The FlandreauVocational School Tea Room, Flandreau Santee-Sioux-Agency, Flandreau, South Sakota, 1947, photographu from the National Archives. Founded in 1873, the Flandreau Agency served primarily Santee, Sisseton, and Wahpeton Sioux Indian students. The Santee who established the colony at Flandreau were Christian Indians who homesteaded their lands pursuant to article VI of the Fort Laramie treaty of 1868, which provided that Natives could take homesteads and become United States citizens and still retain the benefits provided to them by the treaty. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe are a federally recognized tribe of Santee Dakota people. Their reservation is the Flandreau Indian Reservation. The tribe are members of the Mdewakantonwan people, one of the sub-tribes of the Isanti (Santee) Dakota originally from central Minnesota. This photograph, titled "Tea Room" in the National Archives, appears to show a subsidized work-experience program for young women. Arrayed with bilateral symmetry. according to their tasks (pouring water, pouring coffee, holding tea cups and saucers), they are also seemingly prepared to offer breakfast-packs of Kellogg's Corn Flakes to their customers. Thanks to Erin Nichole Handy for locating this unusual tea room.
