mr. JOHN N. OLIVIER, of the Sixth Auditor's Office:

LIST OF POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS IN THE TERRITORY OF MINNESOTA, PREPARED PROM THE BOOKS OF THE APPOINTMENT OFFICE, POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, TO DECEMBER 12, 1856.

Post Office.

Postmaster.

BENTON COUNTY.

Belle Prairie

Calvin C. Hicks.

Big Lake

Joseph Brown.

Clear Lake

F. E. Baldwin.

Crow Wing

Allen Morrison.

Elk River

John Q. A. Nickerson.

Itasca

John C. Bowers.

Little Falls

C. H. Churchill.

Royalton

Rodolph's D. Kinney.

Sauk Rapids

C. B. Vanstest.

Swan River

James Warren.

Watab

David Gilman.

BLUE EARTH COUNTY.

Kasota

Isaac Allen.