The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1921-05-05

position and, regrettable to relate,
among the members of their own
kinship: And it is significant to
relate that this sinister and Elusive
antagonism found a ready welcome
within the precinct of the Indian
Bureau. However, the members
Of the Council now numbering
over 80 per cent of the Minnesota
Chippewas, undaunted by siren
eous and selusory influences have
gradually emerged from the
embryo state of a poor friendless
founding to the rank of a formid.
able economic factor in guiding
the destiny of the Minnesota Chip,
pewas, politically, economically
and otherwise. And in their
praiseworthy efforts to better the
conditions of their people they
have won the praise, esteem and
loyalty of "a large number Of in
fuential people, men and women,
as we'll as many strong friends in
Congress- Among the many
notable instances in which the
Council has figured with com
mendable corspicuousness, may be
enumerated the following facts
and Incidents: II, r.
w hen the General Council was
organized in May, 1918, the De-
partment was patenting to the
State of Minnesota the lands of
the Indians. acquired in the treaty
of 1867, (16 Stat. 719). ostensibly
under the Swamp Land Donation
Act of 1860. Over 100000 acres
of this land, mostly heavily tim
bered, had: already been patented
to the state and application for a
large amount Of additional claims
for a like amount were pending.
Through the prompt action OF the
Council and their representative
attorney, an order for suspension
of further transfers in the premises
was issued and since that time not
an acre of so-called Indian swamp
land has been patented to the
State. BY the timely action of
the Council the Indians we're saved
a very largo amount of valuable
property, amounting to several
millions of dollars land, likewise
protected the United States against
future claims for a like amount.
Better School Facilities For Indian Children.
In 1913 the Indian Bureau was
expanding, for the maintenance of
departmental schools one.fourth
Of the interest money from the
tribal, and about $4,000 in ad-
dition, per anpum of the principal
fund of the Chippewa Indians:
Since that tine conditions il the
educational. system of the indians
generally have been decidedly
changed. The Council has obtained
for the Indian children the best
school facilities they have ever
known which, this year, are being
assisted in their maintenance by
the contribution of the one-fourth
interest money derived from the
tribal fund aud thereby effecting a
saving of SIS, 1000 to the tribe and
providing the most progressive
and suitable school system obtain
able-the State public schools. for
Chippewa Indian children. On
the White Earth reservation,
where over one-half Of the Mime
sofa Chippewa Indians reside, over
one Thousand of their children are
il attendance and are being educa
ted under the state public school
system. Statistical reports show
that the Indian boys and girls are
the equal of any other class OF
pupils in mental efficiency, pune
tuality and progressive develop
ment.
The members of the Legislative
Committee, General Council, furn,
ished the evidence and information
- lo., - <hn Minnoo0to