The Indian Chief: An Account of the Labours, Losses, Sufferings, and Oppression of Ke-zig-ko-e-ne-ne (David Sawyer) a Chief of the Ojibbeway Indians in Canada West

The author states in the preface: "In presenting this volume to the public, the writer has three objects in view. First, to give a concise description of the character of the aborigines of British North America; their superiority over many other pagan nations in intellect, oratory and generosity. Also, their increasing desires when brought under the influence of civilization, to abandon the wandering habits of the savage, and become agriculturists and citizens, and cultivate the habits of industry and frugality. In the second place, to show that the Indians of Canada are not in this respect aided or encouraged by the Indian Department, or the Canadian Government, in the way they should be...And, in the third place, to elicit the sympathy of a Christian public, by making the facts of the case generally known, hoping thereby to influence the Colonial Government to redress the grievances of which the Indians of Canada so justly complain...[and to recount] the fate of Chief David Sawyer, as an individual instance, is selected as a substantial representation of the many other similar cases that exist."