The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-23
Indian Lecturer
and Message Win
Heart sof Women


Speaking on "Americanizing the
First American" Mrs. Gertrude
Bonnin (zitka-a-sa) told of the sys-
tenn of repression under which the
American Indian is today strug-
Cling, making the first inhabitants
OF this country practically prison
ers of war at the largest meeting OF
the Rock Island Woman's club this
season Saturday afternoon. She
told how the treaties had been
made at the time when the land
upon which the great cities have
grown was given over to the white
man, and how these treaties have
proven mere scraps of paper, and
the American aborigines have been
assigned to a few desert spots call
ed reservations, where their chill
dren are born, not American citi-
zens as are other babies born IN
this country but to grow up and
die wards of their own country.
In pleading for the American
rights for her people, Mrs. Bonntn
said in part: THE Indian was on
the first reception committee in
America. He welcomed the May
flower and the brave white people
who came across the sea to this
new land. He shared his home and
food with the white man, furnished
him seeds and taught him how TO
farm. 1t was his money which
was first used in the commerce
which he helped to establish. The
great statue of Liberty which holds
its torch on high. out there at the
doorway of this country, has her
back on the American aborigine.
After planning how to provide
funds for their education, the In
dian is forgotten. He is under the
discretionary power of a group OF
men, and as the figures prove from
an investigation of the expenditure
of a certain sum appropriated for
the education of the Indian, by the
time it comes down to the Indian
there is little left. The machinery
was a temporary measure at first,
but il has not been abandoned. AS
a result my people are starving.
Babies are being lost from NAL
nutrition-more in proportion than
in other races"
The speaker opened her talk with
some delightful Indian legends,
showing how each has a meaning,
and went on to explain the emblems
in the Navajo blankets and the
meaning of the figures and the
philosophy hidden behind them.
Same is true in the symbols used in
the pottery and basketry, and even
in the fringe, on the costumes. The
work was all done impersonally and
they are masterpieces of creative
genius which the speaker pleaded
be reserved. Tracing the debt
owed the Indians Mrs Bonnin told
how during the war the drying of
vegetables and meats came back into
practice and was called the scien-
tific way of preservation, and how
the Indian first did this. Puttees
worn by the officers were copied
from the leggings worn by the In
dian women. Prophesying that
some day Europe will be coming 20
America to see the Indian, instead
of America going to Egypt to see
the cold stone sphinx, she stated
that some day the Indian is going
to be a national asset instead>of
liability.
Preceding the talk which was ex-
ceptionally well received by the
huge crowd of women, Mrs. Wal
lace Warren sang, THE Wren," @.
Benedict) and Il Meant My Work
to Do" Oent Mowrey), accompan-
led by Miss Nellie Swanson, and
her solos were splendidly rendered
and greatly enjoyed. The high
school orchestra, under the direc-
ton of Miss Gladys Allison, favored
with two numbers.
At the business session, the pres
ident, Mrs. C. L. Thompson, called
for a mid-year report from the reg
/ istrar, Mrs. H. A Weld, and from
the treasurer, Mrs. c. E Robb. The
club has a total of 1.156 members
and there is a balance in the treas
ury of $1,014 and all bills are paid
The program committee. for next
year was named as follows: Mes
danes A W. James, T. B. Davis, c.
A. Hoge, Fred L Mann and Allan
D. Welch. Mrs. G. E. Sharpe was
named edict chairman to succeed
Mrs. Henry Tremann who resigned
and the club endorsed the name of
Mrs. George w Plummer for Sec
ond vice president of the general
federation. following the example
of the state board.
Mrs. w. j. Sweeney, president of
the Fourteenth district Illinois Fed
Grafton of Woman's clubs and a
past club president told of the leg
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