Treaty with The Chippewa
January 14, 1837
Articles of a treaty made and concluded at Detroit, in
the State of Michigan, on the fourteenth day of January, in
the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, between
the United States of America by their commissioner, Henry
R. Schoolcraft, and the Saganaw tribe of the Chippewa nation,
by their chiefs and delegates, assembled in council.
Article 1st.
The said tribe cede to the United States the following tracts
of land, lying within the boundaries of Michigan; namely;
One tract of eight thousand acres, on the river Au Sable.
One tract of two thousand acres, on the Misho-wusk or Rifle
river. One tract of six thousand acres, on the north side
of the river Kawkawling. One tract of five thousand seven
hundred and sixty acres upon Flint river, including the site
of Reaums village, and a place called Kishkawbawee. One tract
of eight thousand acres on the head of the Cass (formerly
Huron) river, at the village of Otusson. One island in the
Saganaw bay, estimated at one thousand acres, being the island
called Shaingwaukokaug, on which Mukokoosh formerly lived.
One tract of two thousand acres at Nababish, on the Saganaw
river. One tract of one thousand acres, on the east side of
the Saganaw river. One tract of six hundred and forty acres,
at Great Bend, on Cass river. One tract of two thousand acres
at the mouth of Point Augrais river. One tract of one thousand
acres, on the Cass river at Menoquet's village. One tract
of ten thousand acres on the Shiawassee river at Ketchewaundaugumink
or Big Lick. One tract of six thousand acres at the Little
Forks, on the Tetabwasing river. One tract of six thousand
acres at the Black-Birds' town, on the Tetabwasing river.
One tract of forty thousand acres, on the west side of the
Saganaw river. The whole containing one hundred and two thousand
four hundred acres, be the same more or less.
Article 2d.
The said Indians shall have the right of living upon the
tracts at the river Augrais, and Mushowusk or Rifle rivers,
on the west side of Saganaw bay, for the term of five years,
during which time no white man shall be allowed to settle
on said tracts, under a penalty of five hundred dollars, to
be recovered, at the suit of the informer; one half to the
benefit of said informer, the other half to the benefit of
the Indians.
Article 3rd.
The United States agree to pay to the said Indians, in consideration
of the lands above ceded, the net proceeds of the sales thereof,
after deducting the expense of survey and sale, together with
the incidental expenses of this treaty. The lands shall be
surveyed in the usual manner, and offered for sale, as other
public lands, at the land offices of the proper districts,
as soon as practicable after the ratification of this treaty.
A special account of the sales shall be kept at the Treasury,
indicating the receipts from this source, and after deducting
therefrom the sums hereinafter set apart, for specified objects,
together with all other sums, justly chargeable to this fund,
the balance shall be invested, under the direction of the
President, in some public stock, and the interest thereof
shall be annually paid to the said tribe, in the same manner,
and with the same precautions, that annuities are paid. Provided,
That, if the said Indians shall, at the expiration of twenty
years, or at any time thereafter, require the said stock to
be sold, and the proceeds thereof distributed among the whole
tribe, or applied to the advancement of agriculture, education,
or any other useful object, the same may be done, with the
consent of the President and Senate.
Article 4th.
The said Indians hereby set apart, out of the fund, created
by the sale of their lands, the following sums, namely;
For the purchase of goods and provisions, to be delivered
to them, as soon as practicable after the ratification of
this treaty, forty thousand dollars.*
For distribution among the heads of families, to be paid
to them, as an annuity in 1837, ten thousand dollars.*
For a special payment to each of the principal chiefs, agreeably
to a schedule annexed, five thousand dollars.
For the support of schools, among their children, ten thousand
dollars.
For the payment of their just debts, accruing since the treaty
of Ghent, and before the signing of this treaty, forty thousand
dollars.
For compensating American citizens, upon whose property this
tribe committed depredations after the surrender of Detroit
in 1812, ten thousand dollars.
For meeting the payment of claims which have been considered
and allowed by the chiefs and delegates in council, as per
schedule B hereunto annexed, twelve thousand two hundred and
forty-three dollars, and seventy-five cents.
For vaccine matter, and the services of a physician, one
hundred dollars per annum for five years.
For the purchase of tobacco to be delivered to them, two
hundred dollars per annum for five years.
