The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-03-23
D0|NGS At FORT SHAW.
An Indian Industrial School Training
and Civllizing the Youth Of
the Montana Tribes.
There Are Now 23S Pupils Under the
Supervision of DIR. Wins
low.

0Aho
is the industrial Indian school OF Fort
Shaw, destined in the future to be the
principal civllizing element among the
Indians in Montana.
Fort Shaw was formerly a military res
ervation, but was abandoned by the war
department a few years ago.. In the
early part Of 1892 G. b.. Grinnell wrote
Mr.. Noble suggesting that the war de-
partment be requested not to auction of
these buildings and throw open the Fort
Shaw reservation to settlement. as is
usually done in such cases, but that the
whole reservation should be turned over
to the interior department and used by
the department for the establishment Of
an Indian school. Among the many
advantages of such a course was econo-
my, Fort Shaw being already provided
with officers quarters, barracks, shops,
and stables, and with irrigating bitches
all Of which could be adapted to the
uses of the proposed school.
Mr.. Noble referred his letter to the
commissioner of Indian affairs, and not
long after he was notified that Gen.
Morgan had reported adversely to the
project. Nevertheless Mr.. Grinnell con-
tinued to urge the carrying out Of the
plan, and being fortunate enough to en-
list the sympathies of a number of peo.
pie and associations of inference the
school was at last established.
Learning of the success of his applica-
ton Mr.. Grinnell wrote to a number of
his Indian friends at the Blackfoot
agency, urging them to e their chill
dlen and secure a good attendance. The
result was. some of the leading chiefs
spent weeks persuading their fellow
tribesmen to send their children, and
their success is proved when it is stated
that out of 23S pupils, 40 belong to the
Blackfoot tribe.
On December %, 1882, under the super
vision of DR.. W. II. Winslow, the school
was formally opened under the name of
the Fort Shaw Indian Industrial school.
Pupils came from the various tribes in
Montaua-Piegans. Assinaboines, Yank-
ton Sioux, Northern Cheyennes. Crows,
Gros Ventres and Pend d'Oreilles. Be-
fore the end of the first year l76 pupils
were enrolled, and at the present date,
March Is, 1894, there is an enrolment of
23S.
The plan of the school is to teach the
pupils to take care of themselves, and
with a view to such, as much time is
given to work as to study. Half the
pupils are in school in the morning, and
the remaining half in the afternoon, the
balance of the day being occupied in
work by those not in school.
AS to the kinds of work done, the farm
boys tend a large garden, put up hay,
and last summer in addition they built
ten miles of fence. The carpenter boys
have helped change buildings, make re-
pairs, whitewashed and painted rooms,
and made tables, book cases, etc. The
blacksmith boys assist in horseshoeing,
repairing wagons, and are learning the
trade in general. The sboemakers are
mending and making shoes for the school.
The tailor boys are mending and making
the boys clothing,
The girls are doing all kinds of house
work, cooking for the school and caring
for the dining room. They also do the
laundry work and mend all the girls
clothing. They darn the boys socks and
do crotchet and drawn work. A large
number of them are learning to play on
the organ, and the boys have a band of
thirteen pieces.
Pupils are detailed to do certain work
each month, and are expected to learn
how to do different thiugs, except in
cases where they are learning particular
trains, wher they keep at one thing. All
the boys are expected to learn the use OF
tools. Those having special aptness for
some trade are kept at that trade so as
TO make them skilled mechanics.
In the school rooms they learn to read,
write, and speak English. OF course
they take up other studies as they ad-
vance, the aim being to make them COM
petent to transact any business.
The first thing for them to learn is
Row to make a living by work as do the
white people. Supt. Winslow and the
school employees have great confidence
that they will do this with proper teach
ing and inducement.
The school is in no sense sectarian.
the school employees belonging to the va
rlous Christian denominations. While
no sectarian doctrine is allowed there is
given "a standing invitation to all minis
ters to speak to the school. Sabbath
school is held every Sunday morning.
the International Lessons being used,
The Lords prayer, Ten Commandments.
Psalms, ard various texts are learned by
the pupils, and they take delight in sing
ing the gospel hymns.
The Indian problem is being worked
out in this and other Industrial schools.
Teach the boys and girls how to make a
living, and then insist on their doing it.
This must be done or else in a few years
the state may expect to have a large
number added to the lis Of those reIuir-
ing aid.
A week ago Il representative of The
TRIBUNE visited Fort SHAW and was
greatly pleased wit the order which
generally prevailed. The pupils are
clean and dressed neatly. Attheir various
trades the boys are industrious and
anxious to learn. The workshops are
spacious, and every facility is offered to
the pupils. In the school the advance
ment as compared with those of other
schools is something surprising, the chill
dren having apparently an overwhelming
desire TO advance their studies, part of
Of this being probably due to their isola-
ton from evil influences.
The work being done at this school is
not secret, as DR.. Winslow is desirous
that his n%eighbors and citizens generally
should visit the school and observe the
progress made. In this benevolent work