Expansion Era · 1815

Treaty with the Sioux of St. Peter's, 1815

ID T-0057

Date 1815-07-19

Articles 1

Instrument Note

Parties

United States and the Sioux of St. Peter's River

Context

Executed July 19, 1815 at Portage des Sioux. Third simultaneous Sioux instrument of the day. The Sioux of St. Peter's River refers to Dakota bands along the upper Mississippi.

Significance

Identical structure to T-0055 and T-0056 — one article, peace, and protection formula. The commissioners executing these instruments were working from a standard form. The distinctive feature is the named nations: three separate instruments with three distinct Dakota political communities, each signing independently rather than as a collective.

Legal Observation

Three separate Sioux instruments on the same day, with separate named political communities, reflects U.S. awareness that 'the Sioux' were not a single political entity. Each band or nation had its own leadership and its own sovereign standing. The treaty structure respected that — and in so doing, created a legal record in which each community individually accepted U.S. exclusive jurisdiction.

In TESTIMONY WHEREOF

, the said William Henry Harrison, and the Sachems and War Chiefs of the before-mentioned tribes, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals, at Fort Wayne, this thirtieth of September, eighteen hundred and nine. WILLIAM H. HARRISON. Delawares. Chequinimo, Anderson, for Hockingpomskon, who is Sackanackshut, absent, Conengee. Anderson, Miamies. Petchekekapon, Pucan, The Beaver, The Owl, Captain Killbuck. Meshekenoghqua, or the Little Turtle, Putawatimies. Wapemangua, or the Loon, Winemac Silver Heels, Five Meddals, by his son, ipai riori . Mogawgo, Eel Rivers. Shissahecon, for himself and his brother Charley, Tuthinipee, Sheshangomequah, or Swallow, Ossmeet, brother to Five Meddals, The young Wyandott, a Miamíe of Nanousekah, Penamo's son, Elk Hart. -Mosser, In presence of Peter Jones, Secretary to the Commissioner. Jno. Johnston, Indian agent. A. Heald, Capt. the United States army. A. Edwards, Surgeon's mate. Ph. Ostrander, Lieut. United States army. Jno. Shaw. Stephen Johnston. J. Hamelton, Sheriff of Dearborn County. Hendrick Aupaumut. William Wells, John Conner, Joseph Barron, Abraham Ash, Sworn Interpreters. To the Indian names are subjoined a mark and seal. Entered into at fort Wayne, on the thirtieth day of September, an the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine, between William Henry Harrison, commissioner plenipoten- tiary of the United States for treating with the Indian tribes, and the Sachems and chief warriors of the Miami and Eel river tribes of Indians, which is to be considered as forming part of the treaty this day concluded between the United States and the said tribes, and their allies the Delawares and Putawatimies. As the greater part of the lands ceded to the United States, by the treaty this day concluded, was the exclusive property of the Miami na- tion and guaranteed to them by the treaty of Grouseland, it is considered by the said commissioner just and reasonable that their request to be allowed some further and additional compensation should be complied Kickapoos. Sept. 30, 1809. Proclamation, Jan. 16, 1810. Additional compensation to the Miamis. Further allow- ance to the Mi- amis, Weas and Eel Rivers. Oct. 26, 1809. Ratified, Jan. 2, 1810. Proclamation, Jan. 25, 1810. to the treaty of Sept. 30, 1809. CONVENTION WITH THE WEAS. 1809. with. It is therefore agreed that the United States shall deliver for their use, in the course of the next spring at fort Wayne, domestic animals to the amount of five hundred dollars, and the like number for the two following years, and that an armoree shall be also maintained at fort Wayne for the use of the Indians as heretofore. It is also agreed that if the Kickapoos confirm the ninth article of the treaty to which this is a supplement, the United States will allow to the Meamies a further permanent annuity of two hundred dollars, and to the Wea and Fel river tribes a further annuity of one hundred dollars each,

In TESTIMONY WHEREOF

, The said William Henry Harrison, and the Sachems and War Chiefs of the said tribes, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals, the day and place above mentioned, WILLIAM H. HARRISON, Charley, an Eel river, Shywahbeanomo. Pacan, Miamies. Sheshauqouoquah, or Swallow, an Eel The Oul, river, Wafremanqua, or the Loon, The young Wyandott, a Miami or Mushekeuoghqua, or the Little Turtle, Elk Hart, Silver Heels. In presence of Peter Jones, Secretary to the Commissioner. Joseph Barron. A. Edwards, William Wells. Jno. Shaw. To the Indian names are subjoined a mark and seal.

Source: U.S. Statutes at Large, Vol. VII. Edited by Richard Peters, Esq. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1846. Reprinted by Dennis & Co., Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., 1962. Source lines 11601–11750.