The Sacred Buffalo Vision by Robert J. Juneau and Robert C. Juneau pg.85-86

The Dawes Act was compared to the Magna Charta for Indians and trumpeted as the “Indian Declaration of Independence” by cynical Western Congressmen, corrupt Executive Branch, and bogus National Indian Land Reform Organizations, but the 1887 allotment act was regarded by the Indians as merely another abuse of Indian property.  

The Act of March 1, 1907 to allot the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, introduced by Senator Walsh of Montana in a bill in Congress created a series of corrupt practices that led to loss of Blackfeet allotted lands, minerals, and water rights. The border-states were adept at manipulating the Plenary Powers of Congress over property of the Indians for their constituents benefit.

Representative Mann protested the efforts of Senator Walsh of Montana to strip the mineral ownership of Blackfeet property from the Blackfeet Indians, “That is once when the [Senate] Indian Affairs Committee put something over on the House. The House has been endeavoring to protect these [mineral] rights for a long time and not let the white man steal it from the Indians.” Mr. Chandler of Oklahoma, “This does not give it to the white men.” Mr. Mann, “Pretty nearly.”

Three Bears spoke at the tribal council meeting on the issue of allotment of the reservation, and the sale of surplus Blackfeet lands containing the irrigated lands and oil fields, “It isn’t right for somebody to try to sell our land on the sly. I have traveled a whole lot. I have gone West and East. I went where I saw nothing but water and I have seen many people. You fellows don’t know what land is. The people I saw are just like this water; they flood the country and I am afraid that some of these days the white people will flood our lands, and there will be nothing left for us.” Joe Spanish said “Senator Walsh is looking out for himself and his re-election and will starve us down to nothing. This bill will be the end of our reservation and our cattle industry.”
-The Sacred Buffalo Vision by Robert J. Juneau and Robert C. Juneau
pg.85-86