124 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



Mr. Catliu painted them during this visit. The text accompanying 

 them is full and interesting. 



ALGONKIN-CHIPPEWAS. 



Migrating from the East late in the sixteenth or early in the seventeenth century, 

 the Chippewas, or Ojibwas, settled first about the Falls of Saint Mary, from which 

 point they pushed still farther westward, and eventually compelled the Dakotas to 

 relinquish their ancieut hunting grounds about the headwaters of the Mississippi and of 

 the Red River of the North. Were first known to the French about 1G40, who called 

 them Sauteur, from the place of their residence about Sault Sainte Marie, a name still 

 applied to them by the Canadian French. They were then living in scattered bands 

 on the banks of Lake Superior and Lake Huron, and at war with the Foxes, Iroquois, 

 and Dakotas, becoming thereby much reduced in numbers. Were firm allies of the 

 French in all of their operations against the English, and took a prominent part in 

 Pontiac's uprising. During the revolutionary war they were hostile to the colonists, 

 but made a treaty of peace with them at its close. They again sided with the English 

 in the war of 1812, but joined in a general pacification with a number of other tribes 

 in 181G. Like other tribes, they gradually ceded their lands to the Government, re- 

 ceiving in return annuities and goods, until in 1851 all but a few bands, retaining but 

 moderate reservations, had removed west of the Mississippi. 



The Chippewas, now numbering 19,600 (1877), formerly ranged over Michigan, Wis- 

 consin, and Minnesota, and with common interests, and acknowledging more or less 

 the leadership of one controlling mind, formed a homogeneous and powerful nation; 

 a formidable foe to the Sioux, with whom they waged incessant warfare, which was 

 checked only by the removal of the Minnesota Sioux to Dakota after the outbreak 

 of 1863. 



The collecting of the Chippewas upon thirteen reservations, scattered over the 

 above-named States, under five different agencies, has so modified the esprit du corpi 

 of the tribe that, though speaking the same language and holding the same tradition* 

 and customs, the bands located in different sections of the country have few interest? 

 and no property in common, and little influence or intercourse w T ith each other. The 

 agency has taken the place of the nation, and is in 'turn developing the individual 

 mau, who, owning house, stock, and farm, has learned to look solely to his own exer- 

 tions for support. No tribe by unswerving loyalty deserves more of the Government, 

 or is making, under favorable conditions, more gratifying progress; 9,850 of the trib< 

 live in houses, 9,345 are engaged in agriculture and other civilized occupations, anu 

 13,202 wear citizen's dress. Fifty-seven per cent, of their subsistence is obtained by 

 their own labor, mainly in farming; for the rest, they depend on game and fish, 

 especially the latter, of which they readily obtain large quantities. 



The Chippewas are extensively intermarried with the Ottawas, and are thrifty and 

 worthy citizens of the United States, as are also those of Saginaw and of Keewenaw 

 Bay in Michigan. The Bad River, Red Cliff, Red Lake, and Mississippi bands are 

 likewise making rapid progress in civilization. Of those which have made but little 

 or no progress are the Leech Lake, White Earth, Mille Lac, and other scattered bands 

 in remote and inaccessible regions of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the older chiefs reso- 

 lutely opposing any attempt on the part of the younger men to begin a civilized life. — 

 W. H. Jackson, 1877. 



For statistics and details as to the progress and civilization of the 

 Chippewas see Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs 

 for the years since and including 1877 and to 1885. 



The reports of the Indian Commission and of the several Indian 

 agents in charge of the Chippewas can also be found in the same re- 

 ports. 



