THE INDIANS WHAT AN INDIAN THINKS OF IT. The writer of this letter is Loafer Redhorse, a son-in-law
of the Titon Chief, Swift Bear, whose band have colonized
as homesteaders along the Niobrara River near the mouth of
Keya Paha River.
Their colony is one hundred and thirty miles from
Rosebud Agency, to which they belong.Their settlement
we call Burrell Station in honor of Dea. Burrell, of Oberlin,
who gave the money to build the school-house and home
for the teacher. Mr. Francis Frazier, son of Pastor
of Santee, has now been their teacher two years.
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Loafer Redhorse
Loafer Redhorse is anything but a loafer. He is one of the most
industrious men. He is one who would naturally be first in war, as he
says, and now also is first in following the plow, and learning the ways
of the white man. Among other things it is interesting to know what he
thinks of prohibiting the use of the Dakota language.
MY FRIENDS: Let me speak now. I am sad because of one thing which I will
now speak of. Since our school-house (the Burrell station school) was
built, I, with my children, have attended with a glad heart just as if
it were my own. And now I hear that it is likely to be closed, and I
will speak about that. And this is why I have something to say. The
scholars who go out from the Brules to go to school, come back without
knowing anything, for the reason that they don't teach them anything
except to work. That is the reason they don't know anything, I think.
And I will tell how it was with us under Indian customs since the time I
had understanding. Then the Indian tribes were happy. Into whatever
country was good they roamed just as they pleased. At that time,
although there were many Indians on all sides, there was a great country
in between full of buffalo. It seemed to be the buffalo's country. And
the Indian people were made happy because of the buffalo. The people
would move their camps and pitch their tents again and the buffalo would
come right in among their tents with a great noise. Then it was that the
people had great joy.
And there was another thing that the people rejoiced in greatly. I will
speak of that also. That was in war. When they went to war and came near
the enemies' dwellings and saw the enemy there they would choose out
about ten of the bravest young men and dispatch them to kill some of the
enemy. Then they would draw near to the houses, and soon though there
might be five whose hearts were not able for it, the others would go on
and kill a man at his house. And the great joy that I spoke of was thus:
of the five who had killed an enemy but only four of them could take the
glory, but their names would be praised throughout the whole Indian
nation; they would be glorified and considered as chiefs. But most of
all, he who first killed the enemy he would be the chief. And then when
they had returned home even the women would rejoice greatly. They would
dance night and day, all of them. And as I, myself, was chief, I
considered this the very greatest joy. Such were our customs.
But now from the place I now occupy, I look back and remember these
things. And though the Indian people had all of these customs, I know
not one of them that made the people prosper or brought life to them. I
have not seen that brought life to the people. And thus from where I am
now, I am always looking to the future. On this account I am looking
forward. The Indians have been told the words of the Grandfather, (the
President). And they tell us that by these words the people will
prosper.
"Plant; by that you shall live," the Grandfather told them. And now I
know a little that the Grandfather spoke the truth. The Grandfather
gives me food for six days, but even though I eat a very little each
day, in three days I have eaten it all up. But now I have raised corn
and though I abide here eating nothing else, by it I live. And also to
go from my place to where the Grandfather gives me rations takes one
week to go and the same to come back and I stay over a few days to rest
when there, and so it altogether covers over three weeks or more.
Therefore, though I have settled here and desire to busy myself in all
the white man's ways that I am able, I have not yet become independent.
And therefore, I earnestly wish, if it were possible, that the
Grandfather would enable us to receive a year's rations at a time, and
then we would make speedy progress in the white man's way.
And because of this also, the children do not advance much in their
learning. For when we go after the food they also go along. If they
should stay behind, food is scarce, therefore they go along.
And now I hear it said that schooling in the Dakota language is to be
altogether stopped, and on this account I am sad. For in the
school-house here they learn well and also they pray. It is because they
do these things in the Dakota language that we have been brought to
understand them and to love them, and gladly live in accordance with
them. Then also if it was all done (the teaching and praying) by a white
man we would understand nothing about it, and so I do not think it would
be well.
And now this is the last thing I want to say. The Grandfather has for
his own the Indians all over the land, and he always helps them
according to what may be for their welfare. Now he is measuring off the
land for them, but I hear it said that he measures it very, very small,
and I am sad about that. If only he would have mercy and measure it off
for them largely, that is what I think. A good while ago the Grandfather
made a treaty with the Indians and promised to give them three hundred
and twenty acres, and according to that I have chosen my homestead and
that suits me. Therefore I prize the Grandfather's word and measure
myself by it. And thus I possess myself and my children.
Although we are not many people here, yet I always command them to give
heed to the words of the Grandfather. And I bear witness to their
constant attendance at the house (the school and church) that stands
here. Although I am wholly an Indian, yet these are my judgments and so
I tell them. And I write them in order that some may think about the
Indians. My friends, I wish you to hear these words and so I write them.
I shake hands with a good heart.
LOAFER REDHORSE, Burrell Station, Rosebud Agency, D.T.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sioux County, ND - 1900 Census (Partial)Surnames Index
NTHIUS ? Parry 13 260a-02a
PATERSON Anton A. 19 260a-02b
PFEIFFER Louis M. H. 81 260a-02b
REED Daniel W. 82 260a-02b
RHOADES Elmer F. 83 260a-02b
ROGERS
REE ? Nettie 36 260-53b
George W. 40 260-01a
Y Thomas 6 260-22a
RENOWN ? W. Mrs. 24 260-43b
RIVERS Anthony 11 260-26a
W-DE-KA-TOW wife 21 260-38a
MAZA Suite 5 260-40a
McALLISTER Geo. W. 44 260-01a
Son 24 260-28b
SHOOT PLENTY none 12 260-49a
SHOOT THE BEAR Martie & Ottilia 34 260-40b
SHOOT THE BUFFALO none 1 260-28a
SHOOT THE ENEMY Thos. & Josephine 26 260-43b
SHOOT THE ENEMY none 9 260-36a
SHOOT THE GYI ? none 36 260-35b
SHOOTER
NG HEART none 26 260-35b
STUPID-CLOUD John 31 260-13b
SUNDAY OR PHILIP Richard & Mary 30 260-45b
SUST
Mrs 9 260-48a
RED THUNDER ???? & Josephine 31 260-37b
RED THUNDER
Taman ? & Maggie 6 260-43a
RATTLING THONGS ? Edward & Louisa 26 260-32b
RECLINING BEAR Joe 27 260-45b
RED ABOVE
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