The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-10-27
FORT HALL INDIANS
ASSUME CITIZENSHIP
Impressive Ceremony
Special to The Republican

0pSSAAA w 1AS ASOpuOAlSSAs
FORT HALL, Idaho, October 21.-
What is likely to prove new epoch
In the history of the Fort Hall In.
dams had its beginning here today
when 26 men and women, members
Of the Indian tribes located on the
Fort Hall reservation, were granted
certificates of competency by Sec
rotary of the Interior Franklin X.
Lane, thru his personal representa-
tive, Major James Mclaughlin. The
granting of such certificates is signi-
ficant in that it means full and free
citizenship for the recipients the
same as enjoyed by all other citizens
fthe United States. They now have
the right of suffrage, are enabled to
lease or dispose of their land and
other property without government
supervision, and, last but not least,
have the privilege of paying taxes.
At the same time, the citizen Indians
retain an interest in the tribal herds,
lands, and other possessions. On this
account, the United States can still
represent citizen Indians wherever
and whenever necessary to carry out
the Indian policy in general.
The presentation of the certificates
proved to be quite ceremony. Sup
erintendent Horton H. Miller intro
duced Major Mclaughlin, who briefly
addressed the assemblage. The men
recipients were each asked, as a part
of the ceremony following the ad-
dress, to shoot an arrow, which act
was intended to symbolic the final
REIMBURSEMENT of Indian customs and
traditions. Then the men passed
around pillow, each prasping the
handles, symbolizing that from
henceforth, If not before, they would
earn their bread by the sweat of the
brow. One man remarked, in pass
ing, that he already owned sulky
plow, the pillow used in the ceremony
being an ordinary walking pillow.
Finally, the men gathered about a
large American flag and pledged al
legiance to the United States Of
America. In addition to the certi-
ficates, the men received leather
purses and bronze buttons, on which
the words, "A citizen of the United
States,' appeared. The ceremony,
with the exception of the arrow and
plow parts. was the same for the
women. They received leather sew
ing bags and bronze buttons lettered
the same as those presented to the
men.
The event brought together large
number of local people, both Indian
and white, and a number of visitors
from Blackfoot and Pocatello 1t is
the intention of the department from
now on to issue to local Indians
whenever they demonstrate their
competency certificates similar to
those granted today. The names of
the new citizens, II of whom are wo-
men, follow: John Burns, Maggie
]. Cutler, Laura Artiz Gildersleeve,
Althea LeSieur Hughes, Alphonso
Hutch, Edward LaVatta, May Bart
lett LaVatta, Philip LaVatta, Rafael
LaVatta, Rose Leigh, William B.
Leigh, Jessie Morris, John Pamburn,
ST., John D. Pamburn, Kate Pam
burn, Pennington Powell, Milton
Quinn, Clarence Rainey, Patsy
Rainey, Peter Rainey, Edward .Sorrel,
Ethel Sorrel, Narcisse Sorrel, Sadie
Torres, Alfred Trahant, Ellen Ira
hant. An inquiry by newspaper
man brought out the fact that most
of the new citizens intended to vote
for Wilson, November Z. There