East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-05-16
PLAN CEREMONY
AMONG INDIANS
OFFICIALS TO BE HERE
Observance Will BE Similar to That
Recently Held in New York at
Breaking of Ground for Indian
Memorial-FIag viii BE Hoisted to
Rhythm of Indian Music.

Some time this summer the Indians
of the local reservation will be called
together and with two government Of
ficials present will participate in a
ceremony similar in nature to the ex-
ercises at the breaking of ground for
the Indian memorial that is being
erected in New York harbor in hon
or Of the North American Indian. The
Indians will be assembled garbed in
their historic raiment and the stars
and stripes will be raised to the
rhythm Of Indian music.
Orders for the local ceremonial are
contained in the following letter
which Major Swartzlander has re-
ceived from Acting Commissioner Of
Indian Affairs Abbott:
Washington. April "a 1913.
Mr.. Edw. L. Swartzlander,
Supt. Umatilla Reservation.
Sir:-Ry authority Of the president
DR.. Joseph x. Dixon of Philadelphia,
representing Hon Rodman Wanna
maker, will visit your reservation dur
ing the summer of 1913 to give the
Indians under your jurisdiction an
opportunity TO. participate in ceremo-
MES incident to the erection of a ma
tional monument at Fort Wadsworth.
New York harbor projected by Mr.
Wanamaker and approved by congress
and the president of the United states,
in honor Of the North American In
dian. These ceremonies will be sim
liar to those held on Washington S
birthday, 1918, at Fort Wadsworth, in
which thirty-two representative In
dams Of eleven different tribes par
ticipated by raising the American
flag to the rhythm of Indian music,
while the president of the United
States and Wooden Leg, member of
the Northern Cheyenne tribe. opened
ground for the memorial. which will
stand az fitting recognition by the
nation of the noble and worthy and
virile qualities of Indian character.
DR.. Dixon will have with him on
YOUR reservation the same flag which
was hoisted by Indian hands in New
York harbor. and the same program,
so far as possible. will be followed,
thus linking the Indians of every
tribe in all parts of the country to-
gether in the erection of this nation
al tribute to the American Indian
The part of the program in New
York which attracted most general at
tention was a declaration of allegi-
ance inspired by the Indians them
selves and signed by them at the
close of the ceremonies. The state
ment was as follows;
Declaration of Allegiance to the Gov
ernment of the United States by the
American Indian.
We. the undersigned representatives
of various Indian tribes of the United
States, through our presence and the
part we have taken in the Inaugural
ton of this memorial to our people,
renew our allegiance to the glorious
flag of the United States, and offer
our hearts to our country's service.
We greatly appreciate the honor ana
privilege extended by our white
brothers who have recognized us by
inviting us to participate in the cere-
monies on this historical occasion.
The Indian is fast losing his iden-
tity in the face of the great waves
of Caucasian civilization which are
extending to the four winds of this
country, and We want fuller knowl-
edge. in order that we may take our
places in the civilization which sur
rounds us
Though a conquered race. with our
right hands extended in brotherly
love and our left hands holding the
Pipe of Peace. we hereby bury all
past i'll feeling and proclaim abroad
to all the nations of the world our
firm allegiance to this nation and to
the stars and stripes and declare that
henceforth and forever in all walks