Ratified treaty no. 299, Documents relating to the negotiation of the treaty of October 17, 1855, with the Piegan, Blood, and Gros Ventres band of Blackfeet Indians, Upper Pend d'Oreilles, and Kutenai band of Flathead Indians, and Nez Perce Indians
Date
October 17, 1855
Publisher
Washington, D.C.: National Archives, National Archives and Records Service
Summary
1. Comr. of Indian Affairs to Sec. of Interior, Mar. 31, June 10, Dec. 20 and 28, 1854, concerning negotiations. (OIA, LS, Rept. Books, vol. 7, p. 455; vol. 8, p. 43, 212, 218-219)
2. Instructions, Feb. 1 and 3 (two letters), 1855. Issued to Alfred Cumming, Joel Palmer, and Isaac I. Stevens. (OIA, LS, vol. 50, p. 445-446, 455-457. The originals of the two letters of Feb. 3, 1855, are in Wash. and Oreg. Suptcies. Letters received from Comr. of Indian Affairs for 1855.)
3. Instructions (supplemental), Mar. 17, Apr. 2, and May 3, 1855. (OIA, LS, vol. 51, p. 93-94, 194-195, 356-359. Much detail re the provisions of the projected treaties appears in letter of May 3, 1855.)
4. I. I. Stevens, Treaty Comr. of Indian Affairs, Aug. 30, 1855, reporting his arrival at Fort Benton and the arrangements made for the council. (OIA, LR, Wash. Suptcy., W-622, 1855)
5. Official proceedings of the commission appointed to hold a council with the Blackfeet and other Indian tribes on the headwaters of the Missouri River in the year 1855.*
6. Official proceedings, item 5 above (certified copy).*
7. Treaty (copy), with an abstract, and the original draft.*
8. Stevens to Comr. of Indian Affairs, Oct. 22, 1855, announcing the adjournment of the council. (OIA, LR, Wash. Suptcy., W-652, 1855)
9. Map showing the territory of the Blackfeet and Western Indians, approved by treaty comrs. Oct. 22, 1855 (originally may have been enclosure of item 10 below, lent to I. I. Stevens and returned with letter in OIA, LR, Oreg. and Wash., S-803, 1859. Another map of the Blackfeet lands is in RG 75 in the Cartographic Records Branch).*
10. Alfred Cumming, Treaty Comr., to Comr. of Indian Affairs, Jan. 10, 1856, transmitting joint report of Oct. 22, 1855 by Cumming and Isaac I. Stevens.*
11. Cumming to Comr. of Indian Affairs, Feb. 15, 1856, enclosing report of same date of his expedition to the Blackfeet country, which includes information concerning the negotiations. (OIA, LR, Blackfeet, C-81, 1856)
12. Stevens to Comr. of Indian Affairs, Feb. 23, 1856, forwarding the original records of the Blackfeet council.*
13. Cumming to Comr. of Indian Affairs, Feb. 23, 1856, submitting copy of proceedings of the council with the Blackfeet and other tribes. Letter bears following notation: "This copy being incomplete and 2 other complete copies being on file in office was forwarded to Gen. Hazard Stevens." (OIA, LR, Blackfeet, C-85, 1856)
14. Comr. of Indian Affairs to Sec. of Interior, Feb. 27, 1856, reporting on treaty. (OIA, LS, Rept. Books, vol. 9, p. 223-224)
Note: Items 5, 6, and 12 above, form a part of same file. Item 5 is a bound volume, 147 p., period Aug. 11 - Oct. 23, 1855; item 6 has 78 p. A number of original letters belonging to correspondence of the Blackfeet Commission are in OIA, LR, Blackfeet, W-57, 1856. This correspondence is copied in the proceedings, items 5 and 6 above. For other documents concerning this treaty see: OIA, LR, Central Suptcy., 1855; OIA, LR, Wash. Suptcy., 1853-55; Treaty of Dec. 26, 1854, items 3 and 4; Treaty of June 9, 1855, with Yakima, item 9; Treaties of June 11, July 16, 1855, various items (for details of negotiations with Nez Percés and Flatheads).
Ratified treaty no. 299, Documents relating to the negotiation of the treaty of October 17, 1855, with the Piegan, Blood, and Gros Ventres band of Blackfeet Indians, Upper Pend d'Oreilles, and Kutenai band of Flathead Indians, and Nez Perce Indians October 17, 1855