United States Treaties with Indigenous Peoples

Treaties Between the U.S. Government and Native American Tribes
It was determined, even during the Colonial period in North America, that it was desirable to reach agreements with the Native American tribes, rather than fight them. The European countries who had interests in North America all tried to reach such agreements during the time periods they had those interests.

When the federal government was established, efforts were made to persuade the various Indian tribes to give up their claims to land and to remain loyal to the colonists. These agreements were called treaties.

Treaties were negotiated between the federal government and the respective tribes as if the tribes were independent nations. According to the provisions of the U.S. Constitution, such treaties had to be ratified by the U.S. Senate.

Representatives of the federal government and of the particular tribe signed the treaties, so at least some of the tribal members are listed on the treaty. Normally, one of the provisions of a treaty was an annual payment called an annuity.

Copies of treaties are a part of the Congressional Record and have been copied and printed in many places (see Bibliography below). Many have also been made available on the internet.

In general, treaties with Native American tribes ceased by about 1873, although there were a few after that date. After 1873, most agreements between the federal government and the tribes were handled by a more informal method.

Copies of Treaties Available Online
Most of the treaties have been made available online through Charles J. Kappler's Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Other sources exist for non-ratified treaties and copies of treaties from sources other than Kappler's work.

The following is a list of treaties available online. They are arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the treaty, which is often the location where the treaty was signed or the name of the tribe treating with the U.S. government. There are many more which have not yet been added.

AIONAI (Also I-ON-I)

 * Comanche, Aionai, Anadarko, Caddo, Etc., 1846 Oklahoma State University

ANADARKO (Also ANA-DA-CA)

 * Comanche, Aionai, Anadarko, Caddo, Etc., 1846 Oklahoma State University

APACHE

 * Treaty With The Apache, 1852
 * Treaty With The Apache, Cheyenne, And Arapaho, 1865 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Cheyenne And Arapaho, 1865 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Comanche, Kiowa, And Apache,1853 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Kiowa, Comanche, And Apache, 1867 Oklahoma State University

APPALACHICOLA

 * Treaty With The Appalachicola Band, 1832 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Appalachicola Band, 1833 Oklahoma State University

ARAPAHO (Also ARRAPAHOE; ARAPAHOE)

 * Treaty With The Apache, Cheyenne, And Arapaho, 1865 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Arapaho And Cheyenne, 1861 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Cheyenne And Arapaho, 1865 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Cheyenne And Arapaho, 1867 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Northern Cheyenne And Northern Arapaho, 1868 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty Of Fort Laramie With Sioux, Etc., 1851 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Sioux—Brulé, Oglala, Miniconjou, Yanktonai, Hunkpapa, Blackfeet, Cuthead, Two Kettle, Sans Arcs, And Santee—and Arapaho, Oklahoma State University

ARIKARA (Also RICARA; ARICKAREE)

 * Treaty With The Arikara Tribe, 1825 Oklahoma State University
 * Agreement At Fort Berthold, 1866 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty Of Fort Laramie With Sioux, Etc., 1851 Oklahoma State University

ASSINABOINE

 * Treaty Of Fort Laramie With Sioux, Etc., 1851 Oklahoma State University

BANNOCK

 * Treaty With The Eastern Band Shoshoni And Bannock, 1868 Oklahoma State University

BELANTSE-ETOA OR MINITAREE

 * Treaty With The Belantse-Etoa Or Minitaree Tribe, 1825 Oklahoma State University

BLACKFEET (Also BLACKFOOT; BLACKFOOT NATION)

 * Treaty With The Blackfeet, 1855  Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Blackfeet Sioux, 1865 Oklahoma State University

BLOOD

 * Treaty With The Blackfeet, 1855 Oklahoma State University

BROTHERTOWN

 * Treaty With The New York Indians, 1838 Oklahoma State University

CADDO (Also CADOE)

 * Treaty With The Caddo, 1835 Oklahoma State University
 * Treaty With The Comanche, Aionai, Anadarko, Caddo, Etc., 1846 Oklahoma State University

CAHOKIA

 * Treaty With The Peoria, Etc., 1818

CALAPOOIA (See KALAPUYA)
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 * Medicine Creek, 1854
 * Neah Bay, 1855
 * Point Elliott, 1855
 * Point No Point, 1855
 * Quinault, 1856
 * Walla Walla, 1855
 * Yakama, 1855