CAMPBELL, Acting Minister of the Interior to the governor-general, August 13, 1879

The acting minister of the interior to the governor-general.

The undersigned has the honor to report for the information of his excellency the governor-general in council, that recent events have taken place in connection with the Sioux Indians who were driven into British territory by United States troops in 1876, and whose case has already called forth considerable correspondence between the two governments of a character such as to cause increased anxiety to the Government of Canada, and the undersigned is of opinion that the present condition of these Indians and the possible consequences of their being forced to remain north of the line, under existing circumstances, should be brought to the notice of the Government of the United States with as little delay as possible.

The views of the Canadian Government, as to its responsibilities in connection with these refugee Sioux, are fully set forth in the order in council, dated the 17th of March last, which was duly communicated, and while the attitude of the government on this question remains the same, circumstances have occurred of a character which may result in possible hostilities on the part of the Sioux towards our settlements in the territories.

The events to which allusion is made may be adverted to as follows:

The Sioux appeared to be contented in our territory as long as it afforded them food, but as the buffalo disappeared during last spring, going southerly into the Missouri country, the Indians followed to obtain subsistence, and, it is said, while thus engaged were encountered by General Miles, who, according to the last advices, would appear to have succeeded in placing his force between them and the buffalo, driving the Indians across the boundary line.

Were it possible for the Sioux to obtain food of other kinds on British territory, the proceeding of General Miles might not call for remark; but in view of the facts, the buffalo, being the only Indian food-supply in that country, having deserted it, the consequences in relation to our scattered settlements are, to the undersigned, a cause of great and immediate anxiety.

The undersigned conceives it to be the duty of the government to remonstrate against a course of action the effect of which may be to force a powerful body of savages into Dominion territory, under circumstances where they may be driven by starvation to ravage peaceful and unprotected settlements.

The undersigned cannot but think that, on a representation of the facts, the United States Government will be induced to adopt some measure by which such possible disaster may be averted, and he respectfully recommends that a favorable view of the proposition contained in the concluding paragraph of the report accompanying the order in council of the 17th of March last, before mentioned, be urged upon the United States Government.

The time and circumstances would appear to be opportune, and there is reason to hope that an effort in such direction, judiciously managed, would result in the greater part, if not all, of the Sioux laying down their arms and returning to United States territory.

Much encouragement is afforded to this view by the Rev. Abbot Martin, O. B. S., superior of the Order of Benedictine Monks, having charge of the missions among the Dakota Nation. Abbot Martin, while in Ottawa recently, expressed to the minister of the interior his willingness, if authorized thereto by the United States Government, to visit the various bands of refugees in British territory with the object of inducing them to return, and appeared confident that, although he failed in a similar but self-imposed mission in 1877, he would succeed now, owing to the scarcity of food for the Indians in our territory, and further, in consequence of his having good reason to believe that it is now the desire of many of their leading men to return who were opposed to the proposition when formerly made.

The minister of the interior took occasion to assure the Rev. Abbot Martin that the Government of Canada would gladly give its aid to any scheme by which the return of the Sioux to their own country could be effected in a peaceable and proper manner

Respectfully submitted.