Articles of a treaty made and concluded at Fort Laramie, in the
Indian Territory, between D. D. Mitchell, superintendent of Indian affairs, and Thomas
Fitzpatrick, Indian agent, commissioners specially appointed and authorized by the
President of the United States, of the first part, and the chiefs, headmen, and braves of
the following Indian nations, residing south of the Missouri River, east of the Rocky
Mountains, and north of the lines of Texas and New Mexico, viz, the Sioux or Dahcotahs,
Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, Crows, Assinaboines, Gros-Ventre Mandans, and Arrickaras, parties
of the second part, on the seventeenth day of September, A.D. one thousand eight hundred
and fifty-one. (a)
ARTICLE 1. The aforesaid nations, parties to this treaty, having
assembled for the purpose of establishing and confirming peaceful relations amongst
themselves, do hereby covenant and agree to abstain in future from all hostilities
whatever against each other, to maintain good faith and friendship in all their mutual
intercourse, and to make an effective and lasting peace.
ARTICLE 2. The aforesaid nations do hereby recognize the right
of the United States Government to establish roads, military and other posts, within their
respective territories.
ARTICLE 3. In consideration of the rights and privileges
acknowledged in the preceding article, the United States bind themselves to protect the
aforesaid Indian nations against the commission of all depredations by the people of the
said United States, after the ratification of this treaty.
ARTICLE 4. The aforesaid Indian nations do hereby agree and bind
themselves to make restitution or satisfaction for any wrongs committed, after the
ratification of this treaty, by any band or individual of their people, on the people of
the United States, whilst lawfully residing in or passing through their respective
territories.
ARTICLE 5. The aforesaid Indian nations do hereby recognize and
acknowledge the following tracts of country, included within the metes and boundaries
hereinafter designated, as their respective territories, viz;
The territory of the Sioux or Dahcotah Nation, commencing the
mouth of the White Earth River, on the Missouri River; thence in a southwesterly direction
to the forks of the Platte River; thence up the north fork of the Platte River to a point
known as the Red Buts, or where the road leaves the river; thence along the range of
mountains known as the Black Hills, to the head-waters of Heart River; thence down Heart
River to its mouth; and thence down the Missouri River to the place of beginning.
The territory of the Gros Ventre, Mandans, and Arrickaras
Nations, commencing at the month of Heart River; thence up the Missouri River to the mouth
of the Yellowstone River; thence up the Yellowstone River to the mouth of Powder River in
a southeasterly direction, to the head-waters of the Little Missouri River; thence along
the Black Hills to the head of Heart River, and thence down Heart River to the place of
beginning.
The territory of the Assinaboin Nation, commencing at the mouth
of Yellowstone River; thence up the Missouri River to the mouth of the Muscle-shell River;
thence from the mouth of the Muscle-shell River in a southeasterly direction until it
strikes the head-waters of Big Dry Creek; thence down that creek to where it empties into
the Yellowstone River, nearly opposite the mouth of Powder River, and thence down the
Yellowstone River to the place of beginning.
The territory of the Blackfoot Nation, commencing at the mouth
of Muscle-shell River; thence up the Missouri River to its source; thence along the main
range of the Rocky Mountains, in a southerly direction, to the head-waters of the northern
source of the Yellowstone River; thence down the Yellowstone River to the mouth of
Twenty-five Yard Creek; thence across to the head-waters of the Muscle-shell River, and
thence down the Muscle-shell River to the place of beginning.
The territory of the Crow Nation, commencing at the mouth of
Powder River on the Yellowstone; thence up Powder River to its source; thence along the
main range of the Black Hills and Wind River Mountains to the head-waters of the
Yellowstone River; thence down the Yellowstone River to the mouth of Twenty-five Yard
Creek; thence to the head waters of the Muscle-shell River; thence down the Muscle-shell
River to its mouth; thence to the head-waters of Big Dry Creek, and thence to its mouth.
The territory of the Cheyennes and Arrapahoes, commencing at the
Red Bute, or the place where the road leaves the north fork of the Platte River; thence up
the north fork of the Platte River to its source; thence along the main range of the Rocky
Mountains to the head-waters of the Arkansas River; thence down the Arkansas River to the
crossing of the Santa Fe' road; thence in a northwesterly direction to the forks of the
Platte River, and thence up the Platte River to the place of beginning.
