Treaty with The Belantse-Etoa or Minitaree Tribe
July 30, 1825
WHEREAS acts of hostility have been committed, by some restless
men of the Belantse-etea or Minnetaree tribe of Indians, upon
some of the citazens of the United States: therefore, to put
a stop to any further outrages of the sort, and to establish
a more friendly understanding between the United States and
the said Belantse-etea or Minnetaree tribe, the President
of the United States, by Henry Atkinson, Brigadier-general
of the United States' army, and Major Benjamin O'Fallon,
Indian Agent, commissioners duly appointed and commissioned
to treat with the Indian tribes beyond the Mississippi river,
forgive the offences which have been committed, the Chiefs
and Warriors having first made satisfactory explanations touching
the same. And, for the purpose of removing all future cause
of misunderstanding, as respects trade and friendly intercourse,
between the parties, the above-named Commissioners, on the
part of the United States, and the undersigned chiefs and
Warriors of the Belantse-etea or Minnetaree tribe of Indians,
on the part of said tribe, have made and entered into the
following Articles and Conditions; which, when ratified by
the President of the United States, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate, shall be binding on both parties - to
wit:
Article 1.
Henceforth there shall be a firm and lasting peace between
the United States and the Belantse-etea or Minnetaree tribe
of Indians; and a friendly intercourse shall immediately take
place between the parties.
Article 2.
It is admitted by the Belantse-etea or Minnetaree tribe of
Indians, that they reside within the territorial limits of
the United States, acknowledge their supremacy, and claim
their protection. - The said tribe also admit the right
of the United States to regulate all trade and intercourse
with them.
Article 3.
The United States agree to receive the Belantse-etea or Minnetaree
tribe of Indians into their friendship, and under their protection,
and to extend to them, from time to time, such benefits and
acts of kindness as may be convenient, and seem just and proper
to the President of the United States.
Article 4.
All trade and intercourse with the Belantse-eta or Minnetaree
tribe shall be transacted at such place or places as may be
designated and pointed out, by the President of the United
States, through his agents; and none but American citazens,
duly authorized by the United States, shall be admitted to
trade or hold intercourse with said tribe of Indians.
Article 5.
That the Belantse-eta or Minnetaree tribe may be accommodated with
such articles of merchandise, as their necessities may demand, the
United States agree to admit and license traders to hold intercourse
with said tribe, under mild and equitable regulations: in consideration
of which, the Belantse-eta or Minnetaree tribe bind themselves to
extend protection to the persons and the property of the traders,
and the persons legally employed under them, whilst they remain
within the limits of their district of country. And the said Belantse-eta
or Minnetaree tribe further agree, that if any foreigner or other
person, not legally authorized by the United States, shall come
into their district of country, for the purposes of trade or other
views, they will apprehend such person or persons, and deliver him
or them to some United States' superintendent or agent of Indian
affairs, or to the commandant of the nearest military post, to be
dealt with according to law. And they further agree to give safe
conduct to all persons who may be legally authorized by the United
States to reside temporarily among them.
Article 6.
That the friendship which is now established between the
United States and the Belantse-eta or Minnetaree tribe shall
not be interrupted by the misconduct of individuals, it is
hereby agreed, that for injuries done by individuals, no private
revenge or retaliation shall take place, but instead thereof
complaints shall be made, by the party injured, to the superintendent
or agent of Indian affairs or other person appointed by the
President; and it shall be the duty of the said Chiefs, upon
complaint being made as aforesaid, to deliver up the person
or persons against whom the complaint is made, to the end
that he or they may be punished, agreeably to the laws of
the United States. And, in like manner, if any robbery, violence,
or murder, shall be committed on any Indian or Indians belonging
to said tribe, the person or persons so offending shall be
tried, and if found guilty, shall be punished in like manner
as if the injury had been done to a white man. And it is agreed
that the Chiefs of the said Belantse-eta or Minnetaree tribe
shall, to the utmost of their power, exert themselves to recover
horses or other property, which may be stolen or taken from
any citizen or citizens of the United States, by any individual
or individuals of said tribe; and the property so recovered
shall be forthwith delivered to the agents or other person
authorized to receive it, that it may be restored to the proper
owner. And the United States hereby guaranty to any Indian
or Indians of said tribe, a full indemnification for any horses
or other property which may be stolen from them by any of
their citizens: Provided, That the property so stolen cannot
be recovered, and that sufficient proof is produced that it
was actually stolen by a citizen of the United States. And
the said Belantse-eta or Minnetaree tribe engage, on the requisition
or demand of the President of the United States, or of the
agents, to deliver up any white man resident among them.
