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1819 Treaty of Saginaw

The Treaty of Saginaw  was signed between General Lewis Cass, the US
Territorial Governor of Michigan & Chief John Okemos of the Saginaw Chippewa,
 Chief Wasso of the Shiawassee band Ojibwe, and other Native Americans
 representing some bands of the Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Odawa Nations.
 This treaty ceded over six million acres, encompassing the lower portion
 of the Michigan peninsula, and reserved land withing the ceded territory for use.
 By 1850 the US government disregarded their obligations signed in the Treaty
of Saginaw. These tracts of land were seized and the Natives living there
were moved to reservations.
Background

Prior notable events
  • The Greenville Treaty of 1795 began the relationship between many Native American nations, including the Ojibwe. All parties agreed upon peace and friendly relations. This treaty is named in Article 5 of the Treaty of Saginaw due to the Greenville Treaty granting rights to "hunting, planting, and dwelling" within ceded land.
  • During the war of 1812 many of the Tribes on the northeast were allies of the British, this stressed relations between the US and all Native Americans. Afterwards a second treaty was signed at Greenville which did not include any members of the Three Fires confederacy. However it is important to note this treaty was to reinstate peace between all Native Americans and the United States. There is no mention of ceded land or rights retained in the Greenvelle treaty of 1812.
People
  • Chief John Okemos


  • Chief Wasso, (The Bright Light, or light falling on a distant object). He also signed at the Treaty of 1837
  • General Lewis Cass
  • John, Peter & James Riley

Resources:Legendary Locals of Saginaw
Saginaw Michigan 100 year Treaty

The Greenville Treaty 1795
Saginaw Bay Journal
A related blog

MSU Saginaw Cession


Events

Prior to negotiations, Gen. Lewis Cass sends others, including Jacob Smith (trader), Joseph Campau (trader), and Louis Campau (trader) to prepare "their minds... for this coming request."

September 11, 1819 Gen. Cass writes to the Secretary of War regarding his task to obtain land through the upcoming negotiations. He discusses needing to settle previously due annuities to the Chippewa in order to continue on with new negotiations.

A gathering of 2000 Native Americans, predominantly Ojibwe and other Three Fires' tribes, met with General Cass and many other diplomats, interpreters, and traders to begin treaty talks. Negotiations and terms of the treaty were said to have taken many days, although Cass was not present for all negotiations. It was said to have taken place in Gen. Cass' office, as a large dining table.

First Council, The principle chief and the others were notified of "the Great White Father's request" to purchase their lands. They took three or four days to recess to discuss.

Second Council, There were many harsh words and some who threatened Gen. Cass. The principle chiefs, however, agreed to the sale. Terms were discussed and they recessed for five or six days.

The Last Council, Land reserves were made and terms signed. Goods and payments were issued.

September 24, 1819 the Treaty of Saginaw is signed.

Payments were made to Louis Campau (Goods), Jacob Smith (Services & building use), Henry Connor (interpreter), J. & A. Wendell (Goods), Joseph F. Marsac (interpreter), John (interpreter) & Peter Riley (unknown)


March 25, 1820 the Treaty of Saginaw is proclaimed.



1860, a trial is held to determine the boundaries of Tawcumegoqua, a place named to be excluded within the ceded territory. In this trial many details are written from the testimonies of those who attended.


1919 The Daugthers of the American Revolution placed the treaty stone to commemorate the signing of the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw
Details of the 1819 Treaty.
Land ceded
More than 6,000,000 acres were ceded in this treaty.

