Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1913-05-16
CORN GROWN IN.
n. D. FOR ACES

Jamestown Capital.-CornfciGs were
cultivated along the Missouri river
before the Puritans landed at Plym-
out Rock in 1920. The Indians near
the river (Mandans, Arikaras, Hidatsts
and perhaps others, had good civil
ization, and they relied upon agricul-
ture for the major portion of their
food. Desmet in his government re-
port in 1864 mentions seeing corn
field of 1000 acres in the Fort Berth.
old Indian country, and it is well
known that corn had been cultivated
extensively by the Missouri river In
dians for many generations previous
to this date.
Their cultivated foods were quite
similar to those of the early New Eng
land settlers, consisting of corn Give
varieties,) beans, (three varieties),
squash and pumpkins, (several var
ieties), sunfowers (Which yields CO.
pious harvest Of seeds good for bread
when ground and: mixed with corn
meal,) Indian potatoes and tobacco.
Their food supply was generally lux
uriant, though lacking some Of the
modern delicacies to which few white
people were accustomed a few decades
ago. Their clothing of velvety tanned
deerskin and other skin would be wei
come to white people in winter even
now. Their government was good, and
crime was infrequent. Education,
though given without books save a
few records made in photograph writ
ing, was quite ample. Geography
taught kindergarten style, with maps
drawn on the loose earth, was fav-
orite study continuously. History was
carefully taught, and both girls and
boys were given practical instruction
in agriculture. Girls were carefully
(boys to some extent) instructed in
domestic economy, including care of
children. Among many other bits Of
home instruction for girls they were
taught that the great spirit created
cattail pollen to wrap babies in, and
he was displeased when he saw the
pollen blowing away instead of being
used. Boys were carefully taught the
habits of birds and animals (orinthol-
ogy and zoology, and this instruction
though lacking some Of the technique
of university method, was more prac-
teal and extensive than instruction in
these sciences in college. Fancy
sewing was taught to girls, and all
boys were instructed in plain sewing.
When numerous white people came
to North Dakota and the diminishing
game supply reduced the source Of OBJ
tanning meat, Indians had to discard
their old civilization and learn that Of
the dominant white man. It was diff.
cult for them to do this, and they did
not wish to do it. They considered
the white mans civilization more arti
fetal than real and not productive OF
happiness. ''Why build an eight room
house and be slave to take care OF
it. when a good three room house is
hetters" an Indian asked me. But q
small minority has to obey the Gus
toms of the large majority, eventual
ly. We all have to do somewhat a.
our neighbors do, or we are at a dis
advantage. Life, like statecraft, il
often a choice between two evil.
Young Indians educated in school.
think they must at least conform t.
the white mans civilization eve,
though it is arbitrary in the sense tha
it night easily have been quite differ
ent from what it is. We must all con
form to the system unless we ar,
strong enough to change the system
Americans more than most other PEG
pies will not tolerate socia, or e. ,:es
tic heretics.