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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1926)
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN PAGE 4 A STORY (Continued from page 1) tained speech and spirit were called “Thlinget,” meaning beings on two feet, or in this day just "people.” So it came about that in the course of time these Thlingets, or beings, meeting strangers they would ask one-another, "Who are you?” or "What are you?” One would answer, "I am a bear,” or wolf, or eagle, or any other animal—each man claiming to have de scended from some certain animal. It was in this way that, as they gained clanish pride, they began to adopt, first the skulls of their particular animal ancestors and then crudely to cut them in wood with nothing better than sharpened bone and rocks. These carved things were always made into headpieces. The more fierce looking they were the better, for it kept the enemies away and it made the wearer do more brave deeds. When the Thlingets began to live in communities they built clan houses; each clan house having its particular animal aspect. The four corner-posts are al ways the legend of the clan, carved with great care and ceremony by the consecrated men of other clans. Finally were carved poles to stand in front of the clan houses, an enemy who entered therein in time of war was never harmed. It is seen that these people lived unconsciously in a spiritual state, and some in time grew sick; but some there were who lived consciously in the spirit and these became "medicine men.” They did not get sick— they cured sickness. SEMINOLES MAKE PEACE There are still some American Indians in the United States who have never recognized the U. S. Govern ment nor sworn allegiance to it. The total Indian population of this country is about 350,000. Nearly all these Indians are living peaceably on reservations provided by the Government. But down in Florida there is a little group (less than 500) of Seminóles who have always refused to accept favors from the United States and have steadfastly refused to swear allegiance to this Government. Now, they are mak ing arrangements to come into the fold. Their Chief is known as "Tony Tommy.” His Indian name is Ha-Thon-Wa-Har-Chee. He has writ ten a letter to President Coolidge. He says that it is the sincere and earnest wish of the members of the Seminole Indian Nation in Florida to swear allegiance to the Government and "to take such other legal and necessary steps as will remove all legal restrictions that have heretofore prevented them from eujoying all the rights and privileges accorded other nations and peoples by the United States.” Chief "Tony Tommy” is getting ready to go to Washington to make a personal call on the President and to arrange the details for making the Seminóles loyal citizens of the United States. Charles H. Burke, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, says that the Government will establish Indian schools in Florida and grant the Seminóles land for their homes. The Government would have taken this action long ago had the Seminóles been willing to accept its favors. The Seminóles have an interesting history. They waged two wars against the United States. The first was in 1817-1818. In that conflict the Seminóles were defeated and subdued by General Andrew Jack- son. The second Seminole War (1835-1842) was one of the most bitter Indian wars in American history. Many persons were killed on both sides and the con flict cost the government many millions of dollars. The second Seminole War was caused by the efforts of the Government to move Indians in Georgia, Ala bama, Mississippi and Florida to the Indian Territory, now a part of the state of Oklahoma. The Indians thus moved were the Cherokees, the Choctaws, the Chickasaws, the Creeks and the Seminóles. In 1834 the Seminóles made a treaty with the United States in which they agreed to transfer their land in Florida to the government in return for land in the Indian Ter ritory. Some of the Seminóles refused to abide by the treaty and declared war on the United States. The leader of the Indians was Osceola, the famous Seminole chief. In 1837 Osceola was captured by U. S. troops under the command of General Thomas Jesup. General Jesup arranged for a conference with Osceola under a flag of truce. While the conference was in progress the soldiers seized Osceola. He was imprisoned and died a few months later. General Jesup gave as an excuse for violating the flag of truce that Osceola had broken treaties made by the Seminóles. The Semi nóles were finally defeated and in 1843, most of them were sent to the Indian Territory. A little group, however, fled to the everglades, or swamps, of south ern Florida. The descendants of that group are the present Florida Seminóles. The wife of Chief "Tony Tommy” is a granddaughter of Osceola. Chief “Tony Tommy” says that the Seminóles have "buried the hatchet” with the United States because the Government has been very kind to them in recent years. The Indians are now willing to forgive the broken truce of 1837 and to live with their white brothers in peace and friendship. He makes only one condition. That is that the Seminóles and their de scendants in Florida shall never be moved from there. There seems to be no doubt that the Government will accept this condition. Under the law all Indians born in the United States are citizens of this country. They have the right to vote if they meet the conditions required of all other citizens. That is, they must meet all educational and other tests for voters provided by State laws. The Seminóles who were sent to the Indian Terri tory prospered there. Their descendents now number more than 3,000 and own more than 300,000 acres of land. Before the Civil War the members of the five tribes from the southern states that were sent to Okla homa owned slaves. Those Indians supported the Con federacy in the Civil War. When the war ended the Government compelled the Indians to give back much of their land in Indian Territory. That land, together with land not occupied by the Indians there, became the Territory of Oklahoma in 1890, by act of Congress. In 1907, Indian Territory and the Territory of Okla homa were admitted to the Union as one State, with the name Oklahoma.
