First Treaty of Prairie du Chien

Inter-tribal warfare was disrupting the fur trade, and the influx of miners and increasing numbers of squatters into Indian territories was causing rising tensions between the tribes and settlers.

To resolve these difficulties, the U.S. government invited thousands of Indian representatives from all of the affected tribes in the Upper Mississippi region to come gather at Prairie du Chien during August 1825.

The product of these talks was a general treaty of peace among all of the tribes in attendance, which established boundaries between tribal nations, white settlers and Native Americans’ lands.

[1] Due to the overall tribal movements toward the western direction under pressure of encroaching settlers, the Sioux Nation resisted and came into conflict with other tribes moving west into their traditional territory.

The aim of trying to reduce inter-tribal warfare was essentially to promote peace among all of the tribes involved, and to establish boundaries among their lands as they all lived and/or hunted within close vicinity of one another.

[1][2] It was with great fear that if not terminated, the ongoing warfare would extend to other tribes beyond those who were already affected; thus, leading to further hostilities involving other Indian nations who resided along the Missouri, the Mississippi, and the Lakes.

[4] For peoples accustomed to ranging over a wide area, the Prairie du Chien Line served as a hindrance, as it provided that tribes were to hunt only within their acknowledged limits.

Due to the vast scope of the Treaty of Prairie du Chien and the fact that not all of the necessary tribal (mostly Ojibway/Chippewa) Chiefs or their respective representatives were present at its negotiating and signing stages.

[2][1][6][3][7] The main issue, and prime reason, that the U.S. government stepped-in was in hopes to establish peace amongst the neighbouring tribes who were often fighting over lands and tribal boundaries.

This was primarily due to the fact that there were several other existing tribes, including the Omaha and Otoe, who were in disagreement and strongly contested the proposed western boundaries.

