Dec. 9, 1911: Colville Reds in Gay Garb Hear Chief Tell of Million in Store

Braves and Squaws attend tribal conference in big hall at Inchelium

Nicholas Heads Tribe

Curt Speech of Barnaby, delineating Division of Heritage, said to have been stumbling block

INCHELIUM, Dec. 8 - There will be $1,440,000 to be distributed to Colville Indians in the distribution of total funds. It will be the purpose of the government to set aside $500 for each adult and a like sum for each minor and the balance of the money will be distributed pro rata to the Indigenous entitled by their enrollment to receive money. It is this phase of the treaty arrangement that is infusing interest into the work of the Indian council held here today. It was not until the purpose of the council was made known at the opening that the many visiting candidates for membership knew what obstacles might be placed in the way of their admissions.

INCHELIUM, Dec. 8 - The most important event in the process of the opening of the south half of the Colville Indian reservation took place yesterday, when the grand council of Indians was called in the large government pavilion at this place. The council is composed of all male members of the Colville tribes and each has a vote on all questions.

Victor Nicholas, a full-blood Indian, who was chosen to succeed the late Chief Barnaby, who died July 24, presided. Chief Clerk J.M. Johnson, subagent in charge, represented the government, and Joseph Ferguson was interpreter.

Major Johnson, in stating the object of the council, said in part: "You will remember that at the council held here in September, 1910, all that was said or done was reduced to writing. You voted in favor of the enrollment of a large number of people from this and other reservations to become members of your tribe. The names of these were sent to Washington and to all intents and purposes are members of your tribe. But if you will remember Barnaby, who was then your chief, made a speech to you in your own language. It was a short speech but one that meant a great deal. This speech was also reduced to writing and sent to Washington with other proceedings, and the department spent five months in going through it and analyzing its purport; and all of these proceedings have been returned and are here in these books today.

LANDS BUT NO MONEY

"If you will remember, Barnaby, at the close of the last council, said: 'I am very glad to welcome all of you people who have been voted in to be members of our tribe. You will be entitled to share in our lands, but you will not share in our money.'

"He was speaking for all full-blood Indians," continued Major Johnson. "The government at Washington took the view of Barnaby. Had Barnaby not made that speech doubtless the government would have accepted the proceedings of that council as conclusive, and all members adopted into the tribes at that time would have been construed as entitled to both land and money. But the words of Barnaby, who was a chieftain recognized by Washington, must be taken into account, and because of his words spoken then the government is in doubt about what must be understood by your vote at the last council and has advised the holding of this council, at which you must determine definitely one of three things: Are those who are voted in by you entitled to land and money, both? Are they entitled to only land and no money, or money and no land? Are they entitled to only membership in your tribe, with no land and no money? And when your enrollment is sent to Washington these things must be made plain. The full-bloods must be given first consideration, and then mixed bloods, according to degree of blood.

NATIVES AND MIXED BLOODS

"There are those who have a right to membership on the rolls without the necessity of adoption by your vote. These are Native Indians or mixed bloods who have lived on this reservation, and when they lived here were considered of your people. These may have resided elsewhere for many years and if they have not been adopted into another tribe and availed themselves of rights elsewhere they and their children are entitled to return to you and become of your people again as of their own accord and without your votes."

While Major Johnson was explaining the purposes of the council the 400 Indians who faced him maintained almost absolute silence, all manaifesting intense interest. The hall, 100 feet long and half as wide, was seated with 2 by 12 foot pine boards laid upon 14-inch pine blocks.

On the right of the speaker were the women and on the left the men. Many of the older women found more comfortable to be seated on the floor. Many of the women were arrayed in fashionably finery, including costly furs and millinery. Many are said to possess a college education, but with it they all seemed to recognize each other in a spirit of common kinship.

TWO HOURS FOR HIS SPEECH

It required two hours for the government representative to import in the simplest language the purpose of the meeting and he was followed by Chief Nicholas in an earnest address in the Native tongue. He occasionally drew applause, which took the form of a few grunts and the nodding of head.

The representatives of the government present were Major J.M. Johnson, chief clerk in charge; Thralls M. Wheat, special allotting agent; Charles W. Lawsom, expert farmer in charge; Professor F.F. Avery, school superintendent and inspector. 

There were about 400 Indians of the Colville tribe present, but of those from other parts of the country it is said there are about 300 to be voted upon. Many of these are the ancestry of the Colville Indians. 

One man from the Willamette Valley, a quarter blood, who owns a tract there worth $50,000, came to claim rights for his several children. He claimed his mother was born at Kettle Falls.

A woman from Portland represented credentials showing that she was a quarter blood. She had blue eyes, fair complexion, and auburn hair and betrayed not a trace of Indian features, but she made good her claim through two brothers who live on the reservation who would have passed as half bloods. She sat with the throng and took a lively interest in the proceedings.

There were people from Everett, Tacoma, Yakima, Baker City, Pendleton and many points in Idaho and Montana. Three were descendants of the Finleys, Arcasas, MacDonalds, Merchants, Ramours, Roberts and many other of the pioneers who came with the early trading companies of 100 years ago.

Some squaw men are claiming the right of adoption by right of marriage and because of the blood of their children. Because of these features of kinship there will be many knotty questions to be disposed of by the council.