Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-03-21
THE INDIAN WOMAN OF TODAY.
Address Of Mary Mitchell, q Full Blood
Omaha Indian, at Burt County Farm
erSs Institute. Decatur. Nah.


The ndian woman has always had a
hard lot. She has always lived in a Ger
tain way. She has been the homemaker
and she has had to do all the work. make
all the clothing and make all the bedding
for the family. Her life has been mar
row. She could never choose her lover.
All OF that was done for her. The Indian
woman had to obey. She had to do the
best she could always. The young girl
had to learn all about the work. The In
dian mother taught her daughter how to
make clothing and how to do the work
that was expected of her. She had to be
good to her father and her mother and
obey her husband. The Indian woman of
today makes her mother comfortable. The
mother says to her daughter, BE good.
Be good and you will nave a good home"
The mother must send her daughter out
into the world. The old Indian woman
has reason to be proud of her daughter.
The daughter has become a doctor, Il
nurse or u teacher. You says. "How can
the Indian woman do these things?" Re-
member that Indian woman has n mind.
Her mind may be as bright as any white
oina Some are not so bright but not
all whites have bright minds.
The Indian woman of today has a home.
She has a garden. she raises vegetables,
and in season she cans fruits and vege-
tables. In her cellar you will find canned
fruits. tomatoes and plum jelly. She may
not nave q tireless cooker in her kitchen.
but she has a range and perhaps a gaso-
line stove. She has learned to use them.
You say. II have always seen the ndian
sit on the ground and eat their meals.''
but that was long ago. The Indian wom-
an of today has a table in her home. She
has dishes to put on the table. You say.
"How is this? have always seen the
Indians eat out OF wooden bowls" Yes,
but that was long ago. Perhaps you are
In her home when the Indian woman of
today gets her dinner. Her daughter sets
out the dishes. And the mother takes the
chicken out Of the oven. 1t is Drowned
just 30. The Indian woman has learned
many things.
The ndian woman must live just so.
She never hurries. You say the Indian
woman Is SO slow. Yes. but she is trained
that way. Long ago when she was told
hat when the sun was a certain point she
must break camp she did SO at just that
time. She is trained to do things just so.
That IL why she never hurries. It's her
nature.
The Indian woman IL TIE minister's
helper in her own home and among her
own people. She is a member Of the
woman she does much for her people. She
helps the doctor to give medicine to the
sick. The doctor will tell you, III know l
can depend on her. ''She Is trained that
way. Maybe II you visit the home Of the
Indian woman you inc that she has q.
good home. But near her fine house there
Is q tepee. that is for her mother. She
Wishes to live in the old way. In the
way her people have always lived. But
she Ia GLAD her daughter has a good home.
The Indian woman of today has q good
home. She has a parlor and a sitting
room and . kitchen. 1t may not be up the
white wOman's standard. But she has a
piano in the parlor. You say, "Well, how
is this. can you play?" No but my daugh-
ter can play the plano. She takes music
lessons. I want my daughter to be q
woman Of today.
who 10 lazy. She will say. 1T Is because
am Q half breed. 1 get 1t from my Indian
blood" But remember she is a half breed.
Sometimes you hear some say about some
half breeds. .'She is lazy and shiftless.
She 10 half breed But remember she is
| n half hrAed and nnf = P,,ll hro~N