Resonse to Helen Hunt Jackson's excerpt

The Helen Hunt Jackson excerpt was a sad and compelling story about the Poncar Indian tribe. She explains in depth about the failure of the United States government to uphold their treaty promises to the Poncars. The Poncars were considered to be gentle and peacable Indians. The United States first treaty was made in 1817 with the tribe and was basically a treaty of friendship. Another treaty was made in 1825 which required the Poncas to reside inside the United States territorial limits and the United States right to regulate all trade with them in exchange for the United States protection and benefits. The United States did not provide the tribe protection or provisions as promised and did not extend money to them as the government promised. Around 1863 the tribe was starving and falling under attacks from U.S. soldiers and other Indian tribes. The government was no help. Through all this trouble, the Poncas remained loyal and peacable to the treaty. Men, women, and children of the tribe were being murdered for their very few provisions and belongings in the open prairie and on the reservations. The murders were being commited by not only other tribes but also United States soldiers. I am ashamed of the government's lack of caring and lack of upholding the treaty with the Poncas. The Poncas expierenced many horrible life threatening situations such as starvation and murder because our government allowed it.