Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-11
The Quaker Indian Policy.
wHAT IS BEING DONE IN NEBRASKA.

l
western section of the State.on the Missouri
River, at the mouth of the Niobarah the
Winnebagoes, who are also upon the Mis-
souri,, some twenty miles south Of Sioux
City the Omahas, whose location imme-
diately adjoins that Of the Winnebagoes !;
the Iowas, and Sacs and Foxes, who occupy
the Great Nemaha reservation in the ex-
treme Southeastern corner of the State, on
the Missouri, and Kansas line; the Otoe and
Missouri tribe, located on reservation just
west of the preceding and the Pawnees,
whose reservation is near the line of the
Pacific Railroad, about 1lO miles west of
| Omaha.
These six localities have each an agent
who resides, with his family, on the reser-
walton, and is charged with the oversight of
the Indians, and the discharge of the duties
assumed on their behalf by the United States
government. For the Sanee Sioux, Asa NJ.
Janney, of Virginia, is Agent for the
Winnebagoes, Howard White, Of New Jer-
sey; for the Omahas, DR.. Edward Painter,
of Hartford county, Maryland; for the Great
Nemaha, Thomas Lghtfoot, of Montgomery
county, Pennsylvania Z; for the Otoes, Albert
Green, of Media, Pennsylvania; for tire
Pawnecs, Jacob NJ. Trotb, Of Virginia.
All these are under the general care of
Samuel NJ. Janney, Superintendent, who is
located at Omaha. He and they were ap-
pointed in pursuance of what has become
known as the "Quaker Indian Policy" of
President Grant, and they are all members
of the Society of Friends, having been re-
commended by the Indian Committee of
New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore
Yearly Meetings. They have been at work
since last May and June.
From recent visit to Nebraska, we are
able to say, by authority, that in the very
difficult work of improving the condition of
these Indians, u decidedly encouraging pro-
gross has been made, by Superintendent
Janney and his Agents. The disposition to
adopt the manners of civilized life has
shown marked increase In the goods,
furnished annually by the Government, the
lists of which are designated by the Indians,
there will be almost total disappearance
of guns, hunting knives, &C., &C., next
year, and substitution of agricultural tools
and implements. The amount Of drunken
ness, which prevailed in some of the tribes,
is very much decreased. By the example
of the Agents, who are all practical farmers,
the men are growing more willing to labor,
and the division of land into small farms, to
be allotted to individuals, is steadily going
on. There is much greater disposition to
remain On the reservations, and very much
less struggling away to visit the white towns
and settlements. The indust. .al schools for
the children are progressing successfully,
and those who conduct them entertain no
doubt Of their ability to educe good and in
dustrious men and women from the Indian
character.
The condition of the adults can certainly
be improved, and it is, at this time, improv-
ing; while the generation growing up can
be civilized, and the training for that result
J is successfully progressing.
Superintendent Janney and his family oc-
cupy pleasant little cottage in the Western
part of Omaha. Somebody who visited then
expressed some surprise 10 find their homt
| so modest, but Friend Janney sufficiently ex
J plained that he expected to live on his salary
from the Government do not say that
J that has not been the custom, hitherto, bu
) have grave suspicious on the subject. Ht
has just returned from a tour throughout tht
; State, the second he has made since his ap
) pointment, to visit each reservation. Thu
occasion of his second visit was to pay th'
= ponsiblc duty, requiring the care and dis
bursemcnt of large sums. The trip, too
costs no little time and trouble, the distanc
: | to be traverscd being in several instance
| remote from railroads.
The Sautee Sioux are probably the mos
: advancedin civilization. They were remove,
1 from Minnesota, after the great Indian wa
4 Of 1868, and placed upon their present reser
vation. Mission schools and churches hay
been maintained among them by the Episco
: pal and Presbyterian churches, for som
years, and the conversions to the Chrstia
C faith are numerous. William Welsh, of Phil
H. | adelphia, describes, in IL recent pamphlet
# his visit to the Episcopal chapel, where a
Il Indian appeared in his surplice, in the pul
pit, to conduct the services, and young In
dian student Of theology preached the sci
mon. The audience were exceedingly a
tentiye and devout, and the whole seen
d very affecting. The secular and Sabbat
il schools by these missions are now in nctiv
IL existence, and still others have been cstat
lished by the daughters of Agent jaime,
% The condition of the women, which anon
the Indians, generally, is very low, is
this tribe more encouraging. They desire
70 adopt civilized dress, and in their list {
IL next years goods ask for many articles I
feminine apparel, such us ribbons, tap
IN buttons, thread, "sun-downs," hats, an
"balmorals." Hoop skirts were also pr'
IN posed by some, but by the influence of the
advisers they dropped them from the list
e, present
The reservation OF these Indians is n,
N eligibly located, and their situation cou
e be materially improved by some lit
4, change, which Superintendent Janney
d now about securing. Water has to
IN brought a long distance, from the Missoul
lc to the vllldges, while ali excellent mill sirea
MS may be had some miles to the Westwar
OF Most of the Santee men wear the Americ,
b. dress, and can speak English. They ha'
ct given up their characteristic dances" SUI
Id as marked their savage state.
a. The Winnabagoes are not so far advance
and they suffer, at present, from poyert
be Rations have to be dealt out to them eve
"a week, but the Agent is making vigorous e
~ ~ ertions to have enough crops raised to mai
NJ tain them. Three hundred acres OF lal
ch are being broken up for wheat, and some ,
tention will be given TO raising cattle. III
he tribe numbers about 1900 persons.
ed Concerning the Omahas, we have alread
= through the letters of DR.. Painter, and L
"- wife, given pretty full particulars. Th
10 number about 1000, and are said to be i
he finest looking of the Nebraska Indians.
SO The tribes on the Great Nemaha resery
rot ton number as follows: Sacs and Foxt
'at 10; Iowas, about Dps. They occupy distir
OF reservations OF land, but are all under o
'c- charge. Of these tribes, many are mix
IT. blood, and very few pure Indians. One
I'd the most interesting and remarkable IN
Ak among all the Indians OF this Super
5as tendency, is Joseph lesson, an Omaha.
mother is still living, aged over a hundr
ace He is of French-Indian blood, and man
VI considerable intelligence. Friend jam
M ventured to eat meal with him, upon
ot, occasion of his recent visit, and found
experiment a safe one, as it probably wo
md be in very few other Indian lodges. Jose
has two wives, the daughters of a IRE
,,,r chief--White Cloud. The elder of the t'
an, ant Eliza, probably thirty years old, and is
aye working wife, while Sarah, twenty-five
hey the favorite. The latter was described
me us quite handsome woman, with in
ere ligent face, and pretty figure. che recei
halt some education at mission school,
y 'dn, !" speaks good English. Her dress was Il
a. a. n and tasteful, and she conducted my info
er. ant with much pride through the ycgett
st it and flower gardens belonging to her
inps bands home.
JAS; Among the people of this agency, dr.,