Sioux:[1][2][3][6][7] Wa-ba-sha, x or the leaf, [L. S.] Pe-tet-te x Corbeau, little crow, [L. S.] The Little x of the Wappitong tribe, [L. S.] Tartunka-nasiah x Sussitong, [L. S.] Sleepy Eyes, x Sossitong, [L. S.] Two faces x do [L. S.] Two faces x do [L. S.] French Crow x Wappacoota, [L. S.] Kee-jee x do [L. S.] Tar-se-ga x do [L. S.] Wa-ma-de-tun-ka x black dog, [L. S.] Wan-na-ta x Yancton, or he that charges on his enemies, [L. S.] Red Wing x [L. S.] Ko-ko-ma-ko x [L. S.] Sha-co-pe x the Sixth, [L. S.] Pe-ni-si-on x [L. S.] Eta-see-pa x Wabasha’s band, [L. S.] Wa-ka-u-hee, x Sioux band, rising thunder, [L. S.] The Little Crow, x Sussetong, [L. S.] Po-e-ha-pa x Me-da-we-con-tong, or eagle head, [L. S.] Ta-ke-wa-pa x Wappitong, or medicine blanket, [L. S.] Tench-ze-part, x his bow, [L. S.] Masc-pu-lo-chas-tosh, x the white man, [L. S.] Te-te-kar-munch, x the buffaloman, [L. S.] Wa-sa-o-ta x Sussetong, or a great of hail, [L. S.] Oeyah-ko-ca, x the crackling tract, [L. S.] Mak-to-wah-ke-ark, x the bear, [L. S.] Winnebagoes:[2][1][3][6][8] Les quatres jambes, x [L. S.] Carimine, x the turtle that walks, [L. S.] De-ca-ri, x [L. S.] Wan-ca-ha-ga, x or snake’s skin, [L. S.] Sa-sa-ma-ni, x [L. S.] Wa-non-che-qua, x the merchant, [L. S.] Chon-que-pa, x or dog’s head, [L. S.] Cha-rat-chon, x the smoker, [L. S.] Ca-ri-ca-si-ca, x he that kills the crow, [L. S.] Watch-kat-o-que, x the grand canoe, [L. S.] Ho-wa-mick-a, x the little elk, [L. S.] Menominees:[3][2][1][6][8] Ma-can-me-ta, x medicine bear, [L. S.] Chau-wee-nou-mi-tai, x medicine south wind, [L. S.] Char-o-nee, x [L. S.] Ma-wesh-a, x the little wolf, [L. S.] A-ya-pas-mis-ai, x the thunder that turns, [L. S.] Cha-ne-pau, x the riband, [L. S.] La-me-quon, x the spoon, [L. S.] En-im-e-tas, x the barking wolf, [L. S.] Pape-at, x the one just arrived, [L. S.] O-que-men-ce, x the little chief, [L. S.] Chippewas:[2][1][3][6][8] Shinguaba x W’Ossin, 1st chief of the Chippewa nation, Saulte St. Marie, [L. S.] Gitspee x Jiauba, 2d chief, [L. S.] Gitspee x Waskee, or le boeuf of la pointe lake Superior, [L. S.] Nain-a-boozhu, x of la pointe lake Superior, [L. S.] Monga, x Zid or loon’s foot of Fond du Lac, [L. S.] Weescoup, x or sucre of Fond du Lac, [L. S.] Mush-Koas, x or the elk of Fond du Lac, [L. S.] Nau-bun x Aqeezhik, of Fond du Lac, [L. S.] Kau-ta-waubeta, x or broken tooth of Sandy lake, [L. S.] Pugisaingegen, x or broken arm of Sandy lake, [L. S.] Kwee-weezaishish, x or gross guelle of Sandy lake, [L. S.] Ba-ba-see-kundade, x or curling hair of Sandy lake, [L. S.] Paashineep, x or man shooting at the mark of Sandy lake, [L. S.] Pu-ga-a-gik, x the little beef, Leech lake [L. S.] Pee-see-ker, x or buffalo, St. Croix band, [L. S.] Nau-din, x or the wind, St. Croix band [L. S.] Nau-quan-a-bee, x of Mille lac [L. S.] Tu-kau-bis-hoo, x or crouching lynx of Lac Courte Oreille, [L. S.] The Red Devil, x of Lac Courte Oreille, [L. S.] The Track, x of Lac Courte Oreille, [L. S.] Ne-bo-na-bee, x the mermaid Lac Courte Oreille, [L. S.] Pi-a-gick, x the single man St. Croix, [L. S.] Pu-in-a-ne-gi, x, or the hole in the day, Sandy lake, [L. S.] Moose-o-mon-e, x plenty of elk, St. Croix band, [L. S.] Nees-o-pe-na, x or two birds of Upper Red Cedar lake, [L. S.] Shaata, x the pelican of Leech lake, [L. S.] Che-on-o-quet, x the great cloud of Leech lake, [L. S.] I-au-ben-see, x the little buck of Red lake, [L. S.] Kia-wa-tas, x the tarrier of Leech lake, [L. S.] Mau-ge-ga-bo, x the leader of Leech lake, [L. S.] Nan-go-tuck, x the flame of Leech lake, [L. S.] Nee-si-day-sish, x the sky of Red lake, [L. S.] Pee-chan-a-nim, x striped feather of Sandy lake, [L. S.] White Devil, x of Leech lake, [L. S.] Ka-ha-ka, x the sparrow, Lac, Courte Oreille, [L. S.] I-au-be-ence, x little buck of Rice lake, Ca-ba-ma-bee, x the assembly of St. Croix, [L. S.] Nau-gau-nosh, x the forward man lake Flambeau, [L. S.] Caw-win-dow, x he that gathers berries of Sandy Lake, [L. S.] On-que-ess, the mink, lake Superior, [L. S.] Ke-we-ta-ke-pe, x all round the sky, [L. S.] The-sees, x [L. S.] Ottawas:[2][1][3][6][8] Chaboner, x or Chambly, [L. S.] Shaw-fau-wick, x the mink, [L. S.] Potawatomies:[2][1][3][6][8] Ignace, x [L. S.] Ke-o-kuk, x [L. S.] Che-chan-quose, x the little crane, [L. S.] Taw-wa-na-nee, x the trader, [L. S.] Sacs:[2][1][3][6][8] Na-o-tuk, x the stabbing chief, [L. S.] Pish-ken-au-nee, x all fish, [L. S.] Po-ko-nau-qua, x or broken arm, [L. S.] Wau-kau-che, x eagle nose, [L. S.] Quash-kaume, x jumping fish, [L. S.] Ochaach, x the fisher, [L. S.] Ke-o-kuck, x the watchful fox, [L. S.] Skin-gwin-ee-see, the x ratler, [L. S.] Was-ar-wis-ke-no, x the yellow bird, [L. S.] Pau-ko-tuk, x the open sky, [L. S.] Au-kaak-wan-e-suk, x he that vaults on the earth, [L. S.] Mu-ku-taak-wan-wet, x [L. S.] Mis-ke-bee, x the standing hair, [L. S.] Foxes:[2][1][3][6] Wan-ba-law, x the playing fox, [L. S.] Ti-a-mah, x the bear that makes the rocks shake, [L. S.] Pee-ar-maski, x the jumping sturgeon, [L. S.] Shagwa-na-tekwishu, x the thunder that is heard all over the world, [L. S.] Mis-o-win, x moose deer horn, [L. S.] No-ko-wot, x the down of the fur, [L. S.] Nau-sa-wa-quot, x the bear that sleeps on the forks, [L. S.] Shin-quin-is, x the ratler, [L. S.] O-lo-pee-aau, x or Mache-paho-ta, the bear, [L. S.] Keesis, x the sun, [L. S.] No-wank, x he that gives too little, [L. S.] Kan-ka-mote, x [L. S.] Neek-waa, x [L. S.] Ka-tuck-e-kan-ka, x the fox with a spotted breast, [L. S.] Mock-to-back-sa-gum, x black tobacco, [L. S.] Wes-kesa, x the bear family, [L. S.] Ioways:[2][1][3][6][8] Ma-hos-ka, x the white cloud, [L. S.] Pumpkin, x [L. S.] Wa-ca-nee, x the painted medicine, [L. S.] Tar-no-mun, x a great many deer, [L. S.] Wa-hoo-ga, x the owl, [L. S.] Ta-ca-mo-nee, x the lightning, [L. S.] Wa-push-a, x the man killer, [L. S.] To-nup-he-non-e, x the flea, [L. S.] Mon-da-tonga, x [L. S.] Cho-wa-row-a, x [L. S.] Appointed Commissioners:[1][2][3][6][8] William Clark, [L. S.] Lewis Cass, [L. S.] Witnesses:[3][1][2][6][8] Thomas Biddle, secretary, R. A. McCabe, Captain Fifth Infantry R. A. Forsyth N. Boilvin, United States Indian agent C. C. Trowbridge, sub Indian agent Henry R. Schoolcraft, United States Indian agent B. F. Harney, Surgeon U. S. Army W. B. Alexander, sub Indian agent Thomas Forsyth, agent Indian affairs Marvien Blondau David Bailey James M’Ilvaine, lieutenant U. S. Army Law.

Taliaferro, Indian agent for Upper Mississippi John Holiday William Dickson S. Campbell, United States interpreter J.