Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-19

raising is now a well-esta blshed industry
among them The blood Indians for ex-
ample, less than a decade ago possessed no
cattle; but last year 176 heads of families
had among them no fewer than 5000 cat
tie. Cooperation has been exemplified
among these Indians in the purchase of
pure-bred bulls. When a beef animal is
sold by an Indian, he is required to SUBJ
scribe 81 to a fund for the purchase Of
well-bred bulls and since the establish
ment of this fund three years ago about
5000 has been paid in. AT one time the
government refrained from attempting to
have the breed of Indian horses improved,
as 1t was feared that the possession of a
better type of ponies would prove an adj
ditional incentive to the red man to wander
about the country in idleness. 1t Is now
believed that this danger need no longer
be apprehended. and good class Of stall
lions Is being introduced on the reserves.
A growing supply of a superior type of
horse Is promised as a result
In British Columbia the Indians are en-
tering into fruit growing with Zest and are
giving many evidences of progress. They
are purchasing and operating threshing
machines and establishing cooperative
stores in their villages. and recently tribe
of them bought site for salmon cannery
near the mouth of the Skeena river and
erected thereon a fully equipped cannery.
In various parts of the dominion the In
themselves. In their villages they have
churches and school houses. fire halls and
music halls. etc Many of the bands yet
combine hunting with farming operations,
and common spectacle in the vicinity of
the Rocky mountains is the stated pilgrim
age after game of all sorts of entire tribes,
VINO, having finished their farming opera
uoGs men. women and children-the wom-
en- straddle on Observation-Disclosures them
selves to the head waters OF the great
rivers for hunt of six or eight weeks du-
ration.
Well Cared For.
Even the half-breed is well taken care of
in Canada. In Manitoba and the North
west territories each half breed man, wo-
man and child is granted scrip which en-
tales the holder to 24O acres of land. In
addition a tract of territory has been set
apart In the district of Alberta, which is
granted In parcels of eighty acres each to
such half-breeds as have no land, but who
are DESTROYS of settling down to till the
soil There are very few full-blooded In
dams In Ontario and Quebec, where the
Indian population is 20.9S3 and 1882 re-
spectiyely, except in districts far removed
from white settlements.
In Quebec intermarriage has been prin-
cipally with the French and in Ontario
with the English-speaking nationalities.
The early white settlers in Manitoba and
the northwest were almost entirely of
Scotch and French origin and the half
breed population is. largely the result of
marriage between The stalwart -trappers of
the fur hunting days and Indian maidens
The late John Norquay, one time premier
of Manitoba, was half-breed. and Louis
Riel. the leader of two rebellions, was an
other.
In the districts where there are few
white settlers the half-breed as rule
follows the Indian mode of life. The
Scotch or English halL-breeds whose oc-
eupation is generally that of freighter.
trader farmer. gravitate in larger
numbers toward association with their
white neighbors than do the French half
breeds. very many of whom follow the
occupation OF hunters and fishermen.
Becoming More Civilized.
With each succeeding generation the
Canadian Irdian takes more kindly to-
civilization and is adapting himself in a
marvellous manner to its requirements.
Criminal returns show that, generally
speaking. he Is well behaved. The law
forbidding the sale Of liquor to Indians