California Treaty P: Camp Fernando Feliz, 1851 (unratified)

What happened

On August 22, 1851, at Camp Fernando Feliz on the Russian River, Indian agent Redick McKee made a treaty with the Sai-nell, Yu-ki-as, Mas-su-ta-ka-ya and Po-mo tribes. In Article 3 they agreed to "relinquish, cede, and forever quit claim" to the United States all their right, title, claim or interest in lands or soil in California. In Article 4 they agreed that within one year, or when the United States required, they would "remove with their families and property from the lands they now occupy on Russian river" to the Clear Lake reservation named in the Camp Lu-pi-yu-ma treaty.

The United States agreed to defray the cost of the removal, run by the Indian agent. It promised 100 head of beef cattle and 200 sacks of flour in 1851 and for two years after the move. Article 5 provided a physician, paid by the United States, until a military post with a surgeon was set up on the reservation.

None of it took effect. It was one of 18 treaties made in California in 1851 and 1852. The National Archives' Prologue magazine says the senators found the commissioners' appointments irregular, were unsure whether Mexico had recognized native land title, and heard strong objections from white Californians. The Senate "rejected the treaties and, following Senate rules, imposed an injunction of secrecy on them." With the treaties rejected, Indian title was left unresolved. Prologue adds that Indians of California later sought compensation for lands taken without payment in a case before the Indian Claims Commission. It reports that "the case was decided in favor of the Indians."

Good to know. Sources give July 2 or July 8, 1852 as the date the Senate rejected it.

Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error