CHAPTER XX.

INDIAN RESERVATIONS OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

Organized as a Territory March 2, 1853.1

The act establishing the Territory provided that the Government right to regulate Indian laws, property, and rights by treaty, law, or otherwise should remain competent. Also provided "that the title to land not exceeding 640 acres, now occupied as missionary stations among the Indian tribes in said Territory, or that may have been so occupied as missionary stations prior to the passage of the act establishing the Territorial government of Oregon, together with the improvements thereon, be, and is hereby, confirmed and established to the several religious societies to which said missionary stations respectively belong."

The same conditions which affected Oregon were potent in this Territory. The disputed boundary line between the United States and Great Britain retarded the progress of the Indians for a time. Few changes have taken place in the Indian population, although many tribes have suffered from wars and difficulties incident to the settling up the country with white people.

There are seventeen reservations, containing an aggregate area of 4,107,558 acres. The Indian population on reservations is 7,688; not on reservations, 2,210; total Indian population, 9,888.

There are six agencies: The Colville Agency, having in charge the Colville, the Spokane, and the Cœur d'Alêne Reservations, the latter being in Idaho; the Neah Bay Agency, having in charge the Makah Reservation; Quinaielt Agency, having in charge the Quinaielt and the Shoalwater Reservations; the Nisqually and S'Kokomish Agency, having in charge the Chehalis, Nisqually, Puyallup, S'Kokomish, and Squaxin Island Reservations; the Tulalip Agency, having in charge the Lummi, Muckleshoot, Port Madison, Tulalip, and Swinomish Reservations; and the Yakama Agency, having in charge the Yakama Reservation.

COLVILLE AGENCY.

[Post-office address: Chewelah, Stevens County, Wash. Ter.]

COLVILLE RESERVATION.

How established.-By Executive orders April 9 and July 2, 1872. Area and survey.-Contains 2,800,000 acres. Acres not reported separately.

1 United States Statutes, Vol. X, p. 172. 2 • Report of Indian Commissioner, 1884, p. 264.

Acres cultivated.-The Indians have 14,000 acres under cultivation.1 Tribes and population.-The tribes living here are the Cœur d'Alêne, 487; Colville, 670; Calispel, 400; Kinckane, -; Lake, 333; Methow, 315; Nespelims,; Pend d'Oreille, -; San Poel, 400; and Spokane, 685. Total population is 3,290.2

Location. This reservation proper, including the Colville Valley, was set apart by Executive order of April 9, 1872, and with the reservation the majority of the non-treaty Indians east of The Cascades in this Ter. ritory were much pleased. But without consulting their interests, and even without their knowledge, the Government, being deceived as to the true state of affairs, was induced to change the reservation by Executive order of July 6, 1872, to the west and north of the Columbia, east of the Chenagan, and bounded on the north by British Columbia as now constituted. The lands of this reservation are mostly a conglomeration of barren, rocky mountains. It contains much agricultural land, necessitating irrigation for the raising of wheat and other grains.3 The reservation is situated on the east side of the Columbia River, between Kettle Falls and the mouth of the Spokane River.

Government rations.-No Government rations reported for the subsistence of these Indians.

Mills and employés.-Established.

Indian police.-Not reported.

Indian court of offences.-Not reported.

School population, attendance, and support.

School population of the agency, including all reservations, 900.

Missionary work.-In charge of the Roman Catholics.

Colville Reserve. 6

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,

Washington, D. C., April 8, 1872.

SIR: I have the honor to invite your attention to the necessity for setting apart by Executive order of a tract of country hereinafter described, as a reservation for the following bands of Indians in Washington Territory, not parties to any treaty, viz:

Excluding that portion of the tract of country referred to found to be in the British possessions, the following are the natural boundaries of the proposed reservation, which I have the honor to recommend to be set apart by the President for the Indians in question, and such others as the Department may see fit to settle thereon, viz: Commencing at a point on the Columbia where the Spokane River empties in the same; thence up the Columbia River to where it crosses the forty-ninth parallel north latitude; thence east with said forty-ninth parallel to where the Pend d'Oreille, or Clark, River crosses the same; thence up the Pend d'Oreille, or Clark, River to where it crosses the western boundary of Idaho Territory, the one hundred and seventeenth meridian west longitude; thence south, along said one hundred and seventeenth meridian, to where the Little Spokane River crosses the same; thence southwesterly with said river to its junction with the Big Spokane River; thence down the Big Spokane River to the place of beginning.

The papers hereinbefore referred to are respectfully submitted herewith.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. A. WALKER,
Commissioner.

The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,
Washington, D. C., April 9, 1872.

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a communication, dated the 8th instant, from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and accompanying papers, representing the necessity for the setting apart, by Executive order, of a tract of country therein described for certain bands of Indians in Washington Territory not parties to any treaty.

The recommendation of the Commissioner in the premises is approved, and I respectfully request that the President direct that the tract of country designated upon the inclosed map be set apart for the Indians referred to, and such others as this Department may see fit to settle thereon.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B. R. COWEN,

Acting Secretary.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, April 9, 1872. It is hereby ordered that the tract of country referred to in the within letter of the Acting Secretary of the Interior, and designated upon the accompanying map, be set apart for the bands of Indians in Washington Territory named in communication of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, dated the 8th instant, and for such other Indians as the Department of the Interior may see fit to locate thereon.

