Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1907-01-02
VERDE INDIANS WANT SCHOOL

request, cunique in the history of inc executive office. was made of Gov cruor Kibbcy at Phoenix, Monday. by three Iavapai county Apache Mohavc Indians, residents of the Verde Valley. near Cottonwood These Indians made the trip to Phoenix for the one purpose of requesting Governor Kibbcy to aid them in securing the establishment of an Indian school near Camp Verde, that the Indian children in the Verde Valley might receive the benefit of au education
 Ii has been generally supposed that the older Indians, if not actually opp posed to the "whltc man E school. % were nt least not in favor of it. hut this request has proved that at least one notable exception to tho general rule prevails Since Justin Head, thc Carlisle graduate. shot and killed five Indians in the Verde Valley, for which crime hc is now serving q life sen tcncc in thc Territorial pcnitcntary, it was thought that the Verde Indians would never countcnancc an education for their oGsprings, as they attributed to Heads education. or at least, so it was alleged by some. the arrangement from his people which lcd to the crimes. but the request of thc three Indians. Chief Novak, Second Chief John Cava and Peter Ocotilln. disprovcs this crstwhile belief.
 Chief Novak made m eloquent ap peal for school facilities for the younger children of his tribe He called attention to the fact that hc had been active for years in sending larger children to the Indian school at Phoc nix, and he mentioned many other facts to prove that hc was in full sympathy with the ways of civilization. But. he said. it is not only n hardship to send the very small children away from home. but was in fact impossible to q large extent. so that until they are con. siderably pa'a the ordinary school age 'H'N WNnl 'liHVNi lN'lllllfN liF ftllls cation. He stated that there are at least thirty young children in the i'm. mediate vicinity of Camp Verde. and hc strongly urged that q school build. ing be constructed for them and n good school established therein. He said hc had found from long observation that education was good thing for the Indian-a although he was without cdu. cation himself-and it was good for the Indian to adapt himself to the white man 's ways and to work for his living He was warmly seconded by Captain John and by the interpreter.
 The Governor promised to lay the matter before the authorities at Wash. lng'0p, and to do all in his power to have Inc school established. and he complimcnted all three of bis visitors upon their public spirit,
 Chief Novak impartcd the pleasing information that the Mohavc.A Apachcs under h's jurisdiction are prosperous and con,cntcd They find work on the ranches, on the railroads and on the public roads. and at the shelter at Jerome. The chief exhibited with con. siderable pride q faded commission which was issued ou the goth of Aug. 'ust, lssi, by Brigadier General George Crook. to Captain Charley, n Mohave. Apache, appointing Charley chief of inc tribe The commission was on parch. men', and set forth in strong terms the many merits of Captain Charley. This commission is dearly prized by Chief Novak as one of the evidences of his own right to the title. Captain Charley, upon his death, was succeeded as chief by Marshal Pete, nv virtue of an cleo. ton held by the tribe, and upon Mar. shal Pete's death, Novak was duly elected chiefIso that the commission from General Crook is an important link in his chain of title.
 The Governor gave Chief Novak n letter commenting him to the proper courtesy and consideration of all per. sons that he may meet.
 
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