A large family of North American Indians, embracing the a.s.sinaboins or Stone Sioux, the Dakotas proper, or, as they are called by the Algonkins, Nadowesioux, from which is derived the word Sioux; Omahas, Otoes, Osages, Poncas, Iowas, Kansas, Missourias, Minatarees, and Crows.
Until quite recently they occupied the larger portion of the country bounded on the east by the great lakes, on the north by the British Possessions, on the west by the Rocky Mountains, and on the south by the Platte River. According to their traditions they came eastward from the Pacific, and encountered the Algonkins about the headwaters of the Mississippi, where the ma.s.s of them were held in check. One of the tribes of this great family, called by the Chippewas Winnebagook (men from the fetid or salt water), pushed through their enemies and secured a foothold on the sh.o.r.es of Lake Michigan. The Quapaws, called by their Algonkin foes the Alkansas or Arkansas, settled on the Ohio, but were ultimately driven down the river by the Illinois to the region now bearing their name. A few of the tribes retain very nearly their original hunting-grounds; the princ.i.p.al migrations of those who have moved having been southwestwardly, from the headwaters of the Mississippi to the Missouri.
In 1875 the Indians of this family residing within the limits of the United States numbered nearly 68,000, with about 1,000 more within the British Possessions. If the estimates of early explorers are to be relied upon, they must have lost heavily in population within the last one hundred years--intestine wars, the aggressions of the whites, and the vices of civilization reducing many once powerful tribes to demoralized remnants that are fast fading out of our knowledge by absorption into the ranks of more powerful neighbors. The majority of the tribes of this family are settled on reservations under the direct care and support of the Government, and are fairly on the road to a civilized future. The exceptions are some of the wild bands of the Sioux, the Minatarees or Gros Ventres, and the Crows. At the present writing most of the first-named are at war with the United States forces, while the two latter are friendly.
1. CROWS.
The Crows, or, as they call themselves, _Absaroka_, meaning something or anything that flies, when first known occupied the Lower Yellowstone and the valleys of the Big Horn and Tongue Rivers, but roamed over much of the surrounding country, carrying their incursions even to the plains of Snake River and to the valley of the Green. Were originally one with the Minatarees or Gros Ventres, but separated from them, and were afterward driven from their territory by the Ogalallas and Cheyennes, settling finally about the head of the Yellowstone, dispossessing in their turn the Blackfeet and Flatheads. Are divided into three bands, with a dialect peculiar to each, viz: the Kikatsa or Crows proper, the Ahnahaways, and the Allakaweah, numbering in all, as estimated in 1820, 3,250 souls. Obtaining horses at an early day, they became great marauders. Irving writes of them in "Astoria:" "They are in fact notorious marauders and horse-stealers, crossing and recrossing the mountains (the Big Horn), robbing on one side and conveying their spoils to the other." Hence, we are told, is derived their name, given them on account of their unsettled and predatory habits, winging their flight, like the crows, from one side of the mountains to the other, and making free booty of everything that lies in their way. In 1851, joined in a treaty with the United States giving a right of way for roads to be built through their country. In 1868 a treaty was made, and an attempt made to place all the Crows on one reservation, but without success until 1875. They have been much exposed to incursions from some parties of Sioux at their new agency on the Rosebud as well as at their former one on the Yellowstone. "The Indians, full of war and revenge, have no thought to bestow upon farming or other peaceful employment, especially as the best farming lands of the reservation are most exposed to these hostile incursions. Six families, however, have been induced to tend small farms, and have succeeded well. A mile and a half of ditch, sufficient to irrigate several hundred acres, has been dug, and it is hoped that another season will see at least a beginning made toward the civilization of these 4,000 wild but always loyal Crows."
_List of ill.u.s.trations._
940. KAM-NE-BUT-SE. _Blackfoot and squaw._
946. KAM-NE-BUT-SE. _Blackfoot._
The princ.i.p.al chief of the Mountain Crows; a splendid specimen of manhood, standing 6 feet 2 inches in height and of very heavy frame; owes his position to his bravery and success in fighting the Sioux, their inveterate enemies. He also ranks high as an orator and councillor in the nation. The first picture, in which he is represented in an elaborate dress of buckskin, was made while on a visit, with a delegation of his tribe, to Washington, in 1873; the other represents him as he appears at his home on the Yellowstone, or in his natural every-day garb.
