In 1851-52 federal commissioners signed eighteen treaties promising California tribes about 7.5 million acres. The U.S. Senate rejected them in a closed session and sealed them in secret until 1905. A bureaucratic act left California's tribes landless on paper and became the root cause of the fragmented rancheria map.
Who's who
- Redick McKeeTreaty commissioner for northwestern California
- George W. BarbourTreaty commissioner for the southern and San Joaquin district
- Oliver M. WozencraftTreaty commissioner who warned of a war of extermination and was removed
- Millard Fillmore+1 more episodePresident who authorized the three commissioners
- Thomas BardSenator who had the secrecy injunction lifted in 1905
Where it happens
- Temecula, CaliforniaSite of a January 1852 treaty affecting Pechanga and Temecula peoples
- Hoopa Valley, CaliforniaOne of only two northern California reservations by 1900
- Round Valley, California+1 more episodeOne of only two northern California reservations by 1900
Timeline
- September 1850Congress funds three commissioners to treat with California's Indians.
- 1851-1852Commissioners negotiate 18 treaties with 130-plus tribes and bands.
- July 2, 1852Senate rejects all 18 treaties and imposes secrecy.
- January 18, 1905Senator Bard has the injunction of secrecy removed.
Still debated
The treaty acreage is cited at roughly 7.4 to 7.5 million acres, and some accounts round higher. Some tribal accounts date the Senate rejection to July 8 rather than July 2, and the signatories were villages and bands rather than today's consolidated tribes.
