Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-12-01
A JOLT FOR
MISS HAUPT

NJ. S. Fisher, superintendent of the
Kootenai Indian Mission, took excep-
ton to an article published in the
Spokesman Review last week in which
Miss Haupt, who advertised herself
as a magazine writer, made misrep-
reservations about the condition of the
Kootenai Indians, and his reply. as
follows, was published in the Spo-
kane morning paper Sunday
Loyalty to our charge, loyalty to
the service of which we are a part,
and loyalty to the public spirit of cit
liens which could hardly countenance
such an evil, prompt us to take ex-
ception to remarks in your issue of
November 81 under the heading of a
Woman Studying Indians The pleas
ing aspect of the whole article is what
she may still continue to study.
Reference is made to these Indians
as 'Kootenays,' which is not correct.
Like the river along whose banks they
live, they are popularity and officially
known as Kootenai. The Kootenays
are Canadian Indians. But this is
merely incidental.
"In this article it is said that this
htiotidplt Is MttnOuI DIOD-
erty.
'At the present time, because of its
fertility, its mild and equable climate
comparatively speaking, and its pro-
ductivity, the valley of the Kootenai
is claiming the attention of two great
nations. It's enthusiastic supporters
are claiming for it the productiveness
of the valley of the Nile. Annually
the river oyerflows it's banks and this
has left in receding, through the years,
a sediment of unmeasured depth, from
which the possessor has but to harvest
an abundant crop of hay.
In earlier years the United States
government has secured to these In
dams in this section 70 allotments,
each allotment containing 80 acres,
more or Lessor a total area OF a lit
tie less than 5000 acres The Indians
own several large herds of cattle and
horses beyond their need They have
such farm equipment as to meet their
requirements. Their homes are sub
stantial frame cottages with shingled
roofs and milled doors, windows and
siding. OF those at the Indian village
seven have been painted In the arti-
Gle mentioned reference is made to
them as cabins which look like ken
nels."
Seventeen of the Indian children
with solitary exception all of school
age in the tribe-assemble daily at the
government school provided for them
None of them have noticeable eye
trouble and, of course, none are tuber-
cular. AS they are in daily contact
with their elders, this might reason
ably be considered a criterion of tribal
health conditions. The article men
toned states that they appear to have
sore eyes and need tubercular sani-
tarium of some sort
I'VE read that only hundred are
left We have before us a census re-
port by Captain J MICA. Webster, who
recently died at his home on Mackinaw
island, dated June, 1911. One hundred
and thirty-three Indians are here en-
rolled. This was made to include
transients and small group of Col
villes. This is the earliest report of
which we have knowledge. On June
80, 1921, we have an enrolment of 1870
Indians. They appear to be holding
their own.
Like most Indians, they are averse
to sham. They suspect those who
covet their finery and beg their blan-
kets. They have no golden eagle to
send to Washington. In fact, they are
just Indians, with all their faults and
virtues. Those who know they are al
ways ready to commend or extend
charity, as occasion requires.
M. S. FISHER,
Teacher in Charge.
Bonners Ferry, Idaho.