Emma Amyotte aka Emerz Decouteau

Emma appears to be a Chippewa woman of the Turtle Mountain Band. According to a letter dated August 25, 1933, from the superintendent of the Turtle Mountain Indian Agency, Emerize (DeCouteau) Amyotte is a regularly enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band. (Emma may also be Métis through her father Red Dog. The Métis are a distinct Indigenous people with a unique history, culture, language, and territory that includes the waterways of Ontario, surrounds the Great Lakes, and spans what was known as the historic Northwest. The Métis Nation is comprised of descendants of people born of relations between Indian women and European men. The initial offspring of these unions were of mixed ancestry…)

Her husband Francois Amyotte is quite likely a Chippewa of the Saulteaux First Nation in Canada

The Saulteaux are a branch of the Ojibwe Nations within Canada. They are sometimes called the Anihšināpē (Anishinaabe). They had complex kinship patterns that included the immediate and extended family. Siblings shared kinship terms with parallel cousins because they were from the same clan, but individuals were compelled to marry from a different clan. Clans were basic kinship organizations that formed bands, and each band had a self-governing committee of community clans’ leaders. Each clan was named after an animal and had specific responsibilities among the people. The Saulteaux historically were settled around Lake Superior and Lake Winnipeg, principally in the areas of present-day Sault Ste. Marie and northern Michigan. Pressure from European Canadians and Americans gradually pushed the tribe westward to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Homelands of Anishinaabe and Anishinini, ca. 1800

Biography:
(Curator Note: the bio below is put together as best as possible recognizing that there is a discrepancy between historical sources, namely the Canton Asylum census reports and the Indian Census rolls. While Harry Hummer at Canton was not known for good record keeping, it appears that the Indian Agents either did not know the whereabouts of Emma, or the census forms constricted their input. On many occasions, she is shown resident in the Canton Asylum, but shown somewhere else in the Indian rolls. We do have other documents, namely letters from Dr. Silk and the Bureau of Indian Affairs that discuss her whereabouts at other specific times. Later (the 1930s) Census reports show her husband at Canton and in Washington D.C. for many years at the same time as Emma, but Canton documents never show that he had been committed, they do show however, requests to have his wife released from Canton as early as 1923, the year she was committed. Indian Rolls also show her and her husband at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington D.C., but we know from other sources that she was released from the Canton Asylum in September 1933. Please refer to the documents uploaded to the media tab.)

Emma Amyotte was born in North Dakota about 1898, the daughter of a mixed-tribe or mixed-race father Norbert "Red Dog" Decouteau, and an Ojibwe (aka Chippewa) mother La Rose Decouteau (Belgarde).

The Hospital for the Insane in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada

Source: “Ponoka | Madness Canada.” Madness Canada |, 28 Oct. 2019, madnesscanada.com/after-the-asylum/policy-and-practice/the-last-asylums/ponoka/. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.

In 1923 (age 26), while living in Canada, Emma suffered a stroke and was treated in the Hospital for the Insane in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada where after a recovery period, she was judged to be in good physical health. At the request of the Canadian government, the United States commissioner of immigration in Montreal tried to return Amyotte to her Indian agency on the US side of the border.

Somehow, Emma landed at Canton Asylum, admitted on October 15, 1923, where Dr. Hummer diagnosed her with "mental deficiency with imbecility" (Imbecility was a term used by psychiatrists to describe a category of people with moderate to severe intellectual disability) and confined her, entirely without the benefit of court proceedings. Even though he had been informed shortly after her admission that Canadian officials had specifically advised against her commitment to any institution. Hummer kept Amyotte at Canton Asylum for the next ten years.[2]

"Perhaps as an illustration of this group I may cite the case of Emma Amyotte: She has been in the institution since October 15, 1923. Dr. Hummer agrees that she is not suffering from any active mental disease, but he thinks she is a moron. A review of her record indicates the following: Sometime during the early part of 1923 she, while residing in Canada, suffered from a stroke, and was treated at a medical hospital for the insane at Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. She is an Indian, and at the request of the Canadian government, the U. S. Commissioner of Immigration, of Montreal, endeavored to have her returned to the agency. She finally landed in Canton, S. D., on the date mentioned above. Shortly after her admission there Dr. Hummer received a copy of a letter written to the U. S. Commissioner of Immigration by the Canadian officials, as follows: "I beg to refer to your file No. 11297/456, relating to the case of Mrs. Emma Amyotte, authority for whose return to the U. S. was issued by you. I beg to state that the Medical Superintendent of the Ponoka Hospital on the date of the 9th inst. reports that Mrs. Amyotte is in excellent physical health and has been very well mentally for the past three months, and in his opinion, it will not be necessary to have her committed to any institution." In spite of the above information, Dr. Hummer has continued to keep this patient confined at the Canton Asylum since October 1923.[3]

