History Documentation:
LETTER ON INDIAN GRAVES - October 8, 1925
Indian Graves
L.C.O.
Reservation
Hayward Indian School
Hayward, Wisconsin
October 8, 1925
TO: Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
With reference to the matter of removing the Indian graves from the flowage area, I have the honor to report great success has been obtained in the solution of this vexing problem.
I was proceeding on the presumption on the assumption that the tribe would set aside a couple or two acres for this purpose on the SE¼ NW¼ of Section 1 39 – 7, which was conveyed as a village site by Northern States Power Company. However I find there is great reluctance on the part of the Reserve faction of the tribe to deeding any lands to the Church for a Catholic burying ground. At the same time the Post people are insisting that this cemetery should be a Catholic Cemetery since a non-Catholic Cemetery has already been established at the Post, the matter of actually exhuming and reinterring these remains is accordingly delayed.
Two methods of solution are available. One is by the partitioning of SE¼ NW¼ of Section 1 39 – 7 in such a manner as to convey to Charles Headflyer the SE¼. Mr. Headflyer has an undivided ¼ interest in the estate of Nijobinensikwe which includes the W½ or the NW¼ Section 1 39 – 7. This SW¼ can easily be divided for that reason that it is approximately all the same character of land and is not badly broken. Mr. Headflyer desires to donate to the Church one acre in the extreme SE corner, to be used for burial purposes.
The other is by arbitrarily setting aside one or two acres in the SW corner of the SE¼ NW¼ Section 1 39 – 7.
For the information of the Office I would state that at this time the remains of three Indians have been interred on tribal land in this proximity.
I respectfully request that this matter be given immediate attention
and that I be advised as to which method should be adopted. It is obvious
that as soon our course is decided upon we can commence at once to move
the bodies without completing the conveyances.
Respectfully
James P. Ryder
Superintendent
10-R/V-8