Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-11
BETTER HEALTH
AND md EDUCATION
FOR INDIANS
Commissioners Burke Work
ing Out Plans to be Put
In Operation.
(By The Associated Press.)

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for the i'm
provement Of the conditions of the
Indians, with particular regard to
health and education, are being work
ed out by Secretary Fall, and an in
crease in the estimates for the Indian
bureau probably will be asked in the
next Indian appropriation bill.
The American Red Cross recently
acceded to d request from the interior
department for the assignment of
three trained nurses to be detailed to
the Indian bureau for one year, as
the first step in Commissioner Burke's
program. In addition plans for en-
larged school facilities to educate TO-
900 Indian, children of School age not
now in school are being worked OUT.
Approximately 5000 of this number
belong to the Navajoe tribe and have
never been to school.
To Make Survey.
The nurses assigned to the Indian
service. it was said at the Indian bu-
rcau. will make a survey of condl-
tons on Indian reservations and give
q demonstration Of what may be ac-
complished by women trained as
nurses and in welfare work, to lay the
foundation for asking congress for
appropriation to enable the Indian
bureau to employ on-the reservations
women of a higher grade for matrons
and general field service, according
to Commissioned Burke's plans.
There is a great opportunity
Commissioner Burke said today in
commencing OF his plans, for i'm
proving home conditions among In
dams and in teaching sanitation and
looking after the health of children.
The American Red Cross at its re-
r.,p% roootinc made an Attainment OF
funds to cover the expense necessary
to employ the three nurses and they
will be soon assigned to h Indian
bureau and will go intoythe field to
spend one One will be stationed
on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud res
ervations in South Dakota; the other
two will go to the southwest and
work among the different Indians in
Arizona and New Mexico. This is
only part of a general plan adopted
by the interior department for i'm
proving and lettering conditions
among the Indians.
Another subject that is receiving
a great deal Of attention is that of
Observation-Disclosures upsthe schools al
ready in the service. increasing the
attendance to their full capacity. and
Strengthening the personnel. There
is said to be 10000 Indian children of
school age not o In school,. and
fully 5000 of his number are Nava-
joes that LAY never been to school.
An increase in the estimates for edu-
cation will be submitted, in the hope
tina congress will respond in view OF
the demand.
To Enlarge Plants
1T is planned, If the money can be
obtained. to enlarge many of the
school plants by porch and other
cheap construction, and it is also
hoped that two abandoned military
posts, Fort Wingate. New Mexico, and
Fort Apache, Arizona, al be trans
ferred by the war department to the
interior department, to be converted
into Indian schools. Both of these
posts are desirable inc we'll located
Inc should care for probably 1000
pupils.
The interior department and the
Indian bureau are giving much at
tention to health conditions at tht
several Indian schools n upon the
different Indian reservations, and the
present policy is to try n have a
least one hospital upon every reser.
walton with a capacity sufficient Il
care for the sick, and particular,
Indians that are very aged and infirn
and without means or homes wher'
they can be comfortably and %prorerl.
cared for"