Article 7.
And the Chiefs and Warriors, as aforesaid, promise and engage
that their tribe will never, by sale, exchange, or as presents,
supply any nation, tribe, or band of Indians, not in amity
with the United States, with guns, ammunition, or other implements
of war.
Done at the Lower Mandan Village, this thirtieth day of July,
A. D. 1825, and of the independence of the United States the
fiftieth.
In testimony whereof, the commissioners, Henry Atkinson and
Benjamin O'Fallon, and the chiefs and warriors of the
said Belantse-etea or Minnetaree tribe of Indians, have hereunto
set their hands and affixed their seals.
H. Atkinson, brigadier-general U. S. Army, [L. S.]
Benj. O'Fallon, United States agent, Indian affairs, [L. S.]
Chiefs:
- Shan-sa-bat-say-e-see, the wolf chief, his x mark, [L. S.]
- E-re-ah-ree, the one that make the road, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Pas-ca-ma-e-ke-ree, the crow that looks, his x mark, [L. S.]
- E-tah-me-nah-ga-e-she, the guard of the red arrows, his x mark,
[L. S.]
- Mah-shu-ca-lah-pah-see, the dog bear, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Oh-sha-lah-ska-a-tee, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Kah-re-pe-shu-pe-sha, the black buffalo, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ah-too-pah-she-pe-sha, the black mocasins, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Mah-buk-sho-ok-oe-ah, the one that carries the snake, his x
mark, [L. S.]
Warriors:
- At-ca-chis, the black lodges, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Nah-rah-ah-a-pa, the color of the hair, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Pa-ta-e-she-as, the wicked cow, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Kee-re-pee-ah-too, the buffalo head, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Lah-pa-ta-see-e-ta, the bear's tail, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Pa-ta-lah-kee, the white cow, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ah-sha-re-te-ah, the big thief, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Bo-sah-nah-a-me, the three wolves, his x mark, [L. S.]
- San-jah-oe-tee, the wolf that has no tail, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Sa-ga-e-ree-shus, the finger that stinks, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Me-a-cah-ho-ka, the woman that lies, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ah-mah-a-ta, the missouri, his x mark, [L. S.]
- E-sha-kee-te-ah, the big fingers, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Mah-shu-kah-e-te-ah, the big dog, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Be-ra-ka-ra-ah, the rotten wood, his x mark, [L. S.]
- E-ta-ro-sha-pa, the big brother, his x mark, [L. S.]
In the presence of -
- A. L. Langham, secretary to the commission,
- H. Leavenworth, colonel, U. S. Army,
- G. H. Kennerly, United States sub-Indian agent,
- John Gale, surgeon, U. S. Army,
- D. Ketchum, major, U. S. Army,
- John Gantt, captain, Sixth Infantry,
- Wm. Day, lieutenant, First Infantry,
- R. B. Mason, captain, First Infantry,
- Jas. W. Kingbury, lieutenant, First Regiment Infantry,
- R. Holmes, lieutenant, Sixth Infantry,
- J. Rogers, lieutenant, Sixth Infantry,
- W. S. Harney, lieutenant, First Infantry,
- Levi Nute, lieutenant, Sixth Infantry,
- B. Riley, captain, Sixth Infantry,
- R. M. Coleman, assistant surgeon, U. S. Army,
- George C. Hutter, lieutenant, Sixth Infantry,
- Colin Campbell,
- P. Wilson, United States sub-Indian agent,
- Touissant Chaboneau, interpreter, his x mark,
- S. W. Kearny, brevet major, First Infantry.
- Wm. Armstrong, captain, Sixth Regiment Infantry.
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