U. S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, July 2, 1872.

It is hereby ordered that the tract of country referred to in the within letter of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs as having been set apart for the Indians therein named by Executive order of April 9, 1872, be restored to the public domain, and that in lieu

thereof the country bounded on the east and south by the Columbia River, on the west by the Okanagan River, and on the north by the British possessions, be, and the same is hereby, set apart as a reservation for said Indians, and for such other Indians as the Department of the Interior may see fit to locate thereon.

SPOKANE RESERVATION.

U. S. GRANT.

How established.-By Executive order, January 18, 1881.

Area and survey.-Contains 153,600 acres;1 tillable acres not reported.

Acres cultivated.-Acres cultivated, not reported separately.

Tribes and population.-The tribe living here is the Spokane. Total population, 324.2

Location. This reservation lies near the mouth of the Spokane River, and is a piece of land some 20 miles long and 8 wide. "It consists of good grazing land, but poor farming land, owing to the early frosts, which have nearly every year destroyed part, if not all, of their crops, which made it necessary for me last winter (1885-86) to purchase supplies to keep them from starving."

Nothing reported concerning these Indians separately from Colville Agency (see Colville Reservation).

[Special Field Orders No. 8.3]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE COLUMBIA,
IN THE FIELD, SPOKANE FALLS, Wash.,

September 3, 1880.

Whereas in consequence of a promise made in August, 1877, by E. C. Watkins, inspector of the Interior Department, to set apart, or have set apart, for the use of the Spokane Indians the following described territory, to wit: Commencing at the mouth of Cham-a-kane Creek, thence north 8 miles in direction of said creek, thence due west to the Columbia River, thence along the Columbia and Spokane Rivers to the point of beginning-the Indians are still expecting the Executive order in their case, and are much disturbed by the attempts of squatters to locate land within said limits: It is hereby directed that the above described territory, being still unsurveyed, be protected against settlement by other than said Indians until the survey shall be made, or until further instructions. This order is based upon plain necessity to preserve the peace until the pledge of the Government shall be fulfilled, or other arrangements accomplished.

The commanding officers of Forts Cœur d'Alêne and Colville and Camp Chelan are charged with the proper execution of this order. By command of Brigadier-General Howard.

H. H. PIERCE,

First Lieutenant Twenty-first Infantry, Acting Aid-de-Camp.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 18, 1881.

It is hereby ordered that the following tract of land, situated in Washington Territory, be, and the same is hereby, set aside and reserved for the use and occupancy of the Spokane Indians, namely: Commencing at a point where Chemekane Creek crosses the forty-eighth parallel of latitude; thence down the east bank of said creek to where it enters the Spokane River; thence across said Spokane River westwardly Report of Indian Commissioner, 1886, p. 390. 2 Ibid., p. 406.

Ibid., p. 370.

along the southern bank thereof, to a point where it enters the Columbia River; thence across the Columbia River, northwardly along its western bank to a point where said river crosses the said forty-eighth parallel of latitude, thence east along said parallel to the place of beginning.

R. B. HAYES.

COLUMBIA RESERVATION.

How established.-By Executive orders, April 19, 1879, March 6, 1880, and February 23, 1883. (See Indian appropriation act of July 4, 1884, United States Statutes, 23, p. 79.) Executive order May 1, 1886.

Area and survey.-See Executive order, May 1, 1886.1

Acres cultivated.-During the past year 400 acres have been fenced in and fully one-half cultivated.2

Tribes and population.-Chief Moses and his people. Population about 200.3

Location. This reservation lies in the Nespelim, which is a beautiful valley situated in the southern part of the Colville Reserve. The people are industrious, and will in time, if care and attention are shown them, grow to be a prosperous and self-supporting tribe.1

The mills and school-house, erected according to agreement for Moses and his band, do credit to the contractors. The saw-mill contains the latest improved machinery, and when full force of water is used will cut out 8,000 feet of lumber per day. The grist-mill, at the time of inspection, made some very fine flour.

Tonasket's mills, situated on Prairies Creek, are built upon the same plan as Moses's, and when finished will also be very fine mills. The Indians have to-day as good mills as can be found in the country.

The school-house now being erected is a very fine building, and will accommodate one hundred children.

No school statistics given, and no missionary work reported.5

Columbia, or Moses, Reserve.6

EXECUTIVE MANSION, April 19, 1879.

It is hereby ordered that the tract of country in Washington Territory lying within the following-described boundaries, viz: Commencing at the intersection of the fortymile limits of the branch line of the Northern Pacific Railroad with the Okinakane River; thence up said river to the boundary line between the United States and British Columbia; thence west on said boundary line to the forty-fourth degree of longitude west from Washington; thence south on said degree of longitude to its intersection with the 40-mile limits of the branch line of the Northern Pacific Railroad; and thence with the line of said 40-mile limits to the place of beginning, be, and the same is hereby, withdrawn from sale and set apart as a reservation for the permanent use and occupancy of Chief Moses and his people, and such other friendly Indians as may elect to settle thereon with his consent and that of the Secretary of the Interior.