Letter from Eufaula Harjo to Secretary of War - October 5, 1917

Transcript

Hanna Indian Territory. October 5, 1917. To the Honorable Secretary of War, Washington, D.C. Dear Uncle: I wish you hear Indian crying in this country. Yes, that is so. Our grandfather made four white path, and we do not want ruin these four path. And you are the one to guard these white path and appointed you in sight of God and set on that white chair to protect our Indian people, yes that is so. We never against these white people in this country, nor any other foreign nation; it is so. You sent officials to this country to see or investigate the Indians, but they never come to see our full-blood Indian; whenever come in this country, they came to city of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and they has secret conversation with them white people, and went back, to do all they can injurious to the full-blood Indian and disturbed them. The Indian Agent understand all these injury to the full-blood Indians. And them officials of Washington city are know all what we saying. And also, say this, that we had several Academies in the Indian Territory, but filled with only white children, and also robbed us our valuable things in our home. How is it? These people, white body like you are, did not know the law? Where does they come from; did they fall down from the sky or they came out from deep water? And also, gathered them many of our young men and send them far distand land and we are considering sorrow and sympathy. So I say this, after you made true and sacred treaty to us, what reason you going acquittal our people? I wish you tell me, that we beg you this, we stand by the treaty of 1832, say as long as grass grew, water run and sun rises. From yours truly, Eufaula Harjo, Speaker of four nations. Chocutte Yarhola, Headman, Cosar Fixicochee.