Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-03-10
UNFAVORABLE
TO NORWEGIAN
Indian Department Believes Kootenai
Indians are Better Off in the
Kootenai Valley
AN INVESTIGATION BEING MADE
Sinclair Sill Urging Their Removal for
the Benefit Of the Indians

Herald readers are doubtless Won
dering what is the attitude OF the
Government and what will be the
final outcome of the proposal made
by Representative Addison T. Smith
and favored by many local people, to
remove the Kootenai Indians to the
Colville reservation. Attorney Bart
lett Sinclair received another COM
munication this week from Repre-
sentative Smith which had been sent
him from the Department of Indian
Affairs on the subject. The COM
munication is published below and
also Mr.. Sinclair's reply.
Feb. 26, 1916.
Hon. Addison T. Smith,
House of Representatives,
My Dear Mr.. Smith:
The Office has received your let
ter of February II, 1916, with en-
closure from Mr.. Bartlett Sinclair,
a lawyer of Boomers Ferry, Idaho,
wherein he alleges the unfortunate
condition of the Kootenai Indians in
the vicinity of Boomers Ferry, Idaho,
and suggests that they be removed
to the Colville Reservation, Washing
ton.
In response to your request for the
views of this Office with regard to
moving these Indians to the Spo-
kane or Colville reservation, you
are advised that the Kootenai Indians
have no rights to lands on either
of the reservation mentioned. With
regard to lands on the Colville res
ervation, you are advised that the
lands thereon have been allotted in
severalty and that steps are now
being taken under the act of March
%, 1906 ga Stat. L., SO), to dis
pose of the surplus unallotted lands.
The only land remaining unallot-
ted on the Spokane reservation,
Washington, is a tract of about 3d.
900 acres which has been set aside
as a tribal timber reserve.
The records show that there are
about ia Kootenai Indians living
on the Pend d'Oreille River in North
ern Idaho and that about 80 of them
have received allotments or home
steads. These Indians are under the
general jurisdiction of Superintend-
ent Colgrove of the Occur d'Alene
reservation who has visited them in
order to get first hand impression
of their condition. In report made
in February, 1913, he says that these
Indians make their living by hunt
ing, fishing, working in the timber
for white men and by the sale
Of wild hay on their lands. He says
that the Indians assured him that
they had enough to keep them COM
Portable and asked only for a school
that they would of course like tc
have more land but none is avail
able. He reports further these
people are now self-supporting, sober
and moral, and but little diseased
Their needs are school facilities anC
better housing, their cabins being
small and lily ventilated" The Of
fee was unable to provide any fur
Their lands for the Indians but i'm
mediately took up the question O
furnishing them a school. Arrange
ments were made whereby a small
tract of land was purchased from on
of the allottees and a day schoo
was established and has been il
operation for perhaps year.
The Office is unable to see it
way clear to recommend any actor
that would prevent these Indian
from enjoying the full advantage
of the land allotted and homesteade'
by them, and does not believe tina
it would be in their interests to sug
gest any plan for removing Their
to another part of the country. You
correspondents letter is returned
and an extra carbon of this lette
is enclosed.
Very truly yours,
c. F. HAUKE, Chief Clerl