Charles C. Royce
Cessions of Land by Indian Tribes to the United States: Illustrated by Those in the State of Indiana
First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1879-80, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1881, pages 247-262
"Cessions of Land by Indian Tribes to the United States: Illustrated by Those in the State of Indiana" by C. C. Royce is a historical account written during the late 19th century. This work explores the complex legal and historical relationships between Native American tribes and the United States government regarding land cessions. It focuses specifically on the treaties negotiated with various Indian tribes in Indiana, detailing the process and implications of these land cessions. The book illuminates the legal debates surrounding Indian title and the rights of indigenous peoples to their land, explaining how the United States claimed sovereignty over territories formerly occupied by Native Americans. Royce meticulously documents specific treaties and cessions, providing a chronological and geographic overview of land transfers from Indian tribes to the government. Through maps and detailed descriptions of the boundaries established in these treaties, the author highlights the challenges faced in identifying historic land claims amid changing names and boundaries, revealing a narrative of negotiation, conflict, and the eventual relinquishment of Native lands.