On February 8, 1887, Congress passed the Dawes Act, named for its author, Senator Henry Dawes of Massachusetts. Also known as the General Allotment Act, the law allowed for the president to break up reservation land, which was held in common by the members of a tribe, into small allotments to be parceled out to individuals. Thus, Native Americans registering on a tribal "roll" were granted allotments of reservation land. “To each head of a family, one-quarter of a section; To each single person over eighteen years of age, one-eighth of a section ; To each orphan child under eighteen years of age, one-eighth of a section; and To each other single person under eighteen years now living, or who may be born prior to the date of the order of the President directing an allotment of the lands embraced in any reservation, one-sixteenth of a section…”
Section 8 of the act specified groups that were to be exempt from the law. It stated that "the provisions of this act shall not extend to the territory occupied by the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Seminoles, and Osage, Miamies and Peorias, and Sacs and Foxes, in the Indian Territory, nor to any of the reservations of the Seneca Nation of New York Indians in the State of New York, nor to that strip of territory in the State of Nebraska adjoining the Sioux Nation on the south."
Subsequent events, however, extended the act's provisions to these groups as well. In 1893, President Grover Cleveland appointed the Dawes Commission to negotiate with the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles, who were known as the Five Civilized Tribes. As a result of these negotiations, several acts were passed that allotted a share of common property to members of the Five Civilized Tribes in exchange for abolishing their tribal governments and recognizing state and federal laws.
In order to receive the allotted land, members were to enroll with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Once enrolled, the individual's name went on the "Dawes rolls." This process assisted the BIA and the secretary of the interior in determining the eligibility of individual members for land distribution.
The purpose of the Dawes Act and the subsequent acts that extended its initial provisions was purportedly to protect Indian property rights, particularly during the land rushes of the 1890s, but in many instances the results were vastly different. The land allotted to the Indians included desert or near-desert lands unsuitable for farming. In addition, the techniques of self-sufficient farming were much different from their tribal way of life. Many Indians did not want to take up agriculture, and those who did want to farm could not afford the tools, animals, seed, and other supplies necessary to get started. There were also problems with inheritance. Often young children inherited allotments that they could not farm because they had been sent away to boarding schools. Multiple heirs also caused a problem; when several people inherited an allotment, the size of the holdings became too small for efficient farming.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Do you know...
Ely Samuel Parker was born a member of the Seneca Indian tribe in 1828; his first tribal name was Hasanowanda ("The Reader"). His family had originally adopted the Parker name for use when dealing with the white settlers in the area. His father was a Tonawanda Seneca chief and a veteran of the War of 1812; his mother was descended from an Iroquois prophet.
Parker received his early education from Baptist missionaries on the Seneca reservation; he later enrolled for a time at Rochester High School. He quit school at age 18 and devoted his time to furthering Indian affairs in Washington, D.C. During this period, he came to know Lewis Henry Morgan, and helped aid Morgan in his work League of the Iroquois, one of the first studies of an Indian tribe. In 1852, Parker became the sachem of his tribe and adopted the tribal name Donehogawa, or "Keeper of the Western Door of the Long House of the Iroquois". In the late 1850s, Parker studied engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and began to work for the federal government, supervising public works projects. During one such project he befriended a local clerk, Ulysses S. Grant.
Parker attempted to join the Army at the outbreak of the Civil War, but could not be released from his construction duties until 1862; even then, he could not get an Army commission due to his Indian heritage. He was finally commissioned as a captain of engineers in 1863, and later that year he became a staff officer under Grant; Grant appointed Parker his military secretary the next year. Parker was present at Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865 where he took down Grant's dictation concerning the surrender orders, as he was the only person in the room calm enough to write. Parker remained as Grant's military secretary through 1869, eventually ascending to the brevet rank of brigadier-general. He married Minnie Sackett on December 25, 1867.
Parker was one of Grant's first political appointments when he became President. Parker was named Commissioner of Indian Affairs on April 13, 1869. During his tenure in officer, Parker sought to work both for the United States government and the Indians he represented; however, his attempts to bring justice to various tribes over land deals and treaties earned him many enemies in the process. He was accused of defrauding the government and was tried by the House of Representatives in February 1871. Although he was exonerated of all charges, Parker resigned from office and went into business in New York City. He did well in business; later in life, he held various positions within the New York City Police Department. He died on August 31, 1895. Two years later, his remains were reinterred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, N.Y. on land that had once belonged to the Seneca tribe. The collection consists of mostly manuscript material, including approximately 30 letters to or from Ely Parker; legal and business material; two leather notebooks from the 1850s and 1860s; and some items that were removed in January 1972 from the extra-illustrated volume The Life of General Ely S. Parker by Arthur C. Parker. All correspondence has been indexed.
He's also listed in 100 Native Americans Who Shaped American History.
Parker received his early education from Baptist missionaries on the Seneca reservation; he later enrolled for a time at Rochester High School. He quit school at age 18 and devoted his time to furthering Indian affairs in Washington, D.C. During this period, he came to know Lewis Henry Morgan, and helped aid Morgan in his work League of the Iroquois, one of the first studies of an Indian tribe. In 1852, Parker became the sachem of his tribe and adopted the tribal name Donehogawa, or "Keeper of the Western Door of the Long House of the Iroquois". In the late 1850s, Parker studied engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and began to work for the federal government, supervising public works projects. During one such project he befriended a local clerk, Ulysses S. Grant.
