We have sold some of them to him, and we are content to do so, but he has promised to protect us, to be a friend to us, to take care of us as a father does of his children.
"When the white man wishes to visit us, we open the door of our country to him; we treat him with hospitality.

He looks at our rocks, our river, our trees, and we do not disturb him.

The Dahcotah and the white man are friends.
"But the Winnebagoes are not our friends, we suffered for them not long ago; our children wanted food; our wives were sick; they could not plant corn or gather the Indian potato.

Many of our nation died; their bodies are now resting on their scaffolds.

The night birds clap their wings as the winds howl over them! "And we are told that our great Father will let the Winnebagoes make a path through our hunting grounds: they will subsist upon our game; every bird or animal they kill will be a loss to us.
"The Dahcotah's lands are not free to others.