-8-
looking for an answer
from the department, we presented our
grievances at Washington and that is what I am looking for. This what I have said, is the wish of all of
the Indians that are here. The Indians
wish to make no agreement whatever until our matters are adjusted. When I was in Washington the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs promised me $27,000. but I have not got the $27,000. yet. What is the matter that I do not get this
$27,000 that was promised me. Something
more I want to say. When Honorable H.
M. Rice came here and negotiated a treaty with us he promised us that
we would
get $80.00 per capita, of interest money from that treaty, the
stipulation of
the treaty he was making, and that for 50 years we would not have to
take any allotments
of land, and all these Indians that are here hold to that understanding. They
don't want to take allotments. I reserved a piece of land, I
reserved it
for coming generations. This is all I
want to say to you. In my talk we are just like one man, in that we are
all of
the same mind in these matters.
McLAUGHLIN:- I want to
ask you in relation to that $27,000 that
you say the Commissioner promised. What claim did that $27,000
represent?
MAYS KO KO NAY
AY:- We went to the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, a different delegation from the other delegations, and we were
told by
him that we were to have $27,000 for stumpage due us.
McLAUGHLlN:- Now you
people seem to have gotten the matter of allotments somewhat
confounded, I am
not here to force allotments upon you people, although I know it would
be for
your own good. It would be well for you to take allotments. Each man would then have his own piece of
land and the improvements that he would place upon it would be his
property
alone. And while you people,
under
your treaty, are only entitled to 80 acres each, I could provide for
you in a
new agreement that you receive double that amount, men, women and
children.
That is in case we come to an agreement for the western portion of your
reservation. I advise you to think of
that well
