Sauk and Fox (1836)
In 1836 the Sac and Fox ceded their interest in the land between Missouri and the Missouri River.
- Signed
- September 27, 1836
- Senate
- Ratified
What happened
What happened
On September 27, 1836, Henry Dodge, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, met the chiefs, braves and principal men of the Sac and Fox. The subject was the strip of country between the State of Missouri and the Missouri River.
The treaty text recalls that the 1830 treaty of Prairie du Chien said this country was to be assigned to tribes living on it, or to others the President might place there. It then says it was represented as "desirable" that the lands become part of Missouri and the Indian title be ended. It adds that the earlier terms would be strictly observed until the Indians concerned gave their assent.
The Sac and Fox signers then agreed to "forever cede, relinquish, and quit claim" every right, title and interest in those lands. The document says they were "well satisfied" the lands could never be used for Indian purposes, and that settling Indians there would lead to collisions with citizens of the United States.
They also freed the United States from any guarantee, condition or limitation in the 1830 treaty, letting it do with the lands whatever seemed expedient. The page lists about two dozen marks, including Keokuk's, and records proclamation on February 15, 1837. It states no payment.
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.
forever cede, relinquish, and quit claim to the United States, all our right, title, and interest of whatsoever nature
Tribal Treaties Database (Oklahoma State University): Sauk and Fox (1836)fully authorizing the United States to do with the same whatever shall seem expedient or necessary
Tribal Treaties Database (Oklahoma State University): Sauk and Fox (1836)Sept. 27, 1836. | 7 Stat., 516. | Proclamation, Feb. 15, 1837.
Tribal Treaties Database (Oklahoma State University): Sauk and Fox (1836)
Research notes. The treaty text does not say what happened to the land or the people afterward. The page shows no payment or presents in this treaty.
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.
Who is doing the work
This history belongs to living nations. Start with them:
- Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa
- Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska
- Sac & Fox Nation, Oklahoma
Native legal and land defense, nationally
- Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Native-led Litigation and legal advocacy for tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, land and resources Give on their site Website
- NDN Collective (LANDBACK Campaign) Native-led LANDBACK campaign (launched 2020; Mount Rushmore closure and return of Black Hills public lands), Indigenous… Give on their site Website
- Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) Native-led Land recovery and control by tribes and individual Indian landowners Website
- Decolonizing Wealth Project (Indigenous Earth Fund; California Tribal Land Return) Native-led Reparative philanthropy Give on their site Website
Gifts go straight to each organization; this atlas takes nothing. Listing is not endorsement: how organizations are listed.
Sources
Sources
- treaties.okstate.edu/treaties/treaty-with-the-sauk-and-fox-tribe-1836-0473reference work
Treaty with the Sauk and Fox Tribe, 1836 Sept. 27, 1836. | 7 Stat., 516.
Shapes are approximate and are not legal descriptions of land, title or jurisdiction.