We, the undersigned, Chiefs of the Ponca tribe of Indians present in Washington, D.C., hereby declare that we desire to remain on the lands now occupied by the Poncas, in Indian Territory, the same being a tract of 101,894 acres, and to establish our permanent homes thereon. We desire, further, to relinquish all our right and interest in all the lands formerly owned and occupied by the Ponca tribe in the State of Nebraska and the Territory of Dakota. In compensation for such lands, as well as for the various articles of property we left behind and lost at the time of our removal to the Indian Territory, in the year 1877, and for the depredations committed upon us by the Sioux Indians, for which indemnity was promised us, we ask the Congress of the United States to appropriate the sum of $140,000; the sum of $50,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be expended by the Secretary of the Interior for the purchase of the title to the land at present occupied by the Poncas in the Indian Territory, such title to be invested in the Poncas in fee-simple; $10,000 to be distributed among the Ponca tribe in cash, in equal shares, per capita, and $10,000 to be expended for the purchase of stock, cattle, and draught animals by the Secretary of the Interior, the said stock, cattle, and draught animals to be distributed among the several families of the Ponca tribe, and the remainder of the said sum of $140,000 to be held as a permanent fund in the Treasury of the United States, bearing interest at the rate of five per centum per annum, the said interest to be annually distributed in cash among the members of the Ponca tribe in equal shares per capita. This sum of $140,000, so expended and invested as aforesaid, is to be a full satisfaction of all our claims for the lands formerly owned and occupied by us in Nebraska and Dakota, as well as for the goods and property lost by us in consequence of our removal to the Indian Territory, and for the depredations committed upon us by the Sioux, provided, "that this is not to be construed as abrogating the annuities granted to the Poncas by former treaties. We declare this to be an expression of our free will and desire, as well as that of our people at present residing on the Ponca Reservation in the Indian Territory, and we ask that this declaration and request be submitted to the Congress of the United States for its favorable consideration and action.
Done at Washington, this 22d day of December, A.D. 1880.
Signed by:
White X Eagle.
Standing X Buffalo.
Black X Crow.
The X Chief.
White X Swan.
Hairy X Bear.
Big X Soldier.
Child X Chief.
Buffalo X Chief.
Red X Leaf.
Authentication:
I hereby certify that the foregoing agreement was duly interpreted and explained to the Ponca chiefs by me before signing the same, and that they fully understood the contents thereof.
J. Owen Dorsey,
Interpreter.
We also certify that we were present and heard the foregoing agreement read and interpreted to the Ponca Chiefs, and that they fully understood the same.
Joseph Esau, his x mark.
Antoine Leroy, his x mark.
Witness:
Joseph T. Bender.
Attest:
E. M. Marvel.
J. M. Haworth.
C. Schurz.