An 1876 Petition for a Turtle Mountain Reservation of 50x60 Miles

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In 1876, the leaders of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa made a petition to the US Government asking for a settlement of their issues. They made several key points and concessions, and asked for considerations for their request to cede over 9-million acres of land in North Dakota. Some of the key points of the memorial are as follows:

1. Sets forth the territory claimed by the Turtle Mountain Band;
   
2. Complains about the establishment of the Spirit Lake Sioux Reservation on Turtle Mountain lands;
   
3. Asks for a reservation to be set aside for the Turtle Mountain full-bloods and half-breeds that was to be established in an area surrounding the Turtle Mountains 50 miles north-south and 60 miles east-west;
   
4. Asks for doctor, a person to teach farming to the tribal members, a wagon-maker, and two school teachers for the reservation.;
   
5. Asks for $20,000 annually for 20 years to be distributed per-capita;
   
6. Suggests that 600 pieces of land scrip to be issued within the area reserved for the tribe and its members.
   

The petition was signed by Little Shell, Little Bull, Kaishpa, and Kawa-sawinin. 

​Unfortunately it was never acted upon and the reservation was later established to its current 8 miles by 12 miles size in 1884.