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of drawing up a treaty among ourselves, a treaty of peace and friendship in which we would undertake to help each other in time of trouble-and avoid taking any action that might hurt someone else, some other tribe, so with that in mind we ran through a number of old treaties, some of them the first treaties made by the United States and Tribes, and in all of those treaties there was an agreement between the tribe and the United States to respect each other, put aside all hard feelings, and live in peace and friendship, so what we have here is a document containing actual wordings out of many old treaties and put together to make a continuous statement. I thought I would read this to you and then ask Mr. Begay to write it out on some parchment paper we have here so it will really look like an old treaty. It will simply be a voluntary agreement among ourselves symbolizing this idea that we will work together and help each other.

(Mr. McNickel reads the following:)

I would move, Mr. Chairman, the acceptance of the report.

Never before has there been greater need for Indians to stand together against the forces that would deprive them of their rights, their liberties, and their lands.

Never before has the state of the world so earnestly called for a demonstration of the power of men to forget and forgive ancient wrongs and differences. 

Two centuries ago great Indian confederacies set an example to the American colonies to unite in a great union that is now the United States.

Today these same tribes can show the world how men of may tongues and various customs may join together in friendships and understanding.

The right of Indian tribes and nations to make treaties has ever been acknowledged by the courts of the United States. 

The sanctity of such treaties, freely made, has ever been acknowledged by the Indians who made them.

The treaty that is here submitted to the consideration of all our Indian tribes and nations has been drafted by the undersigned committee but its phrases, as its thought, are taken from old treaties embodying the wisdom of old counsellors whose day on earth is done but whose vision is ever fresh.

Signed: D'Arcy McNickle Jack Scott Thomas Premo Elmer Lincoln John S. Timber John Rainer Henry Throssel

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