As a continuance of the residence of those Indians in that territory may lead
to the most serious difficulties and disturbances, I venture to hope that
the Government of the United States will give its earnest consideration to
the suggestions made by the Hon. Alexander Campbell, acting minister of the
interior for Canada, by contributing in a friendly manner to relieve the
Dominion of Canada from the burthen which has been imposed upon it for
upwards of two years by the presence of the Sioux Indians who were driven
into its territory, and will give to the Canadian Government its
co-operation in its endeavors to effect their return to their native
land.
[Inclosure 2.]
The acting minister of the
interior to the governor-general.
Department of the Interior,
Ottawa, August 13,
1879.
The undersigned has the honor to report for the information of his
excellency the governor-general in council, that recent events have
taken place in connection with the Sioux Indians who were driven into
British territory by United States troops in 1876, and whose case has
already called forth considerable correspondence between the two
governments of a character such as to cause increased anxiety to the
Government of Canada, and the undersigned is of opinion that the present
condition of these Indians and the possible consequences of their being
forced to remain north of the line, under existing circumstances, should
be brought to the notice of the Government of the United States with as
little delay as possible.
The views of the Canadian Government, as to its responsibilities in
connection with these refugee Sioux, are fully set forth in the order in
council, dated the 17th of March last, which was duly communicated, and
while the attitude of the government on this question remains the same,
circumstances have occurred of a character which may result in possible
hostilities on the part of the Sioux towards our settlements in the
territories.
The events to which allusion is made may be adverted to as follows:
The Sioux appeared to be contented in our territory as long as it
afforded them food, but as the buffalo disappeared during last spring,
going southerly into the Missouri country, the Indians followed to
obtain subsistence, and, it is said, while thus engaged were encountered
by General Miles, who, according to the last advices, would appear to
have succeeded in placing his force between them and the buffalo,
driving the Indians across the boundary line.
Were it possible for the Sioux to obtain food of other kinds on British
territory, the proceeding of General Miles might not call for remark;
but in view of the facts, the buffalo, being the only Indian food-supply
in that country, having deserted it, the
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consequences in relation to our scattered
settlements are, to the undersigned, a cause of great and immediate
anxiety.
The undersigned conceives it to be the duty of the government to
remonstrate against a course of action the effect of which may be to
force a powerful body of savages into Dominion territory, under
circumstances where they may be driven by starvation to ravage peaceful
and unprotected settlements.
The undersigned cannot but think that, on a representation of the facts,
the United States Government will be induced to adopt some measure by
which such possible disaster may be averted, and he respectfully
recommends that a favorable view of the proposition contained in the
concluding paragraph of the report accompanying the order in council of
the 17th of March last, before mentioned, be urged upon the United
States Government.
The time and circumstances would appear to be opportune, and there is
reason to hope that an effort in such direction, judiciously managed,
would result in the greater part, if not all, of the Sioux laying down
their arms and returning to United States territory.
Much encouragement is afforded to this view by the Rev. Abbot Martin, O.
B. S., superior of the Order of Benedictine Monks, having charge of the
missions among the Dakota Nation. Abbot Martin, while in Ottawa
recently, expressed to the minister of the interior his willingness, if
authorized thereto by the United States Government, to visit the various
bands of refugees in British territory with the object of inducing them
to return, and appeared confident that, although he failed in a similar
but self-imposed mission in 1877, he would succeed now, owing to the
scarcity of food for the Indians in our territory, and further, in
consequence of his having good reason to believe that it is now the
desire of many of their leading men to return who were opposed to the
proposition when formerly made.
The minister of the interior took occasion to assure the Rev. Abbot
Martin that the Government of Canada would gladly give its aid to any
scheme by which the return of the Sioux to their own country could be
effected in a peaceable and proper manner
Respectfully submitted.
A. CAMPBELL,
Acting Minister of the
Interior.
