Fourth Treaty of Buffalo Creek facts for kids
The Fourth Treaty of Buffalo Creek, also called the Treaty with the Seneca, Tonawanda Band, was an important agreement made in 1857. It changed parts of earlier treaties, the Second Treaty of Buffalo Creek and the Third Treaty of Buffalo Creek. A treaty is like a formal agreement or contract between different groups, often governments or nations.
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Why Was This Treaty Needed?
The Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians had a big problem with the earlier treaties. They felt their leaders, called chiefs, were not part of the talks. They also believed that the Seneca chiefs who were there did not truly speak for the Tonawanda people.
The Tonawanda Refused to Move
Because of this, when people from land companies came to claim the Tonawanda's reservation land, the Tonawanda Band refused to leave. They felt the land was still theirs.
A New Way of Governing
Around this time, in 1848, other Seneca groups decided to try a new way of governing themselves. They chose an American-style government, which was like a republic with elected leaders. However, the Tonawanda Band did not agree with this change. They wanted to keep their traditional Seneca way of governing. This difference in how they wanted to be led officially created a split between the Tonawanda Band and the other Seneca groups.
How the Treaty Solved the Problem
To fix the issue with the Tonawanda's land and their disagreement, the United States government signed a new treaty with only the Tonawanda Band in 1857. This was the Treaty with the Seneca, Tonawanda Band.
Buying Back Their Land
With this new treaty, the Tonawanda Seneca were able to buy back most of their reservation land. They used money that had been set aside to make them move to Kansas. This meant they could stay on their homeland.
Restoring Traditional Government
At the same time, the Tonawanda Band officially separated from the main Seneca nation. They brought back their traditional government, which was a Council of Chiefs. This council made decisions based on consensus, meaning everyone had to agree before a decision was made. This treaty helped the Tonawanda Band keep their land and their traditional way of life.
