Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-01-19
indian SHOOTS
HIS LAST ARROW
Ceremony Marks BestoWaI Of
! citizenship Upon Red Man.
WINS PRESIDENTS FAVOR

WINS PRESIDENTS FAVOR
Given q Plow ~ Symbol Of Industry,
and Purse Native Gets Stands For
Thrift-With Shooting Of Last Ar.
+ row He Puts Indian Life Behind Him.
Wife Gets q Workbas.
One of the deepest rooted and Oldest
instincts in the Indian, the love Of
symbolism, is being turned to account
by the department Of the interior in
its effort to modernize the race. Fond
ness for ritual and ceremony, which
has called forth comment from stu
dents of Indian life from the early
pioneers on, Is now being utilized by
the officials Of the department to "a
cilitate the Indians transition from the
position Of ward under the paternal-
isttc direction Of the Indian bureau to
that Of an Independent landowner and
citizen of the United States. The use
Of a dignified ceremonial, according to
the department officials, helps greatly
to impress on the new citizen the re-
sponsibilities he has incurred. Secre-
tary Lanes annual report describes
the ceremony.
Must Earn tho Honor.
The Indians who are to be honored
with the confidence of the government
are selected by competency COM
mission" composed Of three men, in
mate through long experience with
Indian standards, who 60 through
reservation from house to house, re-
porting on the progress Of each fami-
ly-the condition Of the house and
farm, the way the children are cared
for and their general economic status.
On the approval by the department of
the recommendations Of these commits
1ions the Indians selected are invited
to public meeting to receive in due
form the patents in fee to their lands.
There representative Of the depart
ment Of the interior tells them very
solemnly that the president has heard
that they are ready to leave the control
Of the Indian bureau and become free
American citizens. 1T Is his decision
that this shall be DONE" the official
says, land that those so honored by
the people Of the United States shall
have the meaning of this new and
great privilege pointed out by symbol
and by word, so that no man shall not
know its meaning" He then calls the
English name Of the first man on his
ust-James Robinson, it may be, whose
Indian name, perhaps, was Rain-in-the-
Face.
James Robinson" the official says,
"what was your Indian name?"
When the Indian replies the official
hands him q bow and arrow, telling
him to shoot the arrow. The Indian
complies.
Puts Indian Life Behind.
As the arrow strikes the ground the
representative of the government says:
"Rain-in-the-Face, you have shot your
last arrow. That means that you are
no longer to live the life of an Indian.
You are from this day forward to live
the life of the white man. But you
may keep that arrow. 1t will be to
you symbol of your noble race and Of
the pride you feel that you come from
the first of all Americans.
James Robinson, take in your hand
this plow." As the Indian takes hold
Of the handles of the pillow the official
continues: ''This act means that you
have chosen to live the life of the white
man, and the white man lives by work.
From the earth we all must get our
living, and the earth will not yield un-
less man pours upon it the sweat of his
brow. Only by work do we gain q
right to the land or to the enjoyment
Of life.'
The department representative then
hands him purse, which he tells the
prospective citizen symbolizes the need
Tor saving, anG finally an American
nag, which he is told to take and hold
while repeating this pledge:
"FOrasmuch as the president has said
that am worthy to be citizen of the
United States, now promise to this
nag that I will give my hands, my
head and my heart to the doing Of all
that will make me q true American
citizen"
The official then pins on the mans
breast an eagle, the emblem Of citizen
ship, and the audience rises and shouts,
flames Robinson is an American citi-
Deny'
For women a similar ceremony II,
held, except that the bow and arrow
are omitted and workbag and purse
are substituted for the pillow. The gen.
eral effect of the ceremonial has proved
most happy, and the honor of partici-
pating in 1t has served as a stimulus
TO many Of the Indians to work harder
.or the privileges of citizenship.