CHAPTER XXXVI. RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM FIELD WORKERS
Of the many correspondents who aided in the preparation of the table of statistics, there were large numbers who made most excellent recommendations. I have selected some thirty of these and herewith present them in order that they may be preserved. The writers are all persons of experience in Indian affairs. It will be observed that in many details, they do not agree, and yet they suggest, for the most part, sensible reforms. Practically every one of the entire correspondents had no criticisms to offer of the intentions of the Government, or Indian Office officials. A few criticized local officials with whom they came in contact. The following recommendations are not offered in controversial spirit, nor as a reflection on our able men at Washington. They are presented as the result of years of experience on the part of unselfish men and women, whose only aim is to see the Indian saved out of his troubles; simple justice meted out to him, and that he should take his place in American life as a real citizen.
“I never did in my private opinion approve of the allotment plan and never will. I am in favor of the old Roman style of civilizing; give the race or nation, for themselves, a large enough tract of land, facility for commercial opportunity, let them wrestle with their fate, pay a small tribute to the crown; if fit they will survive.
“Time will show the merits and demerits of the allotment system. The condition of the reservations was much better before this plan was inaugurated. Those who have tried to civilize any race or nation within twenty-four hours, figuratively speaking, have invariably failed. All history will support this statement.”
Correspondent, Beaulieu, Minn.
“I believe the Government made a serious mistake in allowing the Indians to sell their land. They could be much helped by the leasing of their lands, but when the lands are gone there is no further help.”
Correspondent, Greenwood, So. Dakota
“They have better homes than they had ten years ago, have better clothing and more to eat. They have advanced too in farming. But their lands are going, dead claims are sold often before the Indian owner is buried. Their lands rent better now, bringing more money to them than they did ten years ago.
“I think our Government is doing all it can do for the Indians’ interest. And I think it has been for several years trying harder and harder each year to do its full duty by these people. The restrictions on their lands, their perfect system of schools, their vigilance to keep whiskey from them, their eagerness to protect them; all these things go to show that the heart of the Government has a soft spot for the Indian and it will be a sad day for the Indian when the Government turns him loose.”
Correspondent, Hugo, Oklahoma
“The Government should do more to secure justice for citizen Indians in the local courts. Conditions are very bad.”
Correspondent, Santee, Nebraska
“Too much red tape.”
Correspondent, Odanah, Wisconsin
“If the U. S. Government laws, protecting the Indians, could be only enforced, the Indians would be well protected.”
Correspondent, Beaulieu, Minn.
“The best protection to the Indians would be the giving to each man the portion of goods and lands that belong to him as an individual, or to his family, and then for a very brief period exercise an elder brotherly control of his affairs, rather by way of suggestion. This is my opinion as to the Indians in this region at the present time.”
Correspondent, Rosebud, S. Dakota
“When I came here, over eighteen years ago, many lived on their farms, miles away from town, wore citizens’ clothes, talked English, were industrious in a way. When they were allotted, they were allowed to have Indian villages and in consequence they left their farms, flocked together, returned to the blanket, Osage language, old customs, etc. In northeastern Oklahoma, where they were allotted, they were forced to live on their allotments and became industrious.
“In conclusion, I would say turn the Indians loose entirely, place them on a par with the Whites, as soon as possible, and that should be very soon.”
Correspondent, Pawhuska, Okla.
“The Government is doing something in the way of intellectual and industrial training of the young, but fails to stir up an ambition to carry these things into life; the Government has established a hospital for the sick, and has several physicians who are paid for caring for the sick; yet disease and death are on the increase; the Government recognizes the Indians as wards, and says that no liquor shall be sold to them, yet will sell a license to a man that he may open a saloon on a reservation. The saloons may not sell liquor to Indians, yet drunken Indians are as common as dandelions on a lawn. I need not say more. The Government is too big; it is ineffective. The whole problem should be put into the hands of a Commission made up of men with hearts that are something more than pumping-stations, and who are experts in this matter. I say this without any criticism of individuals but of the system as a whole. We must get the Indian problem out of politics; we must give the Commission power to act within certain limits.
“Had we had men of heart and of vision, what might not have been done for the Indians on the White Earth Reservation? A study of the Indian would have revealed him as a social creature; of choice he lived in a settlement surrounded by his friends. This would have suggested the gathering of Indians into villages rather than scattering them upon allotments of land without any knowledge of, or taste for farming. In these villages might have been built houses on one-acre tracts for 150 families, and there might have been provided a school, hospital, store, etc. The school would be a day-school, and the children left in the homes of their parents. Two field matrons could visit every home at least once each week, and from time to time gather the women for instructions in care of the home, care of children, etc. The physician could easily look after the sick.”
