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Lassaminie, A Winnebago Chief

My Father, It is true, We are a nation that is known to be brutes & bad people; but since we have paid attention to your good advice we have begun to behave better, For some time past a thick cloud hovers near our Lands, every time it approaches we go to meet it, & have succeeded so far as to drive it farther from us; but we have lost many of our young warriors.  If this had happened to any other nation they perhaps would have asked for goods as a payment for their bodies.

Tomah

According to Captain Augustin Grignon, Tomah was born about the year 1752 at the Old King's village, opposite to Green Bay, on the west bank of Fox river.

Also, Captain

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.

Sioux Chief named Chatewaeonamini

My Father, I present myself this day before you this day to talk which gives me much pleasure, I speak of War I For I have already begun, I have sent back the Americans from La Prairie du Chien & then I came here to drive them away.  Since then I find this Island more solid than when they were here. I believe that I am now under a clear sky. Last year I undertook to crush an embarassement that was in the way; but I could not do it, because I found the Americans, like the beaver, burrowed under ground.

Sioux Chief named The Leaf

My Father,

When I heard the good news which my father the Red Head communicated to me I took the same road as my deceased Father used to take to come here; and my arrival is a fine day to me; for I see the good works of my English Father.

Wyandots and Senecas to Colonel Elliott, 1813

We salute our Father & our Brethren & return thanks to the Great Spirit who has been pleased to allow them to meet at this council.

General Harrison desires me to address the Chiefs, that having taken into consideration the long time the different nations have been separated has sent this deputation to speak with their Friends.

Cass Lake

Cass Lake in MN

Odawa of Michilimakina to Monsier de Vaudreuil

My father, my father, this spring Monsieur de La Mothe sent us word that he barred the great river [to us], that he set a barrier there as high as the trees, that no one might make use of this way to come down here.  But I said, why does Monsieur de La Motile block up this way against me?  Is it not the way by which I go to see my father?  What have I to fear since I obey him?  And I passed through his barrier.  I remembered, it is true, that this way had formerly been filled with ("ferdoches") and with weeds, and that through the wrong that I had done.

Tecumseh Speech with Shawnee, Kickapoos, Winnebago, 1812

Father & Brothers Hurons! Brother Hurons.  You say you were employed by our Father and your own Chiefs to come and have some conversation with us and we are happy to see you and to hear your and our Fathers speech.  We heartily thank you both for having taken the condition of our poor women and children to your considerations: We plainly see that you pity as by the concern you show for our welfare; and we should deem ourselves much to blame if we did not listen to the Counsel of our Father and our Brothers the Hurons.

Samuel Wood

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