The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1908-11-12
Site for
Home
the
Gift Of
Indian Chief

cite to the Society. 1t is the west END
% beautiful artificial island In the
Nooksack river. and comprises about
twenty-five acres. The island lies just
southeast of Lynden. Mrs. M. E. Stick
nav donated the money for building
the main structure, few years later
and in 1891, the main building. which
is forty feet wide and fifty feet long,
was erected. The home was named In
honor Of Mrs. Stickney, tho several 9th
er people have made large donations
for it and another large addition was
made to 1t in 1900, when Rev. F. j.
Brown was In charge. AS soon as the
first building was completed, the work
was transferred from the temporary
home at EversOn to it. At that time
the house was completely surrounded
by timber and the debris left by the
carpenters. Since then much time,
money and labor have been spent In
clearing, fencing and improving the
farm. A large barn has been built, a
fine orchard set out, and as we have
already mentioned, large addition,
twenty by thirty-five feet, added to
the main part.
A few days ago we had the pleasure
of visiting the school, and were pleas
ed TO note the cheerful attitude ON
every hand. In the words Of Miss
Rouls, Superintendent Of the Home.
1T is not a great institution in the
sense VIC are accustomed to count
greatness. II Is simple school-home
for the children of Il remnant Of the
Nooksack tribe Of Indians. Being a
small institution, much of the mechan.
zeal side Of the institutional life is
intentionally done away with, and the
home like element is emphasized. The
children are happy at work, or at play
and are glad to return when the sum
mer vacation Is over"
While we were there little tot
about six years cid recited her lesson.
She spelled the word. cat" and then
went TO the board and wrote it, plac-
ing a curve above the a, to show the
proper sound. The next class also a
flrst reader class, knew the short
sounds OF, a, e, and 1, wherever they
heard them. which was rather a sur-
prise Just before recess the school a.
rose and went thru q very pretty jim
gle for their teacher, Mrs. King.
IL a lady on the street,
Or my teacher should meet.
From my head, my hat l take.
And bow like this l make.
besides this exercise they went thru
several gymnastic drills. The school
Is not closely graded but covers about
the hrst Tour years. There are fifteen
childen at the present time attending
the school, ranging in age from Ave
10 thirteen. Last year the attendance
was larger as quite a number Of the
Lummi chiIden attended but this year
'hey are attending the government
school. Besides the common school
branches, they are taught how to do all
kinds Of hOusewOrk which includes sew
ing and weaving. In their sewing
room we saw many articles Of dress
apparel made or remodeled by them.
The boys have to help plant and take
care OF the garden and harvest the fruit
from the orchard. they have a large
reading room to spend their evenings
in and rainy days.
There has been decided growth in
the educational development of the
Indians since the Home was establish
ed. There was time when those In
charge had to go out and bring In
the children. but the parents now
feel the need OF the school and are
gil d to bring their children to 1t.
Miss Rouls, on being asked II shS
thought the influence upon the chill
dren would be permanent, had this to
say: Some say the effort is futile,
that they Immediately 60 back to their
old haunts. or course they can't i'm
mediately overcome heredity and en-
vironment. no more than the white.
black. yellow, or brown race can, but
they compare favorably with the chill
dren of the white race. judging from
a number OF years experience in the
public schools. Though their vacation
this year has been longer than usual |
because Of financial reasons, yet they
have lost little. Especially is this true
of their industrial work. They seem
to begin just where they left off.
The greatest hindrance. to the de-
yelopment of the Indian. is the white
mans fire water" a gift of civiliz-
alton. It deprives the children Of SO
many things they might have without
It. When the Anti-salOOn League. the
ond Ordar League. the W.C,Tu.,I