Located Records at Knox Church library Brandon MB
George Mackay
Treasurer
South West Branch - Manitoba Genealogical Society
Cemeteries on the Birdtail Indian Reserve situated in the Rural Municipality of Miniota, consists of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, ..... of 27. There are eight burial places on the Reserve and Mr. Bunn took us around to each and told us stories of the early Indians who came from the United States and are Sioux of the Dakota Tribe.
The First burial place was on the SW 9 - 15 - 27 W. There are seven children and their mother buried here. There are no markers. Mr. Bunn told us that the children had been poisoned by the babysitter who put poison in their supper which was a pot of stew. The children were put to bed and when the mother arrived home the babysitter was gone but as the children seemed to be asleep the mother went to bed. It was not until morning the children were found dead. The mother died from the shock. This happened before 1900.
The Second burial place is on a hill known as "The Hog's back", SW 4 - 15 - 27 W. There are about 9 persons buried here on the top of the hill overlooking the Assiniboine Valley. They were members of the ENOCH family who lived at the bottom of the hill. Also used before 1900. There were 2 transcripts for the Enoch family 1) Mahpiyahdinape 2) Sophia.
The Third cemetery is called CAN KAGA OTINA, which means "living in log houses". It is on SW 8 -15 - 27 W. This is the burial place now used by the Indian Band. Most of the graves are marked with white crosses. The southwest corner is all in use, but no markers exist.
The Fourth burial place is of one lady, name unknown. Buried in the 1800's on 8 - 15 - 21 W west of the large cemetery, near the house where Hillyard Benn lives. (1979)
The Fifth burial place is on SW 7 - 15 - 27 W in the Band community pasture on a hill top. Fenced but no markers exist. It is called "John Waste Cemetery" and there are some 10 graves there, some of which belong to the BENN family. All buried before the 1900's.
The Sixth cemetery is also in the Band Community pasture and is in the middle of SW 19 - 15 - 27 W and is called the "Oye Duta" cemetery. It is south of the old C.N.R. siding called "Treat". Some seven graves in a fenced plot. All buried before 1900.
The Seventh burial site is about 1/4 mile south of "Oye Duta". Three persons are buried here - no markers, unknown.
The Eighth cemetery is on NW 20 - 15 - 27 W in the Band community pasture and is called "Sleeping Eye". The gravestone disappeared about 1967. The cemetery is fenced, stones start at the south side and read east to west.
A Ninth burial place is not on the Reserve but on SW 12 - 15 - 27 W. This is the grave of Rev'd. Solomon Tunkansaiiciye who was a minister from the United States. He was a Dakota Indian and arrived here in November 1877 or 1878. It is not known when he died. There is no marker on the grave which is in a bluff east of the Allan Lindenbach farm home.
An interesting find, it is known he died in the USA, I wonder who this could be or did they transport him back after burial?
Mitchell.
< Here is the Headstone that went missing.
