Indian Heroes and Great ChieftainsEastman, Charles A.
History
Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains
Eastman, Charles A.
Dakota Indians -- Biography; Heroes; Indians of North America -- Biography
Through the treaties of 1864, 1867, and 1868 was accomplished the final
destiny of the Mississippi River Ojibways. Hole-in-the-Day was against
their removal to what is now White Earth reservation, but he was
defeated in this and realized that the new turn of events meant the
downfall of his race. He declared that he would never go on the new
reservation, and he kept his word. He remained on one of his land grants
near Crow Wing. As the other chiefs assumed more power, the old feeling
of suspicion and hatred became stronger, especially among the Pillager
and Red Lake bands. One day he was waylaid and shot by a party of these
disaffected Indians. He uttered a whoop and fell dead from his buggy.
Thus died one of the most brilliant chiefs of the Northwest, who never
defended his birthright by force of arms, although almost compelled to
do so. He succeeded in diplomacy so long as he was the recognized head
of his people. Since we have not passed over his weaknesses, he should
be given credit for much insight in causing the article prohibiting the
introduction of liquor into the Indian country to be inserted into the
treaty of 1858. I think it was in 1910 that this forgotten provision was
discovered and again enforced over a large expanse of territory occupied
by whites, it being found that the provision had never been repealed.
Although he left many children, none seem to have made their mark, yet
it may be that in one of his descendants that undaunted spirit will rise
again.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains, by
[AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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