This excluded:
  • 15 tracts of land (106,000 acres total) & one island to be reserved for various reasons  
  • 1920 acres for personal use by three named decedents
  • 640 acres for personal use by "the children of Bokowtonden"
  • Menitegow (a 640 acre tract) including one island for use by Kawkawiskou, a Chippewa chief
  • 7040 named acres to be used "in such manner as the President of the United States may direct."
    This was 11 named places: Nowokeshik, Metawanene, Mokitchenoqua, Nondashemau, Petabonaqua, Messawwakut, Checbalk, Kitchegeequa, Sagosequa, Annoketoqua, and Tawcumegoqua, located at and near the grand traverse of the Flint river
New Boundaries
    "Beginning at a point in the present Indian boundary line, which runs due north from the mouth of the great Auglaize river, six miles south of the place where the base line, so called, intersects the same; thence, west, sixty miles; thence, in a direct line, to the head of Thunder Bay River; thence, down the same, following the courses thereof, to the mouth; thence, northeast, to the boundary line between the United States and the British Province of Upper Canada; thence, with the same, to the line established by the treaty of Detroit, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seven; thence, with the said line, to the place of beginning."

Within the six million acres ceded now lay the modern day cities of Lansing, Midland, Alpena, Bay City, Saginaw, and Flint.

A map of ceded land and new boundaries:
From the 1919 book by Fred Dustin: "The Saginaw Treaty of 1819".Image is courtesy of "The Saginaw Treaty of 1819" written by Fred Dustin in 1919

Payments and Reimbursements
$1,000 was to be paid "annually, for ever," to "the Chippewa nation of Indians" in silver.
Compensation was to be paid for any improvements made on the land which had to be abandoned in light of the new boundaries.
The United States was to provide and support a blacksmith at Saginaw, to provide farming utensils and cattle, and to employ people to aid in agriculture, "as the President may deem expedient."

Party Rights to Land
In accordance with the Greenville Treaty of 1795, some rights were retained by the tribes which signed the treaty. Namely, the right to hunt and the right to "enjoy the privilege of making sugar... committing no unnecessary waste upon the trees."
The United States reserved "the right make roads through any part of the land reserved by this treaty"

Treaty errors
It is important to note, spelling was not kept in great detail by the writers of this treaty in regards to the names of those signing. This causes confusion in later trials. Ex. "Reaume" is listed as signing the treaty, however the man's name is Neome. Okemos is written Okemans.
It should also be noted, in testimonies of this Treaty, some signers made mention they had no knowledge of how land was sold and attended out of curiosity or that they had no part of treaty process but mention being made to use a pen.


TREATY WITH THE CHIPPEWA, 1819.

Sept. 24, 1819. | 7 Stat., 203. | Proclamation, Mar. 25, 1820.

Articles of a treaty made and concluded at Saginaw, in the Territory of Michigan, between the United States of America, by their Commissioner, Lewis Cass, and the Chippewa nation of Indians.

ARTICLE 1.

The Chippewa nation of Indians, in consideration of the stipulations herein made on the part of the United States, do hereby, forever, cede to the United States the land comprehended within the following lines and boundaries: Beginning at a point in the present Indian boundary line, which runs due north from the mouth of the great Auglaize river, six miles south of the place where the base line, so called, intersects the same; thence, west, sixty miles; thence, in a direct line, to the head of Thunder Bay River; thence, down the same, following the courses thereof, to the mouth; thence, northeast, to the boundary line between the United States and the British Province of Upper Canada; thence, with the same, to the line established by the treaty of Detroit, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seven; thence, with the said line, to the place of beginning.

ARTICLE 2.

From the cession aforesaid the following tracts of land shall be reserved, for the use of the Chippewa nation of Indians:
One tract, of eight thousand acres, on the east side of the river Au Sable, near where the Indians now live.
One tract, of two thousand acres, on the river Mesagwisk.
One tract, of six thousand acres, on the north side of the river Kawkawling, at the Indian village.
One tract, of five thousand seven hundred and sixty acres, upon the Flint river, to include Reaum’s village, and a place called Kishkawbawee.
One tract, of eight thousand acres, on the head of the river Huron, which empties into the Saginaw river, at the village of Otusson.
One island in the Saginaw Bay.
One tract, of two thousand acres, where Nabobask formerly lived.
One tract, of one thousand acres, near the island in the Saginaw river.
One tract, of six hundred and forty acres, at the bend of the river Huron, which empties into the Saginaw river.
One tract, of two thousand acres, at the mouth of Point Augrais river.
One tract, of one thousand acres, on the river Huron, at Menoequet's village.
One tract, of ten thousand acres, on the Shawassee river, at a place called the Big Rock.
One tract, of three thousand acres, on the Shawassee river, at Ketchewaundaugenink.
One tract, of six thousand acres, at the Little Forks on the Tetabawasink river.
One tract, of six thousand acres, at the Black Bird's town, on the Tetabawasink river.
One tract, of forty thousand acres, on the west side of the Saginaw river, to be hereafter located.