The lack of more extensive legal safeguards led to abuses. Emma Amyotte, an American Indian enrolled at a United States agency, suffered a stroke in 1923 while living in Canada. She received treatment for the stroke at a hospital for the insane in Ponoka, Alberta, where, after a recovery period, she was judged to be in good physical and mental health. At the request of the Canadian government, the United States commissioner of immigration in Montreal tried to return Amyotte to her agency. Somehow she landed at Canton Asylum, where Dr. Hummer confined her, entirely without the benefit of court proceedings. Even though he had been informed shortly after her admission that Canadian officials had specifically kept Amyotte at Canton Asylum for the next ten years. The long duration of Amyotte's confinement proved to be typical...[4]

Source: Riney, Scott. Power and Powerlessness: The People of the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians. Vol. 27. No 1 and No 2, South Dakota Historical Society, copyright 1997. Page 48-49.
< PDF >
Article Sources:
[1.=] 1.0 1.1 "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9R84-T1?cc=1810731&wc=... : 8 December 2015), South Dakota > Lincoln > Canton > ED 5 > image 3 of 4; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002). NOTE: While white Americans called this tribe "Chippewa," the natives' name for themselves was "Ojibwe".
[2] More citation details needed. 16. Silk Report, 1933. p-10. Information on Amyotte's mental condition from the Silk Report and not from the institution's medical files, which were not released to researchers for 75 years from closure
[3] Samuel A Silk; Silk, Samuel A, “Letter from Samuel A Silk to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, October 3, l933,” Honoring the Dead: A Digital Archive of the Insane Indian Asylum, accessed September 7, 2023, https://honoringthedead.omeka.net/items/show/1.
[4] Riney, Scott. Power and Powerlessness: The People of the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians. Vol. 27. No 1 and No 2, South Dakota Historical Society, copyright 1997
[5] "South Dakota State Census, 1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMWL-V2W : 29 July 2017), Emma Amyotte; citing 676, State Historical Society, Pierre; FHL microfilm 2,368,069.

Emma was married according to the census, her husband is identified by a letter he wrote to the BIA on February 19, 1924 inquiring about the release of his wife Emma Amyote from Canton Asylum into his custody . His name was Francosie Amyotte and at the time was living in Clear Hill, Alberta, Canada (Clear Hills County is a municipal district in northwestern Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 17.) Chippewa (Western Saulteaux First Nation) was there as a result of the westward pressure placed on the Chippewa by whites and the government of Canada. The BIA deferred to Dr. Harry Hummer, who decided NOT to discharge her.

The 1925 South Dakota State Census[5] and the 1930 US Census[1] both list Emma Amyotte as an Indian, an inmate at Canton, South Dakota.

Emma was discharged as sane by Dr. Silk, from the Canton Asylum sometime around September 3 and Emma was returned to the Turtle Mountain Reservation at Devils Lake on September 6, 1933.

In a letter dated September 21, 1938, it is noted that Emma was discharged from the Canton Asylum when it was closed and it was also noted that since then she had been living with her brother Joseph since January 4, 1934, who was living on the reservation. She left there date unknown and for a time was living with her sister Mrs. Andrew Halverson, in Wolford, North Dakota. She left there date unknown and her sister then contacted the superintendent at the Turtle Mountain Agency and suggested that she be confined for her well-being, The Agency was given direction to proceed with this incarceration on October 5, 1938, by the BIA with the choice of a state institution or St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington D.C.

On November 9, 1938, the BIA was advised that Emma had been taken before a sanity board at Rugby, Pierce County, North Dakota on November 1, 1938, at which time she was committed to the State Hospital for the Insane at Jamestown, North Dakota.

She likely died while incarcerterated there. Her death, as near as can be determined at this time, was after 1939. This is based on the fact that she was not indicated as having died in the 1939 supplement to the 1937 Turtle Mountain Reservation census.

Her profile is part of the https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Canton_Asylum.