The whole of these sums shall be expended under the direction
of the President, and the following principles shall govern
the application. The goods and provisions shall be purchased
by an agent, or officer of the Government, on contract, and
delivered to them, at their expense, as early as practicable,
after the ratification of the treaty. The annuity of ten thousand
dollars shall be divided among the heads of families, agreeably
to a census, to be taken for the purpose. The school fund
shall be put at interest, by investment in stocks, and the
interest applied annually to the object, commencing in the
year 1840, but the principal shall constitute a permanent
fund for twenty years, nor shall the stock be sold, nor the
proceeds diverted, at that period, without the consent of
the President and Senate.
The monies set apart for the liquidation of their debts,
and for depredations, committed by them, shall be paid, under
such precautions for ascertaining the justice of the indebtedness
or claim, as the President may direct, but no payment shall
be made, under either head, which is not supported by satisfactory
proof, and sanctioned by the Indians: and if any balance of
either sum remains, it shall be immediately divided by the
disbursing officer, among the Indians. The other items of
expenditure, mentioned in this article, shall be disbursed,
under the usual regulations of the Indian Department, for
insuring faithfulness and accountability in the application
of the money.
Article 5th.
The United States will advance the amount set apart in the
preceding article for the purchase of goods and provisions,
and the payment of debts, and depredations by the Indians,
also the several sums stipulated to be paid to the chiefs,
and distributed to the Indians as an annuity in 1837, and
the amount set apart for claims allowed by the Indians, together
with the expense of this negotiation.
Article 6th.
The said tribe agrees to remove from the State of Michigan,
as soon as a proper location can be obtained. For this purpose,
a deputation shall be sent, to view the country, occupied
by their kindred tribes, west of the most westerly point of
Lake Superior,* and if an arrangement for their future and
permanent residence can be made in that quarter, which shall
be satisfactory to them, and to the Government, they shall
be permitted to form a reunion, with such tribes, and remove
thereto. If such arrangement cannot be effected, the United
States will afford its influence in obtaining a location for
them at such place, west of the Mississippi, and southwest
of the Missouri, as the legislation of Congress may indicate.
The agency of the exploration, purchase, and removal will
be performed by the United States, but the expenses attending
the same shall be chargeable to said Indians at the Treasury,
to be refunded out of the proceeds of their lands, at such
time and in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury shall
deem proper.
Article 7th.
It is agreed, that the smith's shop shall be continued
among the Saganaws, together with the aid in agriculture,
farming utensils, and cattle, secured to them under the treaty
of September 24th 1819, as fixed, in amount, by the act of
Congress of May 15th 1820. But the President is authorized
to direct the discontinuance of the stated farmers should
he deem proper, and the employment of a supervisor or overseer,
to be paid out of this fund, who shall procure the services,
and make the purchases required, under such instructions as
may be issued by the proper department. And the services shall
be rendered, and the shop kept, at such place or places, as
may be most beneficial to the Indians. It shall be competent
for the Government, at the request of the Indians, seasonably
made, to furnish them agricultural products, or horses and
saddlery, in lieu of said services, whenever the fund will
justify it. Provided, That the whole annual expense, including
the pay of the supervisor, shall not exceed the sum of two
thousand dollars, fixed by the act herein above referred to.
Article 8th.
The United States, agree to pay to the said tribe, as one
of the parties to the treaty, concluded at Detroit, on the
17th of November 1807, the sum of one thousand dollars, to
quiet their claim, to two reservations of land, of two sections
each, lying in Oakland county, in the State of Michigan, which
were ceded to the Government by the Pottowatomies of St. Joseph's,
on the nineteenth of September 1827. This sum will be paid
to the chiefs, who are designated in the schedule referred
to, in the fourth article, at the same time and place, that
the annuities for the present year are paid to the tribe.
And the said tribe hereby relinquish, and acknowledge full
satisfaction, for any claim they now have, or have ever possessed,
to the reservations aforesaid.
Article 9th.
Nothing in this treaty shall be construed to affect the payment
of any annuity, due to the said tribe, by any prior treaty.
But the same shall be paid as heretofore.
Article 10th.
