| Notes |
- Lake Pepin Half-Breed Land Tract
AHalf-Breed Tractwas a segment of land designated in the western states by the United States Government in the 19th century specifically for people of American Indian and European ancestry, known as mix bloods or half-breeds. The government set aside such tracts in several U.S. states, including Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Minnesota
Wabasha county and the town of Wabasha, in Minnesota were named in honor of an Indian Chief ofthe M’dewakantonwan Dahkotas, Chief Wa-pa-shaw, by Duncan Graham, a Scottish fur trader, whose wife was the granddaughter of Chief Wapashaw I. Wapashaw’s band along with the children from European and French Canadian fur traders and their native wives, camped along the Mississippi River in this area.
At treaty of 1830 Prairie du Chien, the Indian tribes represented were four bands of the Sioux, theSacs, Foxes, Iowas, Omahas,Otoes, and Missouri Indians surrendered all of their claims to the land in Western Iowa, Northwestern Missouri and especially the country ofthe DesMoines River Valley.The M’dewakantonwan Dahkotas, Wabasha’s band, had a special article (no.9) inserted in the treaty for the benefit of their half-blood relatives.
"The Sioux bands in council have earnestly solicited that they might have permission to bestow upon the half-breeds of their nation the tract of land within the following limits, to wit: Beginning atthe place called the Barn, below and near the village of the Red Wing Chief, and running back fifteen miles; thence, in a parallel line withLake Pepinand the Mississippi, about 32 miles, to a point opposite the river aforesaid; the United States agree to suffer said half-breeds to occupy said tract of country; they holding by the same title, and in the same manner that other Indian titles are held."
The United States agreed to allow these half-breeds to occupy this tract of country, holding title in the same manner that otherIndian titles wereheld (a Reserve). The Second Treatyof Prairie duChien (1830) was approved byU.S. Senate in February 1831, allowing these Metis to settle permanently and legally in the area specified.
Relinquishment
The half-breed or mixed-blood Sioux relinquished their rights to their Reserve on the west side of Lake Pepin, which was set up by article 9 of the Treaty of Prairie du Chien. In return for this relinquishment, the individual Indians, as provided by an Act of Congress of July 17, 1854, (10 Stat. 304) were allowed to select land allotments in the Reserve Area based on their family history and given Land Certificates entitling them to the land selected.
These Land Certificates were issued to claimants based on US Government qualifying affidavits in the years of 1854-56, however there was much controversy, speculation and even litigation over these Certificates in subsequent years.
In time“Lake Pepin”Half-Breed Certificates becamevery valuable to the holders and although a good idea at the time, many were tradedfor very little value or invested in unscrupulous land dealings.
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