Commission met at the hour of nine o’clock a.m. All members of the Board present.

The chiefs and headmen of the Arickaree, Gros Ventres, and Mandan tribes were again assembled in council.

Governor Edmunds said -- In accordance with the talk we had in yesterday’s council, we have drawn up a treaty which we will now explain to you.

Man Chief -- We are standing before you in our speeches a long time; some of us wish to accede to your propositions for a treaty and some do not wish to. In regard to all the land except the piece at Snake river, I personally think it will be all right; although I cannot speak for the others they have not yet decided the question.

Red Tail -- All the lands we speak of belong to us, and we will soon be able to settle whether we will let you have them or not. We have been reduced in numbers by disease, but still we want to retain our lands to live on. After the Laramie treaty we at first received something, but it has grown less from year to year. It may be so under the new treaty, but we hope it will be better for us. We have always kept our word, but those who promised to be our friends have not kept their pledges. But we will now abandon the past and talk about the new treaty and the future.

General Curtis -- I want to explain about the Platte treaty a few moments: -The Laramie treaty was made with the representatives of all the Indian tribes as one great Indian Nation. There were only a few chiefs of a great many tribes who went there, and hence they were not fully represented. The Government agreed to pay Seventy thousand dollars to all these great tribes extending North from the Platte & Sioux river to the British lines. At the first payment, goods were sent only so such tribes as were represented at the treaty- some got a great deal and some got none at all. Afterwards when the Great Father found out the number of all the tribes, he undertook to distribute equally to all, and this made the allowance of some much smaller than at first. The Great Father distributed equally as he found the bands but he found more mouths than he expected, and some of the little tribes got more than at first while others got less. We are now making treaties with separate tribes, and communities, and there will not be the same chance for error as before. Under the old treaty the Great Father did not know anything about the number in each tribe, and the representative chiefs did not know themselves.

Red Tail -- This land belongs to us and not to the Sioux; the have driven us from it only because your words prevented us from fighting and driving them back.

General Curtis -- The treaty of Laramie and all its promises gave you and everyone the right of defending homes and lands.

Crow’s Breast -- We have talked four days about this land. Our land is small and we do not wish to give any more of it away. You talk of putting buildings on our land; we do not want this done, there are enough on it now. You come here and tell us you have made a treaty with all the nations below; but we want to try them first, and if they are peaceable we will then deliberate about letting you have the lands. We do not want to let any of our lands go now.

Governor Edmunds -- We understand from your statements that these lands were first owned by the Crows and Gros Ventres in common. The “Rees” came here many years ago and found the Gros Ventres in possession; they were a very small tribe and had been decimated by sickness and their enemies; they agreed to become one people and since then they have fought the common enemy and maintained their lands. The “Rees” have helped maintain this country, and had they not joined the Gros Ventres you would have been driven out of the country by the Sioux- hence, they have an equal right to the lands in the treaty, and their proper share of presents under the treaty; and as they are the largest tribe they are entitled to the largest share of the land and of the presents, and you are entitled to your share of the “Ree” country below. We came here to try to help these people but you shut our hands. You will not let us have any part of your land, and do not even want us to go through it. But your Great Father goes where he chooses, and he will pass through here. You refuse to make a treaty with us. We have made a treaty with the Sioux, binding them to be friends who make peace with us; and if you refuse to treat with us they will come and fight you. If, when we go down the river, we tell the Sioux that we have no treaty with you, instead of coming here in small bands to fight you they will come in thousands. When we go back to Washington the Great Father will ask us if we have made a treaty with the Gros Ventres Indians. If we have no paper from you to give him we will be obliged to tell him you would make no treaty; and in the future you will get no goods, for the Laramie treaty is ended this year. The Great Father having made a treaty with the Sioux he will send them goods, blankets, guns, powder and provisions, but having no treaty with you he can send you none of these things. If you do not want to treat with us we will give you what goods we have for you under the Laramie treaty, and go home.

Crow’s Breast -- We will not give up our lands.

Governor Edmunds to the “Rees” -- You have heard what we have said to the Gros Ventres and Mandans - They refuse to treat with us - If the Arickarees desire now to enter into a treaty with us, we will do so with your tribe separately.

White Shield -- With reference to our lands below, it is all right; but with regard to the other lands we must consent to the rest of the other bands.

Governor Edmunds -- You understand that all we want to know is whether you desire to make a treaty with us or not; if you do we will arrange one for you separately. We do not ask you to cede your lands; we ask if you desire to make a new treaty with us.

Crow’s Breast –NO-- (Turning to the Gros Ventres and Mandans, he said:-) I was instructed to say “No” and I have said it;- What are you tarrying here in council for?

Whereupon the Gros Ventres and Mandan chiefs and headmen rose and abruptly left the Council Lodge.

Governor Edmunds to the “Rees” -- We will meet you again after dinner, on the steamboat; - in the meantime, consider this matter over among yourselves.

Commission adjourned to meet at the call of the President.

C.A. Reed, Secretary of Commission
Newton Edmunds, President of Commission

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