Starvation noted at Turtle Mountain

---

Fort Peck Agent Deals with 200 Starving Metis from Turtle Mt.

The superintendent of the Fort Peck Agency reported on troubles he was having with half-breed Metis haunting his agency during the year of 1894. According to his report, there were many of these people coming from Canada and from Turtle Mountain, and he was increasingly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers requesting assistance after fleeing harsh conditions and starvation at Turtle Mountain .

Montana Metis

According to his letter to the Secretary of Indian Affairs, he stated that he was "...a great deal annoyed by Indians and half-breeds coming from the Turtle Mountain country, from the American and Canadian side of the line.  Late in last fall nearly 200 poverty-stricken and diseased wretches of half-breeds, foisted themselves upon me, and stated that they had come from the subagency of Devils Lake, at Turtle Mountain, and that starvation compelled them to leave. They had to be taken care of. The Department acted very generously in their cases. To have returned them at that season of the year would have caused much suffering and loss of life to the children. I got rid of them as soon as I could". 

Adapted from United States Congressional serial set, Issue 3306, Report to the House of Representatives (1895). Government Printing Office.