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Treaty

Sioux (Wahashaw's Band) (1836)

In 1836 Wahashaw's band of Sioux gave up their claim to the land between Missouri and the Missouri River for $400 in presents.

Signed
September 10, 1836
Senate
Ratified

What happened

In a convention dated September 10, 1836, Colonel Zachary Taylor, acting as Indian agent, met the chiefs, braves and principal men of the Sioux of Wa-ha-shaw's tribe. The talks concerned land lying between the State of Missouri and the Missouri River.

The treaty explains why. An earlier treaty, Prairie du Chien in 1830, had said this country was to be assigned to tribes living there or to others the President might place there. The 1836 text says it was "desirable" that the lands be attached to Missouri and the Indian title ended, and that the earlier treaty's terms would be kept until the Indians involved agreed.

The signers then agreed to "forever cede, relinquish, and quit claim" all their right, title and interest. The text gives their reasons as a belief that the land could never serve Indian purposes and that settling Indians there would lead to collisions with United States citizens. It also frees the United States from any earlier guarantee about the land.

In return the United States agreed to furnish presents worth four hundred dollars, in goods or in money. The treaty was proclaimed on February 15, 1837. Five chiefs and headmen made their marks.

Good to know. The reasons given in the treaty are the words of a document written by the United States side; whether the signers saw it the same way is not recorded.

Summarized with AI assistance from 3 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error

What the sources say, and how this was checked

Well supported by the sources below.

  1. forever cede, relinquish, and quit claim to the United States, all our right, title and interest of whatsoever natureTribal Treaties Database (Oklahoma State University): Sioux (Wahashaw's Band) (1836)
  2. cause said tribes to be furnished with presents to the amount of four hundred dollarsTribal Treaties Database (Oklahoma State University): Sioux (Wahashaw's Band) (1836)
  3. Sept. 10, 1836. | 7 Stat., 510. | Proclamation, Feb. 15, 1837.Tribal Treaties Database (Oklahoma State University): Sioux (Wahashaw's Band) (1836)

Research notes. The treaty text does not say what happened to the land or the people afterward. The treaty's reasons are the words of the document as written by the United States side; whether the signers saw it the same way is not recorded.

What happened next

Everything the record holds about this land and this treaty, in order: what earlier agreements said, what this one did, and what the United States, the courts and the nations did afterwards.

Who is doing the work today

The nations connected to this treaty come first, then groups returning land and defending treaty rights. Support goes directly to them.

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Working with these nations

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Sources

  1. treaties.okstate.edu/treaties/treaty-with-the-sioux-1836-0466reference work
    Treaty with the Sioux, 1836 Sept. 10, 1836. | 7 Stat., 510.

Shapes are approximate and are not legal descriptions of land, title or jurisdiction.