The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-05-13
CORN grown IN.
N. D.. FOR Ages

Jamestown Capital: Cornfelds were
cultivated along the Missouri river
before the Puritans landed at Plym-
outh, Rock in 1920. The Indians near
the river CMandans, Arikaras, Hidatsts
and perhaps others) had a good civil
~ization, and they relied upon agricul-
ture for the major portion of their
food. De Smet in his government re-
port in 1854 mentions seeing a 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
dams for many generations previous
to this date.
Their cultivated foods were. quite
similar to those of the early New Eng
land settlers, consisting of corr Give
varieties), beans (three Varieties),
squashes and pumpkins ~(several
varieties). s~unfowers (Which yields a
copious harvest of seeds good " for
bread when ground and mixed with
G"rnmeal), Indian potatoes and tobac-
co.
Their food supply was generally
luxuriant. 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 well
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 mad in Photograph writ
ing, was quite ample. Geography
taught kindergarten style, with maps
drawn on the loose earth, was a fav-
orite study continuously. History was
carefully taught, n both girls and
boys were given practical instruction
in agriculture. Girls were carefully
IhnNC 70 ~ nv+notN d. -
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-
tical and extensive than instruction il
these sciences in a college. Fancy
sewing was taught to girls, and all
boys We're 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 race. 1t 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 thar real and not productive of
happiness. why build an eight room
house and then be a slave to take care
Of 1t, when q. good three room house is
better?" an Indian asked me. But a
small minority has to obey the GUS
toms of the large majority, eventual
ly. We all have to do somewhat as
our neighbors do, or we are at dis.
advantage. Life, like statecraft, is
often a choice between two evils.
Young Indians educated in schools
think they must at last conform to- the
white mans civilization even though
it is arbitrary in the sense that it.
might easily have been quite different
from what it is. We must all conform
to the system unless we are strong
enough to change the system. Ameri-
ans more than most other peoples
will not tolerate social or domestic
heretics.