ARTICLE 3.

There shall be reserved, for the use of each of the persons hereinafter mentioned and their heirs, which persons are all Indians by descent, the following tracts of land:
For the use of John Riley, the son of Menawcumegoqua, a Chippewa woman, six hundred and forty acres of land, beginning at the head of the first marsh above the mouth of the Saginaw river, on the east side thereof.
For the use of Peter Riley, the son of Menawcumegoqua, a Chippewa woman, six hundred and forty acres of land, beginning above and adjoining the apple trees on the west side of the Saginaw river, and running up the same for quantity.
For the use of James Riley, the son of Menawcumegoqua, a Chippewa woman, six hundred and forty acres, beginning on the east side of the Saginaw river, nearly opposite to Campeau's trading house, and running up the river for quantity.
For the use of Kawkawiskou, or the Crow, a Chippewa chief, six hundred and forty acres of land, on the east side of the Saginaw river, at a place called Menitegow, and to include, in the said six hundred and forty acres, the island opposite to the said place.
For the use of Nowokeshik, Metawanene, Mokitchenoqua, Nondashemau, Petabonaqua, Messawwakut, Checbalk, Kitchegeequa, Sagosequa, Annoketoqua, and Tawcumegoqua, each, six hundred and forty acres of land, to be located at and near the grand traverse of the Flint river, in such manner as the President of the United States may direct.
For the use of the children of Bokowtonden, six hundred and forty acres, on the Kawkawling river.

ARTICLE 4.

In consideration of the cession aforesaid, the United States agree to pay to the Chippewa nation of Indians, annually, for ever, the sum of one thousand dollars in silver; and do also agree that all annuities due by any former treaty to the said tribe, shall be hereafter paid in silver.

ARTICLE 5.

The stipulation contained in the treaty of Greenville, relative to the right of the Indians to hunt upon the land ceded, while it continues the property of the United States, shall apply to this treaty; and the Indians shall, for the same term, enjoy the privilege of making sugar upon the same land, committing no unnecessary waste upon the trees.

ARTICLE 6.

The United States agree to pay to the Indians the value of any improvements which they may be obliged to abandon, in consequence of the lines established by this treaty, and which improvements add real value to the land.

ARTICLE 7.

The United States reserve to the proper authority the right to make roads through any part of the land reserved by this treaty.

ARTICLE 8.

The United States engage to provide and support a blacksmith for the Indians, at Saginaw, so long as the President of the United States may think proper, and to furnish the Chippewa Indians with such farming utensils and cattle, and to employ such persons to aid them in their agriculture, as the President may deem expedient.

ARTICLE 9.

This treaty shall take effect, and be obligatory on the contracting parties, so soon as the same shall be ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof.

In testimony whereof, the said Lewis Cass, commissioner as aforesaid, and the chiefs and warriors of the Chippewa nation of Indians, have hereunto set their hands, at Saginaw, in the territory of Michigan, this twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.

