The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-07-13
INDIAN DIVORCE PROBLEM.
c,.,,,zs,ion Has Brought This EV''
% south Dakota Sioux.


to South Dakota Sioux.
omcials who have successfully wres-
lied with such Indian problems as
ghost dance and mescal drinks, hnd
,homselves unable to cope with the di-
yo,ce question which has become cpl
demic. Sixteen petitions for divorce
80 heen fled by the Sioux Indians
at Ocoma. S. ID. Divorces have come
nc one of the heritages of civiizauoh'
General Andrew A. Burt, who has
inst returned from the Sioux country
said today: THE Indian officials
have been trying for twenty years 10
induce the Indian to be married ac-
cording to the white mans law. NO"
thew have almost succeeded. But the
same law has taught them the inter
es,,ng fact that they can change wives
or husbands. They fail to understand
that the divorce law is anything pu'
a means TO obtain the luxury OF an
unlimited number Of marriages. Many
bucks and squaYs who know not q
rord of English and bear no marx oil
civilization except that of clothes
come to the attorneys Office and ask
for divorces. when they have no rea-
son hut a desire to form a new mar
riaae They point to other Indians
who have had many wives and ask
why they can not, when the law pro-
vides the way.
when the Indian tribes were piac-
ed on reservations and cut on from
their native wild, their respect LOT
their own social laws dwindled. II
was not long before many were LIVING
in utter disregard Of the family opll'
cations. Bucks deserted squaws ana
sopaws took new husbands without
any formaility and without any reason
except their whims, Bigamy was eras-
cd from the tribal offenses. 1t was 10
remedy this evil that the government
officials and the church ms
sionaries demanded that the Indians
he married according to the sou'h
Dakota law. Now they have returneu
TO their old free life through the Ill
vorce avenue.
"The Indian marriage of today Is
orriops mixture of civilized methods
and tribal ceremonies. Unwilling %
give up their traditional customs the
indians are now using both tribal and
civilized laws. The young buck choos
es his squaw in the manner OF the
sioux. then is married by a justice oi
the peace or missionary cler'
The dance at which squaws are pup
liclv chosen by eligible bucks has
not lost it's popularity At sufficiently
frequent intervals these dances are
still called.
"But even the hot blooded Siou'
has been tanned to submission TO th'
civilized marriage law. When the sa
cred dance is concluded the couple Sc
off for the nearest town or church
Justices of the peace in Ocoma nav
heen visited by as many as thltr'
couples at the same time, all demand
ing immediate marriage. The EpiscC
palian missions are proving most pol
ular. however. The Indians are myst
fed and charmed by the elaborate ee
emony OF the Episcopal marriage, S
they now look upon these churches I
finish the elaborate tribal customs Q
choosing wives and husbands. The
want to be married by high churc
form. They think this more in keel
ing with their own ceremony than tn
few informal words in Justices oil
gy office.
"As many of the Indian marriage
must be performed through an inte
prefer. so the divorce proceedings al
carried on largely through informed
aries. It is novel Sight to witnei
copper hued Sioux Indians, tribe
men with those who slew Clusters a
my sitting about court room ar
watching with solemn mien the r'
tape of court.