Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-07
ONLY INDIAN PRESI
Delivered an Address al St
 Patrlck's Church Yesterday.

Rev Albert Nagahnquet, the h. dian priest, who celebrated mass at St Patrick's church week ago yes terday delivered an address at the 10:45 mass yesterday. He spoke in part as follows:
 T can only give an account of the Indians natural religions as gleaned from the legends of their prophets or Medicine men. From their language one can see that they were religiously inclined. The Indian believed in a Being who was the maker of all things and His will directed the uni verse. It is said that we adored the elements. This is not exactly cor rect. As much as I know, and speak ing for my tribe, my ancestors be- lieyed that the elements were ruled by the servants of the Great Spirit. A family claimed to be protected by guardian of some element; of the waters, of light, or of weather. The language of the Indian shows that they spoke of God who was just and merciful, who would reward the good and punish the bad. A young man, before he was in the chase, had to live a penitential life, had to fast and refrain from evil. Thus 1t was easy for the Jesuit missionaries to explain the doctrine of Christ to the aborigines.' :"
 Father Negahnquet is an inter esting talker and last evening talked freely about his people. He believed the United States government ought to continue to protect the interests of the Indian braves who cannot speak the English language and are not educated in American ways. The younger generation is learning the English languages and will become citizens. They can care for them selves, but the older ones who are not acquainted with the white mans ways are apt to be imposed upon
 Speaking of the extermination of the race, he said: 'The Indian race is to become extinct. Even now it is hardly possible to find any full blooded braves. The whites and the Indians are inter-marrying to great extent and in time all will become citizens of the United States. speak ing English and forgetting their na- tive customs, and even losing color and characteristics.
 ..I know the Indian schools are doing great work. There are many Indians who have been educated in these schools and are now teaching in them. This fact offers an incentive to the little Indian children"
 Father Negahnquet says he never possessed that inborn desire of the Indian to escape from the schools and take up the wild life of the plains, which is commonly attributed to all of his race. His father was an edu- cated man and insisted on all his children getting liberal education. Father Negahnquet said he was afraid to try to escape from school or from the Benedictine fathers who ed ucated him at Chilocco. Okla, for he knew full we'll what sort of recep- ton he would get on his appearance at home. His home bringing-up tended to make him favor civilized ways. s.s '
 The elder Negahnquet was not a chief, but became one of the impOr- tant men of the Pottawattame tribe, and was the chairman of the delega- tion sent to Washington by the In dians a few years ago. Father Albert Negahnquet was born near St Mary's, Kan, in 1874, making him at the present time about S2 years of age. He is the eldest of ten children and has younger brother at home about years old. He has spent three years in Rome and is fully fitted for taking np the missionary work among his tribesmen.
 Father Negahnquet left this morn ing with Rev James Mitchell to re- sume his studies at the Apostolic mission house at Washington. He was much pleased with his stay in Waterbury and said he hoped to be able to visit the city again in the near future.