Medicine Lodge Treaty Signed by Plains Tribes

October 21st, 1867

October 21st, 1867

Medicine Lodge Treaty Signed by Plains Tribes
How Long Ago?

157 years, 4 months, 22 days ago

Location

Medicine Lodge, Kansas, USA

Category

Politics & Government

People
  • William Tecumseh Sherman
  • Elijah Sells
  • Black Kettle
  • Nokoni
Links & References
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Medicine Lodge Treaty Signed by Plains Tribes

The Medicine Lodge Treaty was signed in 1867 between the United States government and representatives of southern Great Plains Indian tribes, including the Comanche, Cheyenne, and Arapaho. The treaty required the tribes to relocate to a designated reservation in the western Indian Territory. It aimed to establish peace between the tribes and settlers by addressing conflicts arising from expansion and migration in the region. The signing occurred at Medicine Lodge Creek in Kansas, symbolizing a critical moment in Native American and U.S. relations.

Treaty aimed to end conflicts with tribes

Required tribes to relocate to western reservations

Promised annual supplies and protections

Led to long-term impacts on tribal cultures

What Happened?

The Medicine Lodge Treaty involved negotiations between the U.S. government and several tribes of the southern Great Plains, aiming to bring an end to conflicts arising from American expansion into Native American territories. The treaty was signed at Medicine Lodge Creek in Kansas, where representatives from the Comanche, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and other tribes gathered with U.S. officials. This meeting was part of a broader strategy by the federal government to reduce hostilities and consolidate Native American tribes into designated reservations. The treaty established that tribes would surrender their claims to vast territories in exchange for a reservation in present-day Oklahoma.

Among the terms of the treaty, the U.S. promised to provide annual supplies, goods, and financial support to the tribes in return for their peace and compliance with relocation. The agreement also identified the responsibilities of the U.S. government in maintaining peaceful relations and promised military protection against potential hostilities from settlers and other tribes. However, these assurances were often not fulfilled, leading to further conflicts and disillusionment among Indigenous peoples.

The signing of the Medicine Lodge Treaty was both a military strategy and a political maneuver aimed at reducing armed resistance from the tribes while increasing American settlement in the West. The treaty's implementation ultimately led to significant cultural and social shifts for the tribes involved, forcibly relocating them and disrupting traditional ways of life. Many tribes resisted the move, leading to further tensions and violence in the years to come. The treaty's legacy continues to impact Native American sovereignty and land rights discussions today.

Why Does it Matter?

The Medicine Lodge Treaty is interesting as it symbolizes the U.S. government's attempt to manage Native American affairs through treaties. Despite initial hopes for peace and assistance, it led to significant loss of land and further conflict. The treaty emphasizes the complexities of American expansion and the struggles faced by Indigenous peoples, whose rights and identities were deeply affected by U.S. policies.

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