866 



THE GEOE&E CATLIN INDIAJT GALLERY. 



five civilized tribes iu the Indian Territory, and the amount to which each individual 

 would be entitled were the lands of his tribe equally divided and allotted iu sev- 

 eralty : 



Tribe. 



Acres. 



Population, 



Acres to 

 each indi- 

 vidual. 



Cherotees* . 



Creeks 



CMckasaws 

 Choctaws .. 

 Seminoles . . 



5, 031, 351 



3, 040, 495 



4, 650, 935 



6, 688, 000 

 375, 000 



22, 000 

 14, 000 



6,000 

 16, 000 



3,000 



228- 

 217- 

 775- 

 417- 

 125 



* Exclusive of lands west of the Arkansas Eiver. 



The foregoing table demonstrates the fact that if in each of the five nations each 

 head of a family and each adult person should be allowed 160 acres, and each niinor 

 child 80 acres, there would still remain a large surplus of unallotted land. The prac- 

 tical proiiosition which it seems to me would be best for these Indians would be to 

 divide their lands in severalty upon the basis I have suggested, or upon some other 

 reasonable basis, and to sell the remainder to actual settlers at a fair and just price. 

 The proceeds of the sales of these surplus lands would enable the very poor of whom 

 I have spoken and for whom I plead — the laborers at $16 per month — to fence and im- 

 prove their allotments, erect buildings and barns, set out orchards, and prepare them- 

 selves to live as they are entitled to live, owning as they do lands sufficient for home- 

 steads for every one. There would also be sufficient funds to put up suitable school 

 buildings and establish good permanent schools in every settlement or district. If 

 this course is pursued it will secure to every Indian a homestead, which he can define 

 and claim absolutely as his own. One which he can improve and adorn; where he 

 can build his house and plant his vines ; where his children can be born and reared, 

 and where they may be buried ; a homestead which by reasonable labor will secure 

 an ample support for each Indian who now wanders around as a day laborer, with 

 no definite knowledge of where his home is located, and who, although entitled to a 

 home by reason of a common ownership in the lands, is now too poor and weak and 

 ignorant to demand and secure his rights. This class of poor Indians needs to be raised 

 up by the adoption of the policy here foreshadowed. 



cattle and other stock accordingly that we would bee the Happiest people in god's Kingdom and that 

 he wanted the answer of this from my people. I answered him By first Saing to his Honer The lands we 

 the Osage people now Posess We bought with the cash under a pattent from the Cherokee people and 

 that pattant covered the same lands by the same power to this day and that we had the promised of 

 Protection as long as water flowed and grass growed and that we carried the big gold Chain to Stand 

 and unbroken as long as time Should be. That we had the Big Silver Meddle the pipe of peace and ax 

 crossed on one side and the Two hands locked with the wonderfuU word Peace Friendship Liberty I 

 simpoly asked the Honor Commissioner did he respect the above or in other words did he have any re- 

 spect at all and as to the enlotment of our lands I could not say any thing I would have to get a ma- 

 jority of my people and then the 'council and the five Chiefs And "We "Was in comection five other civ- 

 ilized tribes by our old treaties "We had to help each other and in consideration I had to first See there 

 motion and as to letting White Settlement with our people "Would Soon Disfranchise the poore Indiana 

 and aa to the Stock We only look out at the State of Kansas "We See the "Whites "Who live on alotments 

 they have two ropes one to lead there cow and one to Stake out the calve "We dont see there 700 head 

 of cattle he did not come out on his thoughts he neglected to Say the very day you take the alotment 

 that "We Would then be citizens of the united" States all Nationality is lost all Moneys coming to in- 

 dians Would cease Millions of Dollars the poore fool Indian loose by selling ficeedom the name of His 

 Native blood to be called A White Man under all thes consideration We all Must Meet and have a good 

 understanding with each other and to read our old treeties to Each other and pas our old anciant Pipe 

 renew our national love and respects to Each other 



I hope you will take it in hand and See the other five civilize tribes and Pick the ground and time 

 and-NotafieaU 



We Must do some thing 



I hope to hear from you in reply to this letter. ^ 



ITE-KA-KE-PA-NAH, Principal Chief. 



