File:Image from page 235 of "Bulletin" (1901).jpg

English: Title: Bulletin

Identifier: bulletin3011907smit Year: 1901 (1900s) Authors: Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology Subjects: Ethnology Publisher: Washington : G. P. O. Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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Text Appearing Before Image: 218 CATLINITE [b. a. e. that with the aid of the whites blasting has been occasionally resorted to. Some of the present excavations are as much as 10 ft. in depth, and have advanced 20 ft. or more along the dip of the strata to the E. The usual section now ex- posed in the deeper excavations, begin- ning above, shows from 2 to 4 ft. of soil and from 5 to 8 ft. of quartzite rest- ing on the thin stratum of pipestone, beneath which, again forming the bed of the quarry, are compact quartzites. Nu- merous hammers of hard stone, some roughly grooved to facilitate hafting, have been found about the older pits, and the prairie in the vicinity is dotted with camp sites and tent rings about which are strewn bits of pipestone and other refuse of manufacture (see Mines and Quarries). There is a general impression among those who have written on the subject that the discovery and use of the red pipestone by the tribes is of com- parativel y recen t date, and this is no doubt correct; but it is equally certain that it was in use before the arrival of the whites in the N. W. This is made clear not only by history and tra- dition but by the aijpearance of the ancient quarry excava- tions, and espe- cially by the oc currence of pipes and other objects made of it by aboriginal methods in mounds in various sections of the country. (See Pipes.) This quarry is usually referred to as the *acred pipestone quarry. According to statements by Catlin and others, the site was held in much superstitious regard by the aborigines. Traditions of very gen- eral distribution lead to the belief that it was, in the words of Catlin, "held and owned in common, and as neutral ground amongst the different tribes who met here to renew their pipes, under some super- stition which stayed the tomahawk of natural foes always raised in deadly hate and vengeance in other places" (N. Am. Indians, ii, 201, 1844). Nicollet states (1838) that Indians of the surrounding nations made an annual pilgrimage to the quarry unless prevented by wars or dis- sensions. Since the earliest visits of the

Text Appearing After Image: white man to the Coteau des Prairies, however, the site has been occupied ex- clusively by the Sioux, and Catlin met with strong opposition from them when he attempted to visit the quarrv about 1837. The following facts regarding the his- toric occupancy and ownership of the Pipestone ciuarry are extracted from a statement furnished bv Mr Charles H. Bennett, of Pipestone: " On Apr. 30, 1803, the region was acquired by the United States through the Louisiana purchase. On July 23, 1851, the lands, including the quarry, were relinquished to the United States by the Sisseton and Wah- peton Sioux, and on August 5 they were relinquished by the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute Sioux, and 64 chiefs and head warriors who had also a claim. A treaty with the Yankton Sioux, ratified Apr. 19, 1858, specifies that the said Yancton Indians shall be secured in the free and unrestricted use of the red pipe- stone quarry, or so much thereof as they have been accustomed to frequent and use for the pur- pose of procuring stone for pipes; and the United States hereby stipulate and agree to be caused to be surveyed and marked so much PIPESTONE LEDGE APPEARS AT THE thcreof aS shall (BENNETT, COLL.) ]jg nccessary and proper for that purpose, and retain the same and keep it open and free to the In- dians to visit and procure stone for pipes, so long as they shall desire." In 1859, 1 sq. m., including the quarry, was surveyed as a reservation, and in 1892 Congress ap- propriated $25,000 for the establishment of an industrial school, which is now (1905) being successfully conducted, with several stone buildings and some 200 pupils. It is situated on the highland overlooking the pipestone quarries on the E. The Sioux have no other legal claim upon the quarry site than that of quarry- ing the pipestone, a privilege of which they j'early take advantage to a limited extent. The Yankton Sioux, sometimes accompanied by their friends, the Flan- dreau Sioux, continue to visit the quarry and dig pipestone, coming usually in

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