The Treaty of Washington, 1836

The Treaty of Washington, 1836. . , Side 1 , For centuries, the Odawa and Ojibway fought to control their way of life and lands. After the War of 18 12, the Anishnaabek faced new threats from the expanding United States. In 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, which allowed the government to seize Native lands and force inhabitants to resettle west of the Mississippi River. , , The Anishnaabek needed a treaty to stay in Michigan. In the fall of 1835, Odawa from the Little Traverse, Grand River, Grand Traverse, and Muskegon, along with Ojibway from Sault Ste. Marie and Mackinac, travelled to Washington, D.C. for treaty negotiations. Henry Schoolcraft, Indian agent for the Michigan Territory, handled treaty negotiations on behalf of the United States. Many Anishnaabek did not trust Schoolcraft. , , Negotiations went on for weeks. Each group of Anishnaabek expressed the wishes of their communities, who hoped to retain their traditional lands and receive government annuities. The United States wanted Anishnaabek land. Fur traders, with whom the Odawa and Ojibway had outstanding debts, also frequented the negotiations, further complicating matters by inserting their own interests. , , The Odawa and Ojibway agreed to cede over 13 million acres of land to the United States. In return, the Treaty of Washington guaranteed permanent reservation lands and access to natural resources, including hunting and fishing rights. The United States agreed to pay for the land and provide additional services. The Anishnaabek left Washington confident they had avoided forced removal. After the Senate ratified the treaty in 1836, Schoolcraft brought it to Mackinac Island for approval by tribal leaders. , , Top image caption: Alfred Waud sketched this Native camp at Mackinac Island's British Landing in 1853. , , Middle image caption: The Anishnaabek agreed to cede much of their land, highlighted on this map in yellow, to the United States through the 1836 Treaty of Washington. , , Side 2 , Continued from other side , Over 4,000 Odawa and Ojibway descended upon the island, eager to see the agreement that would keep them in Michigan and provide much-needed goods and annuities. When Schoolcraft revealed the treaty the Anishnaabek were shocked- it was not the same document they signed in Washington. Article II, inserted by the Senate after Anishnaabek leaders departed in 1835, declared that tribal lands were guaranteed for only five years, "unless the United States shall grant them permission to remain on said lands for a longer period." , , No goods, monies or services would be released until the Anishnaabek signed the treaty. The leaders reluctantly signed. Schoolcraft assured the tribes he would advocate against Anishnaabek removal. However, within two years, Schoolcraft called for Anishnaabek relocation to Kansas, claiming the Odawa and Ojibway could not be civilized. , , The Odawa and Ojibway would not leave their lands, and fought to remain at the Straits of Mackinac. They ultimately signed the 1855 Treaty of Detroit, which removed the possibility of forced relocation and kept the Anishnaabek in Michigan. , , The 1836 Treaty of Washington is one of the most important events in modern Anishnaabek and Michigan history. Without the Anishnaabek land acquired through the 1836 treaty, Michigan would not have been granted statehood in 1837. In addition, the treaty set the stage for self-government by the tribes and established reservations, hunting and fishing rights, and tribal relations with the federal government. , , Inset box: , Signatories of the 1836 Treaty of Washington D.C. , ,

Henry Schoolcraft	Onaisino of L'Abre Croche
Wasaw Bequm of Grand River	Mukuday Benais of L'Abre Croche
John Hulbert, secretary	Chingassamo of L'Abre Croche
Ainse of Michilimackinac	Aishquagonabee of Grand Traverse
Oroun Aishkum, of Maskigo	Akosa of Grand Traverse
Chabowaya of Michilimackinac	Oshawun Epenaysee of Grand Traverse
Wassangaze of Maskigo	Lucius Lyon
Jawba Wadiek of Sault Ste. Marie	R.P. Parrot, captain, U.S. Army
Osawya of Maskigo	W.P. Zantzinger, purser, U.S. Navy
Waub Ogeeg of Sault Ste. Marie	Josiah F. Polk
Wabi Windego of Grand River	John Holiday
Kawgayosh of Sault Ste. Marie	John A. Drew
Megiss Ininee of Grand River	Rix Robinson
Apawkozigun of L'Abre Croche	Leonard Slater
Nabun Ageezhig of Grand River	Louis Moran
Keminitchagun of L'Abre Croche	Augustine Hamelin Jr.
Winnimissagee of Grand River	Henry A. Lenake
Tawaganee of L'Abre Croche	William Lasley
Mukutaysee of Grand River	George W. Woodward
Kinoshamaig of L'Abre Croche	C.O. Ermatinger
Naganigobowa of L'Abre Croche