941. CHE-VE-TE-PU-MA-TA. _Iron Bull and squaw._
One of the princ.i.p.al chiefs of the Mountain Crows.
942. SE-TA-PIT-SE. _Bear Wolf and squaw._
943. PERITS-HAR-STS. _Old Crow and squaw._
{ KAM-NE-BUT-SE. _Blackfoot._ 944. { ECHE-HAS-KA. _Long Horse._ { TE-SHU-NZT. _White Calf._
{ MO-MUKH-PI-TCHE.
945. { ELLA-CAUSS-SE. _Thin Belly._ { PISH-KI-HA-DI-RI-KY-ISH. _The One that Leads the Old Dog._
859. GROUP OF CROW DELEGATION to Washington in 1872, including Agent Pease and the interpreters.
947. IN-TEE-US. _He Shows His Face._
948. MIT-CHOO-ASH. _Old Onion._
949. GROUP OF CHIEFS and headmen.
950. GROUP OF SQUAWS.
The last four pictures were made at the old agency of the Crows, on the Yellowstone, near Shields River, in 1871. The following were also made at the same place and time, and represent the old mission buildings (lately destroyed by fire), in which the agent had his headquarters; their tents and manner of living, and their mode of burial.
953. THE MISSION, or agency buildings.
952. VILLAGE SCENE, showing new adobe houses built for the Indians.
951. INSIDE VIEW OF A SKIN LODGE.
954. MODE OF BURIAL.
2. DAKOTAS, OR SIOUX.
The word Dakota means united, confederated, or many in one, and designates the tribe from which the family takes its name. They seldom or never willingly acknowledge the t.i.tle _Sioux_, first given them by the French, and now by all whites. There are many theories as to the origin of this latter name, the most acceptable of which is that it is a corruption of the word _Nadouessioux_--a general Chippewa designation for enemies--which was gradually applied by missionaries and traders, through an imperfect understanding of the language, to the tribes thus designated. Governor Ramsey, of Minnesota, thought that the word "originated upon the Upper Missouri, among the early French traders, hunters, and trappers, they deriving it, in all probability, from the name of a sub-band of the Ti-t"-wan (Teton), Dakotas, called _Sioune_, who hunted over the plains of that river, and with whom, consequently, they came most frequently in contact.
"In Lewis and Clark"s travels in 1803, they are called the _Teton Saone_, and their villages are located on the Missouri, near Cannonball River.
"At least we find the term _Sioux_ first used in the early maps to designate a large tribe, with various subdivisions, upon the Upper Missouri only."
Dakota traditions go back but a comparatively short time, and are vague and obscure in regard to their origin and early residence, which place it, however, in the Northwest, above the great lakes. In their progress eastward they early possessed themselves of the country about the headwaters of the Mississippi and the Red River of the North, where they remained as late as 1868, when they were in part dispossessed by the Chippewas, who were eventually the cause of their removal to the Missouri.
Up to 1860, the Dakotas were divided into two princ.i.p.al divisions, those east of the Missouri, who were known as the Minnesota or Mississippi Dakotas, composed of four bands, viz: The M"dewakantons, or those of the Village of the Spirit Lake; the Wa-pe-kutes, or Leaf-Shooters; the Wahpetons, or Village in the Leaves; and the Sissetons, or those of the Village of the Marsh. Most of these have been long in contact with the whites, and, having disposed of the greater portion of their lands to the Government, have abandoned most of their old habits, and devote themselves to farming. Others of them, however, are restless and devoted to old prejudices, and cause much trouble to the settlers. The ma.s.sacre of the whites in 1862 was inaugurated by the M"dewakantons, the Wahpetons and Sissetons afterwards joining them.
Along the Missouri, but living mostly on its eastern side, were the Shauktonwans (Yanktons), or the People of Village at the End, inhabiting originally the Sioux, Desmoines, and Jacques Rivers, and living now princ.i.p.ally about the mouth of the Vermillion.
