For compliance of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs request for the "death sticks" body counts of dead Indians, Chief White Calf reported that out of his family of fifteen, four died last year, Running Crane's family of fourteen, six died, Little Bull lost three out of his family of nine, Skunk Cap lost three out of ten in his family, and Bear Chief lost one out of eight in his family and so on to over 600 deaths officially reported. White Calf, who is principle chief, said he was grieved to see his people suffering, and wanted to know why they cannot get more food and why the Indians in Canadian Territory receive seeds and rations to live on, and he wants to be treated as they are. Agent Allen reported "The Indians offer themselves to work for food and where ten are called for fifty will appear, but while there are many ways where the agent could employ them, he is unable to do so because they must be paid in rations and there are none to spare. The Indians try to plant. For example, a patch of ground was seen where they had cut the ground with an ax, and scratched the ground with their fingers in order to plant some potatoes. None of their ponies are strong enough to break the soil, and what seeds and potatoes were furnished, they immediately ate. Everything about them indicates their poverty. They have not a fur or skins for moccasins and there is nothing in their lodges except for the people themselves. The chiefs are very desirous that some of them should be allowed to go to Washington to represent their hardships to the Great Father, but their application to that effect has been denied by the Indian Office on the score that there is no money disposable to pay the expenses of their trip.
-The Sacred Buffalo Vision by Robert J. Juneau and Robert C. Juneau
pg.41
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