Parker attempted to join the Army at the outbreak of the Civil War, but could not be released from his construction duties until 1862; even then, he could not get an Army commission due to his Indian heritage. He was finally commissioned as a captain of engineers in 1863, and later that year he became a staff officer under Grant; Grant appointed Parker his military secretary the next year. Parker was present at Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865 where he took down Grant's dictation concerning the surrender orders, as he was the only person in the room calm enough to write. Parker remained as Grant's military secretary through 1869, eventually ascending to the brevet rank of brigadier-general. He married Minnie Sackett on December 25, 1867.
Parker was one of Grant's first political appointments when he became President. Parker was named Commissioner of Indian Affairs on April 13, 1869. During his tenure in officer, Parker sought to work both for the United States government and the Indians he represented; however, his attempts to bring justice to various tribes over land deals and treaties earned him many enemies in the process. He was accused of defrauding the government and was tried by the House of Representatives in February 1871. Although he was exonerated of all charges, Parker resigned from office and went into business in New York City. He did well in business; later in life, he held various positions within the New York City Police Department. He died on August 31, 1895. Two years later, his remains were reinterred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, N.Y. on land that had once belonged to the Seneca tribe. The collection consists of mostly manuscript material, including approximately 30 letters to or from Ely Parker; legal and business material; two leather notebooks from the 1850s and 1860s; and some items that were removed in January 1972 from the extra-illustrated volume The Life of General Ely S. Parker by Arthur C. Parker. All correspondence has been indexed.
He's also listed in 100 Native Americans Who Shaped American History.
Committee hearing next week on Native recognition amendment
By: Jedd Kettler
MONTPELIER: Draft legislation to amend Vermont's Abenaki recognition law will get its first Statehouse vetting before the Senate Economic Development Committee next week.
Sen. Vince Illuzzi (R-Essex-Orleans Counties, Richford, Montgomery), a strong champion of the original recognition law and Chairman of the Senate committee, will hold the first hearing on the amendment Friday, Feb. 15, at 9 a.m. in Room 27 of the Statehouse.
The amendment, to be introduced as a committee bill, seeks to close a gap which federal officials have said leaves Vermont's Abenaki artists vulnerable to violations of federal law. It lays out procedures and criteria for tribes and bands seeking State recognition. Such recognition would legally allow members to sell their arts and crafts as Native-made under federal law, something they cannot do now.
A handful of Abenaki, in-cluding Mark Mitchell, Chairman of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs (VCNAA), Missisquoi Abenaki Nation Chief April St. Francis-Merrill, and Johnson State Humanities Chair, filmmaker, and historian Fred Wiseman, will testify.
Want to know more? Click here: http://www.thecountycourier.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=4576&Itemid=
MONTPELIER: Draft legislation to amend Vermont's Abenaki recognition law will get its first Statehouse vetting before the Senate Economic Development Committee next week.
Sen. Vince Illuzzi (R-Essex-Orleans Counties, Richford, Montgomery), a strong champion of the original recognition law and Chairman of the Senate committee, will hold the first hearing on the amendment Friday, Feb. 15, at 9 a.m. in Room 27 of the Statehouse.
The amendment, to be introduced as a committee bill, seeks to close a gap which federal officials have said leaves Vermont's Abenaki artists vulnerable to violations of federal law. It lays out procedures and criteria for tribes and bands seeking State recognition. Such recognition would legally allow members to sell their arts and crafts as Native-made under federal law, something they cannot do now.
A handful of Abenaki, in-cluding Mark Mitchell, Chairman of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs (VCNAA), Missisquoi Abenaki Nation Chief April St. Francis-Merrill, and Johnson State Humanities Chair, filmmaker, and historian Fred Wiseman, will testify.
Want to know more? Click here: http://www.thecountycourier.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=4576&Itemid=
Indian tribes celebrate traditions at this year's Pow-Wow
By: John Holland
HOLLYWOOD - The entertainment is better than it was nearly four decades ago, when a small, poor and fiercely independent Seminole Tribe began hosting these pow-wows. So are the surroundings, with opulent buildings replacing dusty shacks on a ramshackle reservation, back when State Road 7 was considered far west Broward County.
But the basics haven't changed much. Indian tribes from around North America gather to trade stories, celebrate their traditions and remember the hardships and triumphs they share as a people.
The 37th annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow-Wow kicked off today and runs through Sunday.
Dozens of tribes from as far away as Western Canada are represented, performing various dances and playing native songs and instruments. A three-day rodeo, featuring some of the best Native American riders and ropers in the world, began today and concludes Friday with competitions at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
All of the events and exhibitions, free and open to the public, are held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino complex in Hollywood.
"I've been coming here since the early '90s and it keeps getting bigger and bigger,'' said Lawrence Baker of the Hidatsa Tribe of North Dakota. "It's an important event and we're all proud to be part of it.''
Get the whole story here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-0207pow-wow,0,4008285.story
HOLLYWOOD - The entertainment is better than it was nearly four decades ago, when a small, poor and fiercely independent Seminole Tribe began hosting these pow-wows. So are the surroundings, with opulent buildings replacing dusty shacks on a ramshackle reservation, back when State Road 7 was considered far west Broward County.
But the basics haven't changed much. Indian tribes from around North America gather to trade stories, celebrate their traditions and remember the hardships and triumphs they share as a people.
The 37th annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow-Wow kicked off today and runs through Sunday.
Dozens of tribes from as far away as Western Canada are represented, performing various dances and playing native songs and instruments. A three-day rodeo, featuring some of the best Native American riders and ropers in the world, began today and concludes Friday with competitions at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
All of the events and exhibitions, free and open to the public, are held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino complex in Hollywood.
"I've been coming here since the early '90s and it keeps getting bigger and bigger,'' said Lawrence Baker of the Hidatsa Tribe of North Dakota. "It's an important event and we're all proud to be part of it.''
Get the whole story here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-0207pow-wow,0,4008285.story
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