February
27, 1909 – The Commissioner of Indian Affairs was requested to urge the Department of Justice to bring suit against the state of
Minnesota to protect the lands belonging to the Indians in the new county of
Mahnomen. Facts laid before the Indian Commissioner today by Attorney C. B.
Richardson, resident attorney for the White Earth Indians, show a serious
condition to exist in Minnesota, which threatens many of the Indians with the
loss of valuable allotments of farming lands.
William Madison of Beaulieu, representing the aged Chief May-Zhuc-Ke-Ge-Shig of the Chippewas, declares that the state is levying taxes against the land of the Indians, title to which is held in trust by the government and should be free from taxation. He says that the Indians were entirely unprepared for such action, that they have no money to meet the taxes, and that they are completely at a loss to know what to do.
William Madison of Beaulieu, representing the aged Chief May-Zhuc-Ke-Ge-Shig of the Chippewas, declares that the state is levying taxes against the land of the Indians, title to which is held in trust by the government and should be free from taxation. He says that the Indians were entirely unprepared for such action, that they have no money to meet the taxes, and that they are completely at a loss to know what to do.
Chief May-Zhuc-Ke-Ge-Shig1
Meantime land men have come in amongst the Indians, he says, and convincing them that the state will take their land away from them May 1 for taxes, and that the best thing they can do is to sell for whatever they can get. In some cases the Indians have partly agreed to sell their valuable farms for $100 to $200, it is claimed.
Attorney Richardson submitted a brief to the Indian Commissioner today and requested immediate action to protect the Indians through the Department of Justice. He declares that the titles to the land of full-blooded Indians remained in the government, and that the state has no right to tax them; that many of the mixed bloods had not secured full patents to their land, and that therefore their property is also not taxable by the state.
White Earth Indian Reservation2
“Unless the relief suggested can be afforded,” said Mr. Richardson, “the titles to many of the allotments will be clouded and in a majority of cases the peaceable Indians will simply lie down and let the tax title shark walk over him.”
The Minneapolis Tribune; “Would Protect Land of Minnesota Indians. Urged That Department of Justice Sue North Star State. Chippewas and the White Earths Have Representatives in Capitol.”; Feb. 28, 1909; p. 3.
1http://genealogytrails.com/minn/becker/bios_m.html
2https://mrclaystopstudents.wikispaces.com/file/view/map.jpg/223293632/299x280/map.jpg
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