Many Feathers and Much Paint Don't Make an Indian

Scalp Hunting for Pay 1899 March 16, The Evening Democrat  It is not generally known in latterlay Minnesota history that the state treasury once paid out cash as bounties for Sioux Indian scalps, just as this and many other states are now paying for wolf scalps. State Treasurer Koerner, in looking over the 1836 report of State Treasurer Charles Schaff, discovered the following item among the disbursements of that year:                          “J.C. Davis, Sioux scalp, $25.” This item occurs in the list of disbursement’s amounting to $7,870.06, under the head “Suppressing Indian War.”  The $25 paid to J.C. Davis for the Indian scalp in question, therefore, had its niche in the cause of suppressing, or spreading the Sioux outbreak. It doubtless strikes the general reader that $25 is rather small inducement for securing Sioux scalps. Few hunters today would care to contract for belts of that kind for that figure. – Minneapolis Times.  1899 March 16, The Evening De

Indian Rights - The Rev. Dr. Channing's meeting-house was crowded on Wednesday evening last by the friends of the Cherokees, to hear the appeals of Messrs Elias Boudinot and John Ridge, delegates from the Cherokee nation. Mr. Boudinot dwelt mainly upon the spirit and extend of the numerous treaties which had been ratified between his nation and the United States, and exposed the oppressive acts of Georgia in a manner calculated to kindle they sympathy and indignation of every lover of justice. Mr. Ridge followed in a speech which was received with irrepressible bursts of applause. It was distinguished for loftiness of mind, decision of purpose, brilliancy of illustration, copiousness of thought, keenness of wit, and strength of argument. His manner was a rare combination of dignity and ease. The meeting was also ably addressed by the Hon. Alexander H. Everett and Rev. Dr. Beecher; at the close of which a collection was taken up to assist the Cherokees in maintaining their cause bef

Indian Lectures - an educated Indian of the Pequot tribe, by the name of Gos-kuk-wa-na-kon-ni-di-yu, is delivering lectures in Ne York, on the Indian origin and character, and on the wars and treaties made by the red men with this country, the avails of which will go to aid the erection of an Indian academy. The Pequots were once the most powerful tribe of New England, and inhabited Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. They waged several bloody wars with the early settlers of those colonies. 1837 Feb 24, Public Ledger  We have seen an estimate in the Eastern papers, from which it appears, that the business of killing Indians in the South during this last year will cost the US not less than $15,000.000. [What cost $15,000,000. in 1837 would cost $329,841,781.00 in 2017] 1837 Feb 28, The Courier Journal 

I believe you can tell a lot about society by their advertising. Even today, ads are directed towards targeted markets and it's meant to entice the public to spend their hard-earned money, buying into a product or service or experience - often times - just through the advertising. Here, from the 1830's until the end of the 1880's, you will notice that specific products are marketed towards the non-Native audience, and what they are selling are: Medical Remedies mostly, and then towards the end of the time period, Tobacco. This plays into the stereotypes of Native people being mystical medicine men with cure-all's, and then to their connection to the peace pipe, and of course the actual tobacco, which was introduced to Europeans by Native people.   1830, Nov 4  The Torch Light and Public Advertiser  1850  1859 1860, Dec 11   Nashville Union and American  1864  1868 1868, Aug 14    Wilmington Journal  1878