Chief Moses Agrees to Relocate
A landmark settlement in Washington Territory promises to open two million acres to settlement.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
WASHINGTON, July 6.—As the result of a conference with Secretary Teller today, Chief Moses agrees to surrender his reservation in Washington Territory and settle with his people on the Colville reservation adjoining Chief Tomaskat, who represents the Indians now on the Colville reservation. Chief Tomaskat requested Secretary Teller to erect upon the Colville reservation a sawmill, grist mill, and schoolhouse, and furnish a physician for the Indians. Moses gave notice that he would expect compensation for relinquishing his reservation. It is expected the agreement between the Government and Chief Moses will result in throwing open for settlement 2,000,000 acres of desirable land.
“It is expected the agreement between the Government and Chief Moses will result in throwing open for settlement 2,000,000 acres of desirable land.”
This decision by Chief Moses marked a pivotal moment in the dispossession of Indigenous lands in the Pacific Northwest, turning vast territories over to the growth machine. Today, the legacies of these broken-up reservations and land claims remain a core element of the ongoing legal and moral struggle for tribal sovereignty in Washington State.
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