Correspondent, Cass Lake, Minnesota
“In the town of Yerington, Nevada, having a white population of 682 (last census), there are at least fifteen places where liquor is sold. Yerington is situated in Mason’s valley about twenty-five miles from the reservation, and is surrounded by a farming section and in the outlying hills are many mining prospectors and a few mines in operation. Occasionally a stranded prospector drifts into the town, and readily learns that the easiest way to get another ‘grubstake’ is to bootleg whiskey to Indians, and so there is considerable of this work done. Also, in the town of Yerington are many places where ‘yen-chee’ is sold, and a good per cent. of these Indians are opium users.
“Since the Agent took charge of the agency in June he has made some regulations restricting the Indians from leaving their land (allotments) at any and all seasons, by requiring each Indian to get a pass from the office before leaving the reservation, and this regulation has cut down the revenue of some of these towns, so much so that an attorney of low caliber and an ex-judge made and circulated a petition among both Indians and Whites, requesting an investigation of the Agent’s disciplining the Indians be made, which was supplemented by a request that he be removed. Their charges were heard by an officer at Yerington and the testimony submitted in a way that was more amusing than many theatrical comedies; one of the witnesses even turned to the attorney and asked what it was he told him to say! The smell of whiskey on the attorney and some of the witnesses was very noticeable.
“The so-called Medicine Men are, I think, the greatest hindrance among the tribal evils that the Paiute Indians have to conquer; when they are ‘doctoring’ a sick person and are convinced that the patient is going to die, they accuse some progressive Indian of being a ‘witch’ and claim the sickness is due to a spell cast over them by the ‘witch’.
“I think it would be better if the Indian children were not forced to go to school at such a very early age (five to six years). The change from a free life at home to a strict routine school life is hard, especially at such a tender age. I do not doubt that in a number of cases it weakens the constitution and makes them far more susceptible to tuberculosis.
“I also am convinced it would be far more to the benefit of the Indians if a great percentage of the money which is yearly spent in large non-reservation schools, would be used on the reservation in order to develop more water and to improve more land, so that every Indian could get enough agricultural land, so as to make it possible for him to make a living on his farm. A part of said money could even be spent to assist him in fencing his land, procuring farm implements and the like. With such a start and well-meaning officers, who, when necessary, even would strictly insist that all cultivate their lands properly, most of the Indians would, within a few years, become self-supporting and also support their children. These children, as they grow up, in turn should be made to assist their parents in their home duties.
“Reservation day-schools, as a rule, should suffice also for the Indian children. In these they could surely receive such an education as is necessary for an honest and happy living. Most of the white children in country districts have no better opportunity.”
Correspondent, Phoenix, Arizona
(Formerly lived at Yerington, Nev.)
“Competent Indians should be given control of their business; full-bloods or near full-bloods educated by the retention of coal royalties, or schools maintained by direct Congressional action. Oklahoma needs schools for Indians more than it needs Federal buildings or battleships.”
Correspondent, Muskogee, Oklahoma
“The general tendency of the Government to take away the safeguards over the Indians’ property and person, while of course in line with the generally agreed plan for ultimate citizenship is proving very destructive at the present stage of advancement. It is the general rule that Indians given patents in fee sell their holdings and waste the proceeds either in riotous living or foolish investments or manipulations of their affairs. Such procedure cripples the coming generation more than the present one.
“The Government is further at a disadvantage in having to educate a politician about every three years to take charge of the Indian Bureau. An experienced field man should always be in this position.
“The attempt to put Indians in public schools while finally desirable and necessary is at present a failure in most places and should be pushed with the greatest care, meantime supporting Indian schools until such time as the Indian is in shape to attend public schools of a type better than we have now.
“The theory of administration is sound if it were followed up by experienced men, who were content to follow a policy already promulgated instead of hunting for new ideas to be called their own.”
Correspondent, Sisseton. South Dakota
“Continually giving things gratis does not make them appreciate what is being done for them, but rather makes them inert and destroys all ambition. It looks rather strange to see yearly thousands of dollars spent in educating these poor children of the desert in distant and magnificent schools. Thousands of well-to-do white parents could not even think of giving their children such a change.
“Sooner or later the taxpayers of the United States will object to having their hard-earned money thus spent. And, if by that time the Indians have not learned to help themselves, depend on themselves, and make a living for themselves, and support their children, then their future will be hopeless.”
