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BIOGRAPHIES OF CHIEFS WHO SIGNED THE TREATY IN 1854

SHON-GA-SKA, or FONTENELLE

Logan Fontenelle was the first chief to sign this treaty.  He was the only among them who could read or write or speak English.  He was elected chief for the express purpose of helping the Indians to make the treaty with the United States.

Mr. Fontenelle was tall, of courtly bearing, pleasing manners, and universally respected by the white people as well as by the Indians.  He was a great personal friend of Iron Eye (Joseph LeFlesche) and was a well educated man, being one-half French.

In Washington...he made his speeches to the President and Commissioner in the Omaha language...

After his return from Washington, and the Omahas were ordered to move to their new reservation...he made a virorous protest against the removal until the government fulfilled its part of the agreement.

...When the Indians were ordered to go to the reservation, Fontenelle is said to have made a speech at Bellevue, before they stared.  Some fragments of this speech have been preserved by the State Historical Society.

He declared it was murder ... to place the unarmed and defenceless Omahas right in the path of their hereditary enemies.  He finally placed his hand on his revolver and said, "This is good for six Sioux anyhow; we will go and