Broken Promises at the Spokane Council
A failed federal attempt to force Spokane tribal members onto reservations leaves a legacy of distrust and looming conflict.
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.
We have diligently inquired in relation to what was accomplished by Watkins' council with the Indians at Spokane, and from all we can gather it practically amounted to nothing. In the first place, Watkins had no presents and no money to use in inducing the Indians to be at the council and not more than 200, all told, were there. They were asked to go upon the reservations and to designate the lands they wanted for their respective reserves, which some of them did designate, and they were told that recommendations should be made to Washington in accordance with their wishes. Watkins told them he could not promise them anything definitely, that all would have to be submitted to the authorities at Washington. The Indians wanted to know then what was the object of the council. If he could not promise them anything, how could he expect them to promise to go on the reservations? They must first see and understand that they were to have something in return for their going upon reservations. We understand that conditional promises or agreements were signed by some of them, while others would not sign them; among the latter was Spokane Geary. Moses never made his appearance in the council, but Sherwood was sent to him to find out his views and then report to Gen. Wheaton, to whom Watkins entrusted the matter during his absence. We learn that the half-breeds, who are as well posted as any about the opinions of these Indians, say it will be useless to attempt to compel these Indians to go upon reservations; that they will fight before they will go.
“If he could not promise them anything, how could he expect them to promise to go on the reservations?”
This 1877 report captures a pivotal moment of tension in Washington State history, reflecting the era's 'treaty-making' processes that systematically ignored tribal sovereignty. The struggle over land use and broken federal promises remains a core component of modern Washington’s legal and political landscape regarding land rights.
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