Should not the lands herein ceded, be sold, and the avails
thereof, vested for said tribe, as provided in the third article,
before the thirtieth day of September of the present year,
so that the annual interest of such investment may be relied
on, to constitute an annuity for said tribe in the year eighteen
hundred and thirty-eight, the United States will, during the
said year 1838, advance the same amount which is provided
for that object in the fourth article of this treaty, which
sum shall be refunded to the Treasury by said tribe with interest,
out of any fund standing to their credit, at the discretion
of the Secretary of the Treasury.
Article 11th.
The usual expenses, attending the formation of this treaty,
will be paid by the United States, provided, that the Government
may, in the discretion of the President, direct the one moiety
thereof to be charged to the Indian fund, created by the third
article of this treaty.
In testimony whereof, the said Henry R. Schoolcraft, commissioner
on the part of the United States, and the chiefs and delegates
of the said tribe, have hereunto set their hands, and affixed
their marks, at the city of Detroit in Michigan, the day and
year above written.
- Henry R. Schoolcraft, Commissioner.
- Ogima Keegido,
- Naum Gitchigomee,
- Osau Wauban,
- Penayseewubee,
- Washwa,
- Peenaysee Weegezhig,
- Mauk Esaut,
- Peetwayweetum,
- Tontagonee,
- Kaitchenoding,
- Maishkoodagwana,
- Naishkayshig,
- Wasso,
- Pabaumosh,
- Monetogaubwee,
- Aindunossega,
- Ugahbakwum,
- Shawun Epenaysee,
- Waubredoaince,
- Sheegunageezhig,
- Etowanaquot,
- Mukuday Ghenien,
- Mukuckoosh,
- Penayshee Weegezhig, the 2d,
- Mazinos,
- Pondiac,
- Nawa Geezhig.
- Francis Willett Shearman, secretary.
- Henry Whiting, major, U. S. Army.
- J. P. Simonton, captain, U. S. Army.
- Z. Pitcher, surgeon, U. S. Army.
- Henry Connor, subagent.
- Robert Stuart.
- Jno. Hulbert.
- Douglass Houghton.
- G. D. Williams.
- William Johnston.
- Joseph F. Menoy, interpreter.
- John A. Drew.
- Darius Lawson.
- Charles H. Rodd.
- (To the Indian names are subjoined marks.)
Schedule of the names of chiefs entitled to payments under
the fourth and eighth articles of the foregoing treaty:
The following chiefs, representing the several bands of the
tribe of the Saganaws, are entitled to receive the several
sums of five hundred and one hundred dollars each, to wit:
- 1. Ogima Kegido
- 2. Shawun, Epenaysse
- 3. Naum Gitchegomee
- 4. Mauk Esaub
- 5. Muckuk, Kosh
- 6. Peteway, Weetum
- 7. Paypah, Monshee
- 8. Tontagonee
- 9. Wasse
- 10. Wahputo-ains.
- HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT, Commissioner.
Schedule B.
To Wawasso $400
Ke-she-ah-be-no-qua, sister of Wawasso $400
Ke-wah-ne-quot $400
Peter Provencal $400
Leon, or Oge-ma-ge-ke-to $400
Moran, or Chemoquemont $200
Ke-she-go-qua $200
Wetonsaw, son of James Connor $400
Odis-pa-be-go-qua and children $800
Pen-a-see $400
Ozhe-me-ega $400
Bourissa's wife, at River au Sable $800
Nah-bwa-quo-una $400
Muttoway-bun-gee $400
Chonne $400
Mah-in-gun $800
Ma-conse $800
J. P. Simonton $800
Wabishkindib, or Henry Conner $3,243.75
Peepegauaince $200
- Ogima Keegido,
- Shawun Epenaysee,
- Naum Gitchegomee,
- Mauk Esaub,
- Muckuk, Kosh,
- Peteway, Weetum,
- Pabaumoshee,
- Tontagonee,
- Wasse,
- Waputo ains.
Signed in presence of -
- Henry Whiting, major, U. S. Army.
- E. Backus, U. S. Army.
- J. P. Simonton, captain, U. S. Army.
- Levi Cook, mayor of the city of Detroit.
- Jno. Hulbert.
- Francis Willett Shearman, Secretary.
- (To the Indian names are subjoined marks.)
*Abrogated by art 4 of treaty of Dec. 20, 1837.
*Abrogated by art 4 of treaty of Dec. 20 1837.
*See art. 2, treaty of Dec. 20, 1837.
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