INDIAN TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI 



By Edwin T. Denig 



THE ASSINIBOIN 1 



History 



Origin. — But little traditionary can be stated by these Indians as 

 authentic of their origin which would be entitled to record in history, 

 though many singular and fabulous tales are told concerning it. As 

 a portion of people, however, once inhabiting another district and 

 being incorporated with another nation, their history presents a con- 

 nected and credible chain of circumstances. The Assiniboin were 

 once a part of the great Sioux or Dacotah Nation, residing on the 

 tributary streams of the Mississippi ; say, the head of the Des Moines, 

 St. Peters, and other rivers. This is evident, as their language with 

 but little variation is the same, and also but a few years back there 

 lived a very old chief, known to all of us as Le Gros Francois, though 

 his Indian name was YVah-he' Muzza or the " Iron Arrow-point. 7 ' 

 who recollected perfectly the time of their separation from the Sioux, 

 which, according to his data, must have been about the year 1T«'.< >.- 

 He stated that when Lewis and Clark came up the Missouri in 1805 

 his band of about 60 lodges (called Les Gens des Roches) had after a 

 severe war made peace with the Sioux, who at that time resided on 

 the Missouri, and that he saw the expedition referred to near White 

 Earth River, these being the first body of whites ever seen by them, 

 although they were accustomed to be dealt with by the fur traders 

 of the Mississippi. After their first separation from the Sioux they 

 moved northward, making a peace with the Cree and Chippewa, 

 took possession of an uninhabited country on or near the Saskatche- 

 wan and Assiniboin Rivers, in which district some 250 or 300 lodges 

 still reside. Some time after the expedition of Lewis and Clark, or 

 at least after the year 1777. the rest of the Assiniboin, at that time 

 about 1,200 lodges, migrated toward the Missouri, and as soon as 

 they found superior advantages regarding game and trade, made 



1 Consult r-reface for etymologic analysis of this word and for its objective meaning. 

 -This traditional date given hy Denlg i- evidently tnucb "«> late, tor as early as tin- 

 middle of the seventeenth century they were known to the Jesuit missionaries of Canada. 



395 



