United States Treaties with Indigenous Peoples

Copies of treaties negotiated with the federal government and the respective tribes are a part of the Congressional Record and have been copied and printed in many places. Many have also been made available on the internet.  Click this button for links to databases, indexes, or sites that help you find an American Indian ancestor by topic or tribe.

Treaties
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.

Purpose of Treaties

Treaties were often designed to achieve several goals. Among the goals were, establish peace and friendship, perpetual annuities, removal, land cession (230 treaties involved land cession), allotments, terminate tribe, abolish slavery, appropriations for non-full blooded Indians, roads and railroads, military posts, fishing rights, self-government, blacksmiths - grist mills, subsistence, education, and peace between Tribes.


 * Using Indian Treaties to Locate Genealogical Information. by Larry S.Watson FHL 970.1 J825j Vol. 8 No. 2. pages 2-4.

Indian Peace Medals

The medals were manufactured by the Philadelphia Mint, beginning with the administration of Thomas Jefferson and extending through tat of Benjamin Harrison. The medals were presented to Indian chiefs and warriors on important occasions, such as the signing of treaties or visits to Washington by Indian representatives.

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 University of Oklahoma has them online and searchable by name of tribe or by year. To view them, see their table of contents.

The following is a list of some treaties available elsewhere and 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.


 * Dancing Rabbit Creek, 1830 -- Choctaw
 * Fort Laramie, 1868 -- Sioux
 * Greenville, 1795
 * Medicine Creek, 1854
 * Neah Bay, 1855
 * Point Elliott, 1855
 * Point No Point, 1855
 * Quinault, 1856
 * Walla Walla, 1855
 * Yakama, 1855

 National Archives Catalog
 * Indian Treaties, 1789-1869. NAID 299798