Correspondent, Phoenix, Arizona
“The building of homes would suggest the necessity for material which the forests would furnish in abundance. Study of the men would suggest the necessity of regular employment as a proper discipline leading to civilization. Mills should have been established and the men set to work turning the forests into lumber as fast as it was needed for lumber, and a sufficient over-plus to pay the men for their work, and all other expense of operation.
“The warming of the homes and other buildings would suggest the necessity of fuel; the barbaric improvidence of the Indian would be overcome by setting a time when every able-bodied man must go to the woods and gather a year’s supply of fuel for his home, as well as for all the public institutions.
“The need of clothing, blankets, etc., and the peculiar abilities of the Indian women as evidenced in their beadwork, rush mats, and grass baskets, together with the wide acres of grazing lands, would suggest the raising of sheep and the establishment of mills for the manufacture of woolens.
“The need of foods would suggest the establishment of one or more large farms, where, under proper supervision, men would learn to till the soil, care for stock, handle machinery, etc.
“The Indian does not need charity, but he must be trained to use the powers he possesses. I would do away with all annuities and substitute work and wages therefor. I would not make personal allotments of land except to Indians who had learned to farm, and then only on the homestead plan requiring them to live on the land and make certain improvements before they secured title. Except for supervisors and experts, I would have all the work on the reservation done by Indians, nor would I permit a white man to hold title to an acre of land.”
Correspondent, Cass Lake, Minnesota
“There is for instance the question of honesty and justice. Fifteen years ago the majority of the Osages were honest, truthful, just, paid their debts. The U. S. Government told them: you can deal with licensed traders and must pay them; dealers that are not licensed you must not pay. They trade with both kinds for convenience sake and otherwise; after a while when money is short, they refuse to pay the unlicensed dealer, and become dishonest and unjust.
“Of the Osages, nineteen years ago, all the full-bloods were poor, and very glad to get a piece of beef when sick. The first year after allotment they let the renter bring them their share of the grain, but the second year they went after their share themselves and improved their opportunity so that some Osages loaned money to others not only this year but ten years ago. The money is the greatest misfortune to the Osages and I say often it is a curse to them. They have a large trust fund in Washington and an apparently unlimited supply of oil and gas and also other minerals.”
Correspondent, Pawhuska, Oklahoma
CREEK MAN AND WOMAN CUTTING WOOD. SYLVIAN, OKLAHOMA, 1913
“In some ways the Indians are improving but not so surely and rapidly as ten years ago. The encouraging of the old native dances which is simply heathen worship; the enacting of war scenes to please the Whites, is fast putting him back of what he was ten years ago. The full-blood Indians are the most law-abiding in most cases. The white people always take advantage of the Indian. The Government is not properly protecting the Indian. Largely the local politicians run reservation affairs.”
Correspondent, Standing Rock, No. Dakota
“I think more could be done here in the way of nursing. There is no trained nurse among these Indians, no field matron. The people are ignorant in the matter of knowing how to care for young children, and in matters of cleanliness and ventilation.”
Correspondent, Greenwood, So. Dakota
“Government farmers who farm, and a doctor—I will not say more capable—but one who takes an interest in his work and his people, and who at least visits the sick, are among the needs of these people.”
Correspondent, Pala, California
“The Indian courts are incompetent and unjust. The boarding-schools should be nonsectarian. There should be more day-schools to promote the home life. If the Indians are wards, they should be protected in the courts. For instance, two years ago a young girl whose father had just left her a nice property, was sued for breach of promise by a mixed-blood. Ignorant, she did not appear in court. She was not defended by the Indian Agent. Many of her fine horses were sold at low prices and the mixed-blood received $1,000. This case was reviewed by the Department of Justice in Washington but never righted. They recognized evidences of fraud, but the time limit had elapsed. There should be a good lawyer as legal clerk at each agency. There should be much smaller districts, and more and better farmers in charge of them, who would by example encourage the Indians to farm their land, milk cows and raise stock. Notwithstanding the large issues of stock, the Indians have few more cattle and horses than twenty-seven years ago when I first came out here. With a railway station within ten miles of nearly every Indian on this reservation, very little is raised to ship out, either stock or grain.”
Correspondent, McLaughlin, So. Dakota
“The Indians, largely, are holding their lands. Immorality is due to several causes; first and greatest I blame the Government for insisting upon Indians obtaining licenses to marry. Many of them are a hundred miles from the agency. The old custom of early marriages was best for them. But now unless they are past eighteen years of age they cannot get a license. Any authorized minister should be allowed to marry them without a license. The boys and girls are kept in school too long. If forced at all to be sent to school after they are sixteen, it should be optional with the students and parents.”
