The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-31

to retain their hunting and fishing
grounds unmolested. In a word, they
are quiet, peaceable and apparently
happy. because they are well treated
by their government. Still another rea-
son may be mentioned. The Indian
service Of the Dominion Is composed of
a trained body of men who understand
the Indian character, and who become
well known and trusted, and remain
in the service through life. while the
United States Indian service is COM
posed of men appointed through poll
tical influence. often regardless of
qualification, who do not remain in the
service long enough to fully learn and
comprehend the Indian character, and
consequently are unfit for their work.
bringing trouble upon the government
and Indians alike.
TRIBAL DIVISIONS.
The chief tribes of the Dominion are
the AlgonUuins, Rlackfeet, Bloods,
Crees, Stonies, Saulteaux or Chippewas
and about 600 Sioux. The descendants
of the Mohawks, also the Six Nations
or Iroauois, are the superior tribes.
Scotch half-breeds Of the Northwest
are a fine race of people. In industry
the Scotch and English blood usuaiiy
pradominates. The French hair -Oreeds
tend to the character of the lnaiih
race. There are no Irish halt-preeos.
Indians in the older provinces are more
intelligent and controllapie tna'i III .ne
West. The Cree tribes were the ieaoeis
In the half-breed rebellion OF 1859.
Each tribe has a separate treaty WIN
the government. Its members get GER
tain ammunition and rations as long
as they remain on their reservations
Some tribes are a wandering race.
Some take to agriculture. Some OF the
Young men willingly attend schoois
which are supported by the govern
ment. ,,o,
Scattered about the territories in ls94'
according to a leatlet issued by the
Regina Industrial School," there We're
26S Indian schools with an ATTENDANCE
of 1854 scholars, being educated III ,ne
day, boarding and industrial schoois
established on and Off the dinereht re-
serves. The boys attending the indus
trial institutions are taught trades
farming, ETC., and the girls sewinS
knitting and housework. in addition 10
the ordinary branches of education.
While the Indian is naturally a sh'lt-
less. idle. lazy and often thievish anu
treacherouS creature, many OF THESE
Canadian Indians have through the
teaching of the schools and influences
of the missionaries become civilized,
Christiani2ed and self-suppurting. Thls
is especially true OF the half-breeds.
Unlike the pure Indians, they have
taken rather kindly to agriculture ana
education
INDIAN INDUSTRY.
Here are some other facts cleaned
ri ,l L.
which are to the credit of the Red race.
They have a large area of land under
cultivation and own live stock ana
farming implements to considerable
value. Their earnings on the Nortn-
west reservations in 1890. were S24,0lo.oo
which increased in 1894 to $sl. Dnf-
ing this summer one indian Moli,uIi
,oId tyyenty mounds Of butter IN Regina
oont ussh. The Indians OF one agency
supply one hundred and fifty tons or
hay yearly for the mounted police. On
the onion Lake and Battleford reserves
last year the Indians gathered six thou
sand tons of hay and wintered $500
head of cattle. At the Industrial fair,
one Indian took the first prize for oxen;
two Indians captured first prizes in
open competition for exhibits of wheat.
This record disproves the accusa-
tions. sometimes unjustly made, that
deprived of hunting, the red man is
easily resigned to a life of idleness,
thievishness and all manner of vices.
1t also proves, or goes to prove, that a
live Indian is better than dead In
dian. that the efforts made to improve
his condition are not fruitless: that
they can adapt themselves to the
changed circumstances and become
civilized, Christianized, and enfran-
chised-for in the older provinces their
intellectual and Industrial progress has
been so marked, as to justify the exten-
sion of the franchise to the aboriginal
population. The late bishop of Sas-
katchewan, who was regarded as an
authority on the subject, said in an ad-
dress delivered before the Royal Col
onial Institute, that he looked forward
to the day when we should see the In
dian population making their bread
honestly side by side with the white
men who had come into the Dominion
as emigrants and this would he the diz.
seeing and thoroughly English polic
which has been so constantly pursued
by those who had guideu the deS-
TIMES of the people of Canada.
The popular idea that the extinction
of these native tribes is only q matter
of time. is called into question. Statis-
tics show that the Indian race in Cana
da Is not SO rapidly on the wane as is
commonly supposed. While some tribes
are decreasing, Others are rapidly in
creasing under the influence of civili-
Zation, for that tends to preserve and
prolong life. Since their wars have
ceased, these Indians are better fed,
clothed and housed, the men largely
engage in regular work, which is al
ways wholesome, and when sick they
have medical aid. One says: I'VE
may have these dusky and doubtful
dependents with us for generations to
come"
The annual appropriation for the sup
port of the Indians of Manitoba and the
Northwest territories and the mainten-
ance of the Indian agencies and ex-
perimcntal farms exceeds a million doll
lars. OF this large sum about half Is
used for provisions for destitute In
dians. This fact speaks well for the
liberality of parliament, and attests
the humanity of the Dominion's treat
ment of the Red Man"
J. Z. Richmond.