 Following the 1837 treaty the Saint Croix Triangle , between the Saint Croix and Mississippi Rivers , had been opened to U.S. settlement . Still until the later establishment of the Minnesota Territory this triangle remained an island of " white " culture and settlement . The vast majority of the Minnesota area , though , was " Indian country " . Contemporary accounts of larger towns such as Mendota , Saint Anthony , and Saint Paul in the 1840s indicate that the majority of the population was predominantly of French and Métis ancestry . Even in these communities European culture , was not strictly dominant . Commenting on Minnesota 's culture of the 1840s , Governor Alexander Ramsey described the streets of Saint Paul saying that it was common to see " the blankets and painted faces of Indians , and the red sashes and mocassins of French voyageurs and half @-@ breeds , greatly predominating over the less picturesque costume of the Anglo @-@ American race . " 
 Following the 1837 treaty the Saint Croix Triangle , between the Saint Croix and Mississippi Rivers , <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> been opened to U.S. settlement . Still until the later establishment of the Minnesota Territory this triangle remained an island of " white " culture and settlement . The vast majority of the Minnesota area , though , was " Indian country " . Contemporary accounts of larger towns such as Mendota , Saint Anthony , and Saint Paul in the 1840s indicate that the majority of the population was predominantly of French and Métis ancestry . Even in <a href='None' title='2'><mark>these</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='3'><mark>communities</mark></a> European culture , <a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>was</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>not</mark></a>strictly dominant . Commenting on Minnesota <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>culture of the 1840s , Governor Alexander Ramsey described the streets of Saint Paul saying that it was common to see " the blankets and painted faces of Indians , and the red sashes and mocassins of French voyageurs and half @-@ breeds , greatly predominating over the less picturesque costume of the Anglo @-@ American race . " 
Following the 1837 treaty the Saint Croix Triangle , between da Saint Croix and Mississippi Rivers , done been opened to U.S. settlement . Still until the later establishment of the Minnesota Territory dis triangle remained an island of " white " culture and settlement . The vast majority of the Minnesota area , though , was " Indian country " . Contemporary accounts of larger towns such as Mendota , Saint Anthony , and Saint Paul in tda1840s indicate that thdaajority of the population was predominantly of French and Métis ancestry . Even in no communities European culture , ain't strictly dominant . Commenting on Minnesota  culture of theda40s , Governor Alexander Ramsey described the daeets of Saint Paul sayin dat it was common to see " the bdakets and painted faces of Indians , and the redaashes and mocassins of French voyageurs and half @-@ breeds , greatly predominating over the lesdaicturesque costume of the Anglda-@ American race . "