Treaty of Medicine Lodge (Kiowa, Comanche and Apache), 1867

What happened

On October 21, 1867, at Medicine Lodge Creek, the same seven U.S. commissioners who signed the Kiowa and Comanche treaty signed a second, supplementary treaty with chiefs of the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache. The commissioners included Nathaniel G. Taylor, William S. Harney and John B. Sanborn.

In Article 1 the Apache tribe agreed "to confederate and become incorporated with the said Kiowa and Comanche Indians." They also agreed to accept as their permanent home the reservation described in the Kiowa and Comanche treaty, and not to settle anywhere outside it. In Article 2 the Kiowa and Comanche agreed that the benefits of their treaty, including physicians, teachers, farmers, blacksmiths, agency buildings, mills and schools, would be shared equally with the Apache.

In Article 3 the United States agreed to share clothing and annuities equally with the Apache and to raise the annual appropriation from $25,000 to $30,000 for the three tribes. In Article 4 the Apache agreed to follow the original treaty. They also gave up rights under the 1865 Little Arkansas treaties with the Cheyenne and Arapaho.

The Supreme Court's opinion in Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock (1903) describes it the same way: by a separate treaty the Apache were incorporated with the other two tribes and became entitled to share the reservation's benefits.

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