The Yanktonais, a diminutive of the preceding name, and meaning the lesser or the little people of the End Village. Lewis and Clark described them as the Yanktons of the Plains, or Big Devils, who were on the heads of the Sioux, Jacques, and Red Rivers. Their present range is on the Missouri, above the Yanktons. From one branch of this band the a.s.siniboines are said to have sprung.
Paboksa, or Cutheads, a branch of the Yanktons, and ranging above them.
The I-san-teis, or Santees, another sub-band of the Yanktons, living originally in Minnesota and Iowa, but since lately on the Missouri, near the Yanktons.
West of the Missouri, occupying the greater portion of Dakota, Wyoming, and portions of Montana and Nebraska, the general name of Tetons, or Tetonwans ("Village of the Prairie") has been given to the seven princ.i.p.al bands of the Dakotas inhabiting that region. Lewis and Clark placed them on their map in only two princ.i.p.al divisions, viz: as the "Tetans of the Burnt Woods" (Brules), and the "Tetans Saone," from which some suppose the word Sioux has been derived for the whole Dakota nation. The seven subdivisions as now recognized are the--
1. _Siha-sa-pas_ or _Blackfeet_, on the Missouri in the neighborhood of the Cannonball River.
2. The _Si-chan-koo_ or _Burnt Thighs_, (Brules,) ranging on the Niobrara and White Rivers, from the Platte to the Cheyenne.
3. _Oncpapas_, or "those who camp by themselves," who roam over the country between the Cheyenne and Yellowstone Rivers.
4. _Minnekonjous_, "those who plant by the water," south of the Black Hills.
5. _Ita-zip-cho_, or _Sans Arcs_, "without bows," affiliating with the Oncpapas and Blackfeet, and ranging over much the same country.
6. _Ogalallas_, occupy the country between Fort Laramie and the Platte, although they are now confined to a reservation in the northwestern corner of Nebraska. Have the reputation of being the most friendly disposed toward the whites of all the t.i.tonwans. Red Cloud, so well known as an Indian diplomat, is chief of this band.
7. _O-he-nom-pas_, or _Two Kettles_. Live princ.i.p.ally about Fort Pierre; against whom it is said very few complaints have ever been made, they having always observed faithfully the stipulations of their treaties with the United States.
In the Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for 1875, there are twenty-one sub-bands of Dakotas enumerated, numbering, in the aggregate, 53,044. Of these, there are fourteen represented by portraits of their leading men, viz:
Blackfeet, numbering at the present time about 1,750 Brules, numbering at the present time about 8,420 Cut Heads, numbering at the present time about 200 Mdewakanton, numbering at the present time about ----- Ogalallas, numbering at the present time about 9,136 Oncpapas 2,100 Sans Arc 1,778 Santee 800 Sisseton 903 Santee and Sisseton at Fort Peck 1,000 Two Kettles 2,261 Wahpeton 1,300 Yanktons 2,500 Yanktonais, Upper and Lower 8,129
"The Sioux are included under twelve agencies, nine in Dakota, two in Montana, and one in Nebraska, at all of which, except at Fort Belknap, a beginning in Indian farming has been made in spite of all discouragements by reason of unsuitable location and the demoralizing influence of "the hostiles.""
The Ogalallas at Red Cloud agency, who have almost entirely abandoned the chase on account of scarcity of game, depend almost entirely upon the Government for their support. Their small beginnings in cultivating the soil came to naught through the gra.s.shoppers. The Brules at Spotted Tail agency have a thriving school with 75 pupils, and cultivated some lands. At the Upper Missouri agencies but little has been done beyond feeding the Indians who report to them for that purpose, their attempts at farming resulting in failures on account of the gra.s.shopper pest. The Yanktons, Santees, Sissetons, Wahpetons, and other Sioux on the Lower Missouri and in Eastern Dakota have made more substantial progress in civilization, many of them having permanently discarded their Indian habits and dress, and live in houses, and are nearly self-supporting.
The Santees in Nebraska especially have entirely renounced their old form of life; have churches and sabbath-schools, which are regularly attended. They have a monthly paper, printed in their native language, with an edition of 1,200 copies.
_List of ill.u.s.trations._
252. PE-JI". _Gra.s.s._ (Front.) BLACKFEET.