Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1918-02-15
SILETZ

The Indians celebrated the Davis |
Act which passed Congress In 1884,
giving a patent to the land of all In
dians in the United States capable
of managing their own affairs and cap
able of taking care Of themselves, by
giving a big feather dance Friday
night, the Sth, at the home OF Billie
Metcalf. The Secretary OF the Inter
ior and the Agent Of the various res
ervations are to be the judges when
an Indian is capable to paddle his own
canoe and manage his own affairs sue
cessfully, otherwise he would become
a pauper and public charge to the
county in which the reservation is To-
Gated. This does not apply to an In
dian who is able to work and
such persons will be required to work
or starve. The law is intended to pro-
tect the Indian until he is competent OF
taking care of himself. The dancers
had their most brilliant and flashy
costumes on and made good show
ing. The room was draped with three
beautiful American Flags. One was
a large silk flag given to tile Indians
by the Government Before the dance
commenced Coquelle Thompson, acting
as master OF ceremonies lined the
dancers up in front Of the flags and al
ter making very impressive and elo-
quent adress in his own language, tell
, ing them the flag represented liberty
to the Indians as well as whites and
that they must respect and defend 1t
to the bitter end that now about fif-
teen of the Indian boys were in the
American army going to foreign
country to fight for Liberty and the
Stars and Stripes and IL need be to lay
down their lives In its defense. AZ
ter the conclusion OF Mr.. Thompson's
address the flag was saluted and the
dance commenced. The address was
interpreted to your correspondent by
an Indian woman. II was full OF pa
triotic sentiment. A very fine supper
was given by the Indians at midnight.
John Adams, one OF the leaders among
the Indians made talk by invitation.
Mr.. Adams has one son in the army
and will probably have the second son
20. Mr.. Adams is a Christian and Of
ten fills the pulpit in the absence oil
the minister. His address was reminis-
cent and given In Jargon. He said the
Indians fought hard and long to hold
their country. Many OF his people
were killed but they had to surrender
and go to q new country and be put on
q reservation where most OF his peo'
pie have died. He said II is sad as
look around and all my people have
gone. And not living person except
my own family. Tyee John the war
chief never did surrender. He was
brought on the reservation but his
heart was with his country. He was
never satisfied and was killed on a
steamer while being taken to Fort
Alkatras to be imprisoned. The
speaker thought It was pest to take up
the ways Of civilization and live like
white people. Mr.. Adams supports the
school, the church and everything tnat
go to make a better civilization. His
spe ech was we'll received.
Ed. Bensell chefs son, war chief
also, conducted the old fashioned
dance. This is a religious service and
is participated in by the old people
About thirty persons we're on the floor
dressed up in the best OF their cos
tunes. The time Is kept by beating {!
a drum made out OF rawLidc and a
chant or singing by all the dancers. In
this dance they go back and live over
again the time when the couutry was
occupied by the Indians undisturbed
by the white men, when the mountains
were full OF game and the rivers with
fish. When the Indian maiden could
sing her love song in the sun shine or
the green hills covered with beautiful
flowers. When the medicine mar
could go upon the mountain and tall
with the Great Spirit undisturbed
When the Indians could worship Goo
in everything around him but thes,
happy days have passed and the Indiar
like others will have to make livint
by the sweat OF his brow and in tn,
race of life will have to hoe his rop
like other people.