Correspondent, Standing Rock Reservation, North Dakota
“A commission of ten or twelve men announce that they will be here on a certain date to make payments to certain Indians. These Indians are notified to come. They travel, some of them, 100 miles. On arriving there they find, perhaps, that they have come too soon or too late. This means a wait of several days at heavy expense. I have known instances where the amount drawn was less than the expenses. We have wondered why the Indian could not receive his payment just as the old soldier gets his pension, but it is claimed that he would not get the check—so many would be on the watch for it.
“When it is announced that the payment party is to be at a certain place, this proclaims to every grafter in the land that he had better be there. He is there.
“I have known the whiskey Indians use to contain poison. The full-blood Indian leaves the payment party with little money. This may be a rather broad statement, but I think I can prove it. The country is full of people, supposedly the Indian’s friends. If I wanted to find one this afternoon, I would at once go to the grafter’s office, and there be sure to locate him.”
Correspondent, Durant, Oklahoma
“Within this jurisdiction the Indians have leased the railroad sections of five townships to retain control of a portion of the range they need, but the Whites have leased many more townships and some of them are trying to keep the Indians out of the townships leased, or to confine them to their allotments. Such conditions are unbearable; allotments are valuable mainly as a foothold to control the surrounding range. One hundred and sixty acres in that part of the country will support no more than about ten sheep. Recently a man from Chama leased all the Santa Fe railroad lands in San Juan country, excepting a half-township which a Navaho had leased, and brought in about 30,000 head of sheep.
“Why should a dozen stockmen and politicians have control of the range to the detriment and ultimate destruction of the 2,200 Navahos in that part of the country?
“Again: Why should a dozen sheepmen be permitted to supplant a hundred or thousand Navahos supported through the sheep industry?
“Those who are educated at a distance and return—and they all return sooner or later—are dissatisfied. With a few exceptions they are adverse to taking up stock-raising and farming in earnest; they clamor for positions in Indian trading stores and for Government positions, which are too few to ‘go around.’ If the main school of the tribe, the one at Fort Defiance, were well equipped as a trade school, much good would accrue to the tribe; in fact, I consider this a prime necessity for the advancement of the tribe.”
Correspondent, St. Michaels, Arizona
ALASKAN INDIAN CHILDREN; NULATO, ALASKA
Two have trachoma, four are normal. Photographed, 1914
“Years ago the Indian chief and headmen kept strict order among the people, punished the guilty by fines or imprisonment, kept all Indian doctors from the place and fined them as much as fifty dollars if caught on the reservation. After a while the Government abolished the ruling of the chief and headmen by appointing paid Indian judges. If the guilty were fined they hardly ever paid their fines, if put in jail they managed by some way or other to escape, and many years ago the jail was destroyed by fire and no attempt has ever been made by the Agent to rebuild it. For the last year or two the judges have been dismissed so that now there seems to be no more law or authority on the reservation.
“In conclusion, in this my 80th year of age, I hope never to see the day when the Indian reservation will be thrown open to white settlers. Such a step would be a sure extermination of the Indians, who would soon be tricked out of their little holdings by bad Whites and sent to die on the beach of Puget Sound. The Indian race is doomed to disappear. Let us at least allow them to die a natural death and give them a decent funeral.”
Correspondent, Bellingham, Washington
“The Indians’ land is without water and worthless. Whites have taken all the water. The law is such the Indians can not hunt. Many of them suffer for food.”
Correspondent, Likely, California
“The Government should stop paying the Chippewa money, now and then. Give them all that belongs to them—allotments, houses, and no money. The more they get, the less they exert themselves. They are lazier today than twenty years ago.”
Correspondent, Cloquet, Minnesota
“With respect to the full-blood Indian here, it is to be said to his great credit that he has no desire to receive a patent in fee to his land, and the full-bloods are holding on to their original allotments, and inherited land, with a spirit which is truly commendable. Little land is offered for sale belonging to the full-blood, and there is a well-fixed determination among the full-bloods to hold on to their land. As the land here is so valuable and as they know they can receive a good figure if the land is sold, and knowing too of the great pressure brought to bear upon an Indian by white men who desire to purchase their land, I say again that the Indian full-blood here is to be congratulated upon his determination that he will not sell the land which the Government has allotted to him and his family.”
Correspondent, Pendleton, Oregon
BAY-BAH-DWUN-GAY-AUSH, AGE 87
Photographed in 1914
This old blind medicine man was possessed of a remarkable memory and knew the family history of some hundreds of Ojibwa. He was the chief witness for the Government in establishing blood relationship (See pages [95] and [399])