Tomah, Menominee Chief, 1814

My Father, It is a long time past that you know us who are called Manominies, & I suppose you are acquainted with our behaviour towards the whites, & particularly towards our English Father.

Shall I tell you my Father that when I beheld the great fire which shined on this Island, its light brought to mind times that are passed & I said to myself, This then is the Fire whose assistance gives life to all the copper coloured skins, & particularly to our nation who have so often had the happiness of seeing & approaching it.

My Father, I give you my hand & in so doing it seems to me that I am giving it to our Great Father.

I consider that we are all created in the same likeness & by the same power & it mortifies me to say that there are some of my semblables who have many ears & many hearts.

I speak without hesitation, my Father, because I have but one heart; and two ears to hear with; and I wish that every Chief would be as firm as I am.  I call myself happy this day because I have always pressed my English Father's hand & my wish has always been to please you my Father.

My Father, I embrace the present moment to thank our Great Father for the goods which me & my nation have received for a long series of time, and likewise to thank the two persons whom my Father chose for the taking care of us Indians.  I say that I thank them because it is their courage & good hearts which made them proceed in spite of the lateness of the season & its severity, & arrive with the goods destined for us, which saved our lives as well as many other nations.