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Collection Summary
Collection: 2019P162 - Leo D. Harris Photo Collection
Folder: 0001
Item: 00011
Title: Drags Wolf stands ready to unveil the monument to the Treaty Council at Fort Laramie of 1851, Elbowoods (N.D.)
Date: 9/8/1933
Creator: Harris, Leo D.
Inscription/Marks: [Handwritten in white on bottom of photograph] Elbowoods N.D. Photographed by Leo D. Harris.
Summary: Drags Wolf, in regalia, stands to photo left of the Monument to the Treaty Council at Fort Laramie of 1851 wrapped in a U. S. Flag. Men on horseback and people can be seen in the background. Some are holding flags on flagstaffs. __Unveiling the Monument to the Treaty Council at Fort Laramie of 1851, Elbowoods (N.D.) notes by Major Alfred Burton Welch. https://tinyurl.com/y5qrhgcz I had been invited to be one of the speakers at this ceremony, a month before. The committee – Drags Wolf, Bear’s Arm and another Gros Ventre Chief (Whose name I do not recall) visited me very ceremoniously, and invited me through their interpreter, Arthur Mandan, to be present and to attend to the securing and cutting of the stone to be used as a pedestal for the 18 inch statue of the Indian. The statue was secured of the firm of American Art Bronze Company, 4923 West Lake Street, Chicago, while I was in Chicago with a body of Sioux Indians during the week of August 27th to September 3rd. It cost $1509.00 and is called the Peacemaker, being very appropriate for the purpose. Dr. Rowley of Mandan, accompanied me and we started early on the 8th of September, going via Bismarck-Washburn-Garrison. The annual Fair was in progress at Elbowoods, with is the official government station of that Reservation, and about 2500 people had gathered there, mostly Indians. I noted members of the following tribes present: Gros Ventre (Hidatsa); Arikara (Sanish); Mandan (Numakaki); Arapaho; Sioux; Assiniboine; Blackfeet (Montana Piegans); Sioux (Pabaksa) from Montana; Crows (Absaraka) of Montana, and there were probably others. The statue is mounted on a base and shaft (18” square and about 6” high, which is polished red granite from a boulder we found south of St. Anthony. Upon this shaft is the statue. It was draped with a large American flag which was my property, and is located just in front of the Agency Administration Building at Elbowoods, on the left bank of the Missouri River. The statue shows an Indian naked to the waist; braided hair; one feather, large earrings; leggings tied at the knees; moccasins, quiver between his feet; bow held in left hand, while the right extends a peace pipe toward the observer. It is called the “Peacemaker” and is a very beautiful statuette of bronze. A large truck was made use of as a speakers stand; a band of ten pieces, all Indians, provided real good music, appropriate to the occasion; Arthur Mandan was Master of Ceremonies; ten old men served as musicians (vocal). Some planes were there also, and swooped down over the statue during my address. Congressman J. H. Sinclair spoke after the Agent Mr. McCullough addressed the crowd. Chiefs Drags Wolf, Bear’s Arm of the Gros Ventre; Yellow Bear of the Arikaras; and (name forgotten) of the Mandans – all made speeches. Vocal music was Indian of course, and they started with the song of the Stone Hammer Society (the first society in which young men belonged); then followed after each speaker, the song of the next higher “degree” society, membership in which had to be “purchased” by the young aspirant as he advanced in age and noble deeds. The last society of the Gros Ventre is the “OLD DOGS” to which only very old men honorable and brave, were permitted membership. The natural oratorical ability of the native Indian was clearly shown during the speeches; their gestures and stage presence is perfect and they never lack for words, and when through, they say so, and leave the platform. I gleaned this information regarding Four Bears the Gros Ventre: Born at the “Big Village” of the Gros Ventre, on the north side or left bank of the Knife River in 1811; his father was a Chief; he aspired to be a great man among them and by his bravery and ability soon did so. He selected the site of the new village “Fish Hook” and led the people across the river to that location in 1842. It was bare prairie at that time; the Missouri River protecting the west, south and east sides, and they built a ditch and picket fortification across the land side (north). They were followed by the Mandans in 1845. Removal caused chiefly on account of the small-pox which had reaped a terrible harvest among them at the old villages at Fort Clark and Knife River sites. Fish Hook Village became known in later early years as Fort Berthold, and U. S. Soldiers were posted there until removed to Fort Stevenson about 15 miles east. When Four Bears was 40 years old, those Indians received an invitation to be present at Fort Laramie to meet some Commissioners, and Four Bears decided to go. The Arikara were still living at the Fort Clark Village (where the Mandans had lived so long). This was Mihtuttahangkush. The Chief visited the three tribes and asked for volunteers for the 500 mile trip, saying that he was going even though he had to go alone. The Gros Ventres who accompanied him were: Chicken Bear, Man Chief, Black Shield, Advancing Along (Aru-pa-ha-rus), Red Thigh, Never Retreats, A. Culbertson, Interpreter. Arikaras were: Bear Chief, Grey Prairie Eagle (Be Atche), Carries the Moccasin (Who had been through the country and was the official “trail finder.”), Tied, Wind Woman (wife of one of the Arikara), Knowing Goes Among (Interpreter). The only Mandan was: Raven Chief. These names are all engraven upon the sides of the monument. After my address, I was presented with a 31 eagle feather war bonnet, by the great grandson of Chief Four Bears – a boy of about eight years, named “Bells” – a son of Walter Bells, a grandson of Four Bears. I gave the flag to the Old Dogs Society, and a photostat copy of Fort Laramie Treaty of 1852, to the Gros Ventres to keep. Their parade had about 50 Indians, mounted and dressed in their own particular tribal costumes.
Red ID: PH_I_149355 Image ID: 175609 Image Notes: 2019-P-162-00011

Collection: 2019P162 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: Leo D. Harris Photo Collection
Date: 1925-circa 1960

Summary: Images of people and events on the Fort Berthold Reservation including dedication of the Four Bears Bridge, the Four Bears monument and the monument to the Fort Laramie Tribal Council of 1851, as well as images of the men who repatriated the Water Buster Bundle.

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