Lewis Cass, Pakenosega, his x mark, Kekenutchega, his x mark, Chimokemow, his x mark, Kekenutchegun, his x mark, Pashkobwis, his x mark, Muskobenense, his x mark, Waubonoosa, his x mark, Wausaquanai, his x mark, Minequet, his x mark, Otauson, his x mark, Tussegua, his x mark, Mixabee, his x mark, Kitchewawashen, his x mark, Neebeenaquin, his x mark, Anueemaycounbeeme, his x mark, Onewequa, his x mark, Nayokeeman, his x mark, Peshquescum, his x mark, Muckcumcinau, his x mark, Kitcheenoting, his x mark, Waubeekeenew, his x mark, Pashkeekou, his x mark, Mayto, his x mark, Sheemaugua, his x mark, Kauguest, his x mark, Kitsheematush, his x mark, Aneuwayba, his x mark, Walkcaykeejugo, his x mark, Autowaynabee, his x mark, Nawgonissee, his x mark, Owenisham, his x mark, Wauweeyatam, his x mark, Mooksonga, his x mark, Noukonwabe, his x mark, Shingwalk, his x mark, Shingwalk, jun. his x mark, Wawaubequak, his x mark, Meewayson, his x mark, Wepecumgegut, his x mark, Markkenwuwbe, his x mark, Fonegawne, his x mark, Nemetetowwa, his x mark, Kishkaukou, his x mark, Peenaysee, his x mark, Ogemaunkeketo, his x mark, Reaume, his x mark, Nowkeshuc, his x mark, Mixmunitou, his x mark, Wassau, his x mark, Keneobe, his x mark, Moksauba, his x mark, Mutchwetau, his x mark, Nuwagon, his x mark, Okumanpinase, his x mark, Meckseonne, his x mark, Paupemiskobe, his x mark, Kogkakeshik, his x mark, Wauwassack, his x mark, Misheneanonquet, his x mark, Okemans, his x mark, Nimeke, his x mark, Maneleugobwawaa, his x mark, Puckwash, his x mark, Waseneso, his x mark, Montons, his x mark, Kennewobe, his x mark, Shawshauwenaubais, his x mark, Okooyousinse, his x mark, Ondottowaugane, his x mark, Amickoneena, his x mark, Kitcheonundeeyo, his x mark, Saugassauway, his x mark, Okeemanpeenaysee, his x mark, Minggeeseetay, his x mark, Waubishcan, his x mark, Peaypaymanshee, his x mark, Ocanauck, his x mark, Ogeebouinse, his x mark, Paymeenoting, his x mark, Naynooautienishkoan, his x mark, Kaujagonaygee, his x mark, Mayneeseno, his x mark, Kakagouryan, his x mark, Kitchmokooman, his x mark, Singgok, his x mark, Maytwayaushing, his x mark, Saguhosh, his x mark, Saybo, his x mark, Obwole, his x mark,        Aguagonabe, his x mark, Sigonak, his x mark, Kokoosh, his x mark, Pemaw, his x mark, Kawotoktame, his x mark, Sabo, his x mark, Kewageone, his x mark, Metewa, his x mark, Kawgeshequm, his x mark, Keyacum, his x mark, Atowagesek, his x mark, Mawmawkens, his x mark, Mamawsecuta, his x mark, Penaysewaykesek, his x mark, Kewaytinam, his x mark, Sepewan, his x mark, Shashebak, his x mark, Shaconk, his x mark, Mesnakrea, his x mark, Paymusawtom, his x mark, Endus, his x mark, Aushetayawnekusa, his x mark, Wawapenishik, his x mark, Omikou, his x mark, Leroy, his x mark.

Witnesses at signing:

John L. Leib, secretary, D. G. Whitney, assistant secretary, C. L. Cass, captain Third Infantry, R. A. Forsyth, jun. acting commissioner, Chester Root, captain U. S. Artillery, John Peacock, lieutenant Third U. S. Infantry, G. Godfroy, sub agent,  W. Knaggs, sub agent. William Tucky, Lewis Beufort, John Hurson,

Sworn interpreters.

James V. S. Riley, B. Campau, John Hill, army contractor, J. Whipple, Henry I. Hunt, William Keith, A. E. Lacock, M. S. K., Richard Smyth, Louis Dequindre, B. Head, John Smyth, Conrad Ten Eyck.


Courtesy of OK State



"It does not seem to have occurred to any of
those Christian nations, that the people inhabiting the
territory for unnumbered generations, should be consulted,
or that they had any rights, which the powers issuing
those commissions were bound to respect."    
 -William Lewis Weber (1937)

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