The Washington times., 1917-04-21
AIDING FORGOTTEN
TRIBES OF INDIANS
Commissioner Cato Sells Help
ing to Make Them Self
Supporting People.

The Federal Government has long
made provision for the welfare of the
big" Indians-the Apache, the Chey-
enne, the five civilized tribes, and
others-but only very recently has the
paternal hand OF Uncle Sam been ex-
tended toward the lesser groups Of
red men. none the less deserving be-
cause they have no particular hold on
the popular Imagination.
Small tribes are now claiming a
share of the attention of Indian Com
missioner Cato Sells. The Papagos, of
Arizona, among the most industrious
of Indians, at last have been insured
against further encroachments. In
Montana, Rocky Boys Band"
branch Of the Chippewa, which for
sixty years were nothing more than
wandering mendicants, have received
a permanent home, and Commissioner
Sells Is enabling. them to be self-sup-
porting. More recently steps have
the Florida Seminoles, a task long
neglected because OF the peculiar con-
ditions existing in the peninsula.
Aided Agriculture.
The Papagos, a tribe which num-
bers about 5000, has lived for hun.
dreds of years in southern Arizona
They have made a substantial con-
tribution to agriculture by originat-
ing and developing the "Papago bean,"
also known as the tepary bean, a
vegetable of much food value and
almost as hardy as cactus.
The Papagos had no time for hos
tilities against the whites, and thus
rrnvryd.
ed further and further into the des-
ert until their last stand was made
in q barren tract through which there
was not q single permanent running
stream.
When It was first proposed to set
aside a tract for the Papagos there
was great opposition in the South
west, which eliminated in q hearing
before the Secretary OF the Interior.
President Wilson issued an executive
order providing a permanent home for
these desert people.
In the meantime, through the aid
OF the Indian Office, the Papagos had
dug deeper wells and installed pumps.
Tanks are replacing wasteful water
holes, and livestock herds are improv-
ing. The Government has also estab-
lished schools
The story of Rocky Boys Band"
now numbering about $50, more sor-
did, promises to end Just as happily.
More than sixty years ago a band of
Chippewas left Wisconsin to hunt buff
falo in Montana Years later the
Chippewa in Minnesota and Wisconsin
received land, but this band continued
to wander, depending largely on the
bounty OF the whites.
Rocky Boys Band.
In time one OF their number named |
Rocky Boy developed qualities of
leadership and the Indians became |
known as Rocky Boys Band. Con-
gress usually has made small annual |
appropriations for them, but nothing |
was done to make them self-support- |
ing until the last three years.
Mr.. Sells at last prevailed on Con-
gress to give them three townships in |
the Fort Assiniboine military reserve,
and there they are establishing them
selves.
Rocky Boy, after leading his people
the wilderness for many
years, died just before they entered
the Promised Land"
Their new home Is a wild country
that would appeal but little to whits
settlers, but they are making rapid
progress.
The problem OF the Florida Sem
inoles, OF whom there are less than
500, is claiming the attention of the
He Is the first Govern.
ment official to obtain their consent
to place their children in school. and a
small Government Institution, with an
indian teacher, will be opened at In
dian Town, Fla, this year.
Commissioner Sells has recently ar
ranged to send an inspector to investi-
gate and report conditions among the
Alabama Indians of Polk county, Tex.