Research Notes:
-The 1898 census of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa at Devils Lake identified several DeCouteau as Mixed-blood and some as Full-blood.
-From the letter dated August 25, 1923, identified above, she has trust land in Montana under identification No. G-07812. She and her husband are wards, and both are residents of the Reservation "until a year and a half or two years ago (c. 1921).
-Per early censuses from Devils Lake, families of Amyotte and DeCouteau were living on the Turtle Mountain Reservation in the United States and listed either/or as full-blood or mixed-blood (this may have something to do with the Métis genealogy.)
-The censuses of Turtle Lake and earlier Ft. Totten are divided into Full-blood the first 170+/- and then Mixed-blood usually beginning with the surname Aiken sections with consecutive line numbers
-The 1931, 1932, and 1933 censuses show BOTH Francois and Emerse at Canton, Lincoln, S.D.
-The 1934 Turtle Mountain census indicates that Emma was at St. Elizabeths Hospital, I don't believe that to be the case and records suggest that she was never there. CJ states that she was "released as sane at asylum's closing".
-The 1935 and 1936 censuses were supplements to the 1934 roll, there was no activity for Emma in those rolls.
-The 1937 census indicates that Francios and Emerse are in Lebret, Saskatchewan, Canada. There seems to be no Chippewa presence there but it was the site of the former Qu'Appelle Indian Residential School, a school to which children of The Star Blanket Cree Nation were forced to attend. The nation is hoping to find the remains of relatives who never returned home. The Star Blanket Cree Nation's Wa-pii-moos-toosis 83A Indian reserve is adjacent to Lebret. The reserve is located on the northern shore of Mission Lake.

Qu'Appelle Industrial School 1885
-The 1938 and 1939 censuses were supplements to the 1937 roll, there was no activity for Emma in those rolls.
-Barkwell, Lawrence. “Metis Dictionary of Biography Volume D, p.26/143 ” Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication, 2015.
__________
Sources:

1988 Jul - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll096unit/page/n49/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 50/624, line 362 (age 1), census of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Devils Lake, N. Dakota

1899 Jul - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll096unit/page/n241/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 242/624, line xx (age 2), census of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Devils Lake, N. Dakota

(Curator Note: This census report seems to contradict the Ltr from BIA to husband Francois Amyotte in that it lists Emma with a maiden name and Amyotte's birth surname. It is more likely that this is a different person and that Emma was born Emerz Decouteau.)

1900 Jul - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll096unit/page/n327/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 328/624, line 440 (female age 3), census of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Devils Lake Agency, North Dakota

1901 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll096unit/page/n449/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 450/624, line 484 (female age 4), census of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa, Devils Lake Agency

1902 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll096unit/page/n513/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 514/624, line xx (female age 5), census of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa, Devils Lake Agency

1903 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll097unit/page/n56/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 57/672, line xx (female age 6), census of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa, Devils Lake Agency

1904 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll097unit/page/n206/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 207/672, line xx5 (female age 7), census of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa, Devils Lake Agency

1905 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll097unit/page/n438/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 439/672, line 728 (female age 8), census of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Indian Industrial School, Devils Lake Agency, North Dakota

1906 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll161unit/page/n118/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 119/867, line 795 (age 9), census of the Turtle Mountian Band of Chippewa-Mixed Blood Indians, Devils Lake Agency, North Dakota (by the superintendent of the Ft. Totten Indian School)

1907 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:66P8-L43Z : Sun Mar 10 20:32:08 UTC 2024), Entry for Emma Decouteau Decouteau, 1907, pg. 303/869, line 811 (age 10), census of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Devils Lake Agency, Ft. Totten Indian School, North Dakota

1908 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll161unit/page/n513/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 514/867, line 842 (age 11), census of the Turtle Mountian Band of Chippewa-Mixed Blood Indians, Devils Lake Agency, North Dakota

1909 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll161unit/page/n755/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 756/867, line 873 (age 12), census of the Turtle Mountian Band of Chippewa-Mixed Blood Indians, Devils Lake Agency, North Dakota

1910 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll595unit/page/n65/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 66/580, line 911 (age 13), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency, D. L. (Devils Lake, North Dakota)

1911 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll595unit/page/n240/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 241/580, line 914 (age 14), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency

1912 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll595unit/page/n436/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 437/580, line 886 (age 15 as Emerise Descoteaux), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency

1913 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll596unit/page/n71/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 72/683, line 910 (age 16, mother has disappeared), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Indian School, Belcourt, North Dakota

1914 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll596unit/page/n249/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 250/683, line 243 (b=1897, age=17 married 7.4.1913 to Francois Amyott as Emerise), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Indian School, Belcourt, North Dakota

1915 Jun 10 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll596unit/page/n473/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 474/683, line 256 (b=1897 as Emerise (Decouteau) Amyott), census of the Turtle Mt. Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency, N.D.

1916 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll597unit/page/n25/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 26/682, line 253 (b=1897 as Emerise (Decouteau) Amyott), census of the Turtle Mt. Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency, N.Dak.

1917 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll597unit/page/n261/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 262/682, line 243 (b=1897 as Emerise (Decouteau) Amyott), census of the Turtle Mt. Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency, N.Dak.