It is, however, understood that, in making this recognition and
acknowledgement, the aforesaid Indian nations do not hereby abandon or prejudice any
rights or claims they may have to other lands; and further, that they do not surrender the
privilege of hunting, fishing, or passing over any of the tracts of country heretofore
described.
ARTICLE 6. The parties to the second part of this treaty having
selected principals or head-chiefs for their respective nations, through whom all national
business will hereafter be conducted, do hereby bind themselves to sustain said chiefs and
their successors during good behavior.
ARTICLE 7. In consideration of the treaty stipulations, and for
the damages which have or may occur by reason thereof to the Indian nations, parties
hereto, and for their maintenance and the improvement of their moral and social customs,
the United States bind themselves to deliver to the said Indian nations the sum of fifty
thousand dollars per annum for the term of ten years, with the right to continue the same
at the discretion of the President of the United States for a period not exceeding five
years thereafter, in provisions merchandise, domestic animals, and agricultural
implements, in such proportions as may be deemed best adapted to their condition by the
President of the United States, to be distributed in proportion to the population of the
aforesaid Indian nations.
ARTICLE 8. It is understood and agreed that should any of the
Indian nations, parties to this treaty, violate any of the provisions thereof, the United
States may withhold the whole or a portion of the annuities mentioned in the preceding
article from the nation so offending, until, in the opinion of the President of the United
States, proper satisfaction shall have been made.
In testimony whereof the said D. D. Mitchell and Thomas
Fitzpatrick commissioners as aforesaid, and the chiefs, headmen, and braves, parties
hereto, have set their hands and affixed their marks, on the day and at the place first
above written.
D. D. Mitchell
Thomas Fitzpatrick
Commissioners.
Sioux:
Mah-toe-wha-you-whey, his x mark,
Mah-kah-toe-zah-zah, his x mark,
Bel-o-ton-kah-tan-ga, his x mark,
Nah-ka-pah-gi-gi, his x mark,
Mak-toe-sah-bi-chis, his x mark,
Meh-wha-tah-ni-hans-kah, his x mark,
Cheyennes:
Wah-ha-nis-satta, his x mark,
Voist-ti-toe-vetz, his x mark,
Nahk-ko-me-ien, his x mark,
Koh-kah-y-wh-cum-est, his x mark,
Arrapahoes:
Be-ah-te‚-a-qui-sah, his x mark,
Neb-ni-bah-seh-it, his x mark,
Beh-kah-jay-beth-sah-es, his x mark,
Crows:
Arra-tu-ri-sash, his x mark,
Doh-chepit-seh-chi-es, his x mark,
Assinaboines:
Mah-toe-wit-ko, his x mark,
Toe-tah-ki-eh-nan, his x mark,
Mandans and Gros Ventres:
Nochk-pit-shi-toe-pish, his x mark,
She-oh-mant-ho, his x mark,
Arickarees:
Koun-hei-ti-shan, his x mark,
Bi-atch-tah-wetch, his x mark,
In the presence of---
A. B. Chambers, secretary.
S. Cooper, colonel, U. S. Army.
R. H. Chilton, captain, First Drags.
Thomas Duncan, captain, Mounted Rifiemen.
Thos. G. Rhett, brevet captain R. M. R.
W. L. Elliott, first lieutenant R. M. R.
C. Campbell, interpreter for Sioux.
John S. Smith, interpreter for Cheyennes.
Robert Meldrum, interpreter for the Crows.
H. Culbertson, interpreter for Assiniboines and Gros Ventres.
Francois L'Etalie, interpreter for Arickarees.
John Pizelle, interpreter for the Arrapahoes.
B. Gratz Brown.
Robert Campbell.
Edmond F. Chouteau.
(a) This treaty as signed was ratified by the Senate with an
amendment changing the annuity in Article 7 from fifty to ten years, subject to acceptance
by the tribes. Assent of all tribes except the Crows was procured (see Upper Platte C.,
570, 1853, Indian Office) and in subsequent agreements this treaty has been recognized as
in force.