1918 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll597unit/page/n499/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 500/682, line 249 (b=1897 as Emerise (Decouteau) Amyott), census of the Turtle Mt. Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency, N.Dak.

1919 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll598unit/page/n22/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 23/614, line 243 (b=1897 as Emerise (Decouteau) Amyott), census of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency

1920 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll598unit/page/n224/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 225/614, line 243 (b=1897 as Emerise), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mt. Agency

1921 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll598unit/page/n224/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 421/614, line 250 (b=1897 as Emerise), census of the Chippeway Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency, N.D.

1922 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll599unit/page/n19/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 20/817, line 259 (b=1897 as Emerise), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency, N.D.

1923 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll599unit/page/n231/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 232/817, line 259 (b=1897 as Emerise BHS, Francois has disappeared), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mt. Agency

1924 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll599unit/page/n471/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 472/817, line 267 (b=1897 as Emerse, Francois has returned), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mt. Agency

1924 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, archive.org/details/indiancensusroll138unit/page/n137/mode/1up?view=theater. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 514/519, line 4, Canton Asylum female census

1925 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll600unit/page/n17/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 18/574, line 276 (b=1897 as Emerse), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency, N.D.

1925 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=117, line 4, Canton Asylum female census

1926 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll600unit/page/n182/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 183/574, line 280 (b=1897 as Emrize), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency, N.D.

1926 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=168, line 4, Canton Asylum female census

1927 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll600unit/page/n182/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 394/574, line 277 (b=1897 as Emrize @ Canton Asylum), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency, N.D.

1927 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=186, line 4, Canton Asylum female census

1928 Jun 20 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll601unit/page/n21/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 22/644, line 276 (b=1897 as Emrize @ Canton Asylum), census of the Chippewa Indians, Turtle Mountain Agency

1928 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=211, line 3, Canton Asylum female census

1929 Jun 20 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll601unit/page/n272/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 273/644, line 276 (b=1897 as Emrise @ Canton Asylum), census of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribe, Turtle Mountain Reservation, Turtle Mt. jurisdiction

1929 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=329, line 3, Canton Asylum female census

1930 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll602unit/page/n153/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 154/378, line 79 (age 33 as Emerse @ Belcourt Village, Roulette, N.D.), census of the Turtle Mountain Reservation, Turtle Mountain jurisdiction

1930 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=351, line 3, Canton Asylum female census

1931 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll603unit/page/n180/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 181/426, line 62 (age 34 as Emerse @ Canton Vil., Lincoln, S.D.), census of the Turtle Mountain Reservation, Turtle Mountain jurisdiction

(Curator Note: the census shows BOTH Francois and Emerse at Canton?)

1931 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=371, line 3, Canton Asylum female census

1932 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll604unit/page/n17/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 18/642, line 132 (age 36 as Emerse Decoteau @ Canton, Lincoln, S.D.), census of the Turtle Mountain Reservation, Turtle Mountain jurisdiction

(Curator Note: the census shows BOTH Francois and Emerse at Canton?)

1932 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=391, line 2, Canton Asylum female census

1933 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll605unit/page/n19/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 20/490, line 145 (age 37 as Emirse Decouteau @ Canton, Lincoln, S.D.), census of the Turtle Mountain Reservation, Turtle Mountain jurisdiction

(Curator Note: the census shows BOTH Francois and Emerse at Canton?)

1933 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=428, line 2, Canton Asylum female census

1934 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll605unit/page/n19/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 20/700, line 144 (age 38 as Emirse Decouteau @ St. Elizabeth Hospital, Washington D.C.), census of the Turtle Mountain Reservation, Turtle Mountain jurisdiction
(Curator Note: the census shows BOTH Francois and Emerse at St. Elizabeth Hospital? and also that this seems to conflict with the 1933 letter of Dr. Silk which indicates that de discharged her from Canton in September 1933)

1937 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll605unit/page/n19/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 21/630, line 147 (age 41 as Emirse Decouteau Amyott @ Lebret, Sask., Can.), census of the Turtle Mountain Reservation, Turtle Mountain jurisdiction

__________
Additional Reading
1) Lewis H. Thomas, “RIEL, LOUIS (1844-85),” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 11, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed October 4, 2024, https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/riel_louis_1844_85_11E.html.
2) “Ponoka | Madness Canada.” Madness Canada |, 28 Oct. 2019, madnesscanada.com/after-the-asylum/policy-and-practice/the-last-asylums/ponoka/. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
3) Treuer, Anton. “Ojibwe Clans.” Www.youtube.com, 28 Mar. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP2_TZYq8Y8. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.