Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1922-03-17
SILETZ

ed writing checks Thursday to pay the
Indians for their timber sold some
time ago. The amount was $19,98O.
The sum each one received whose
name was on the pay roll is s47.S0
the whole sum paid to these Indians
within the last six months amounts to
about s62 900. A part Of this money
was put at once into circulation and
helped to lubriCate the wheels of
business in the community. The first
thing recipient did when he received
his check was to cash it and pay his
debts. This speaks well for the In
dian people. After paying their debts
tho money left is used for buying
clothes and supplies that they need.
Much of the money that is not used
is either put in the safe at the Agency
in care Of the Superintendent or is
placed in the banks for future use and
some Of the Indians put their monay
on time deposits in the banks and draw
some interest. One thing they want
to avoid is to borrow money and give
mortgages on their land. The Indians
know now they are cut loose from the
government and they must hoe their
own row with the white race. So 1t
comes down to the survival of the
fittest. OF the 44S Indians reported
from this Agency, about 240 are full
bloods, the others are mixed bloods. 1t
is to be hoped that all who live among
the Indians will treat them kindly and
not take the advantage of them be-
cause of their lack of business know
ledge and the way to economize, make
money and improve their condition.
Siletz has been a live place for the
last week. The hotels have been full
to overflowing and everyone seemed
10 be in the best Of spirits and the
order and decorum have been eXcep,
tionally good. The old people had
big feather dance which lasted till
broad day light, which the old folks
enjoyed immensely. The order was
fine, no ruffianism or disorder ever
occurs in these dances. Each one
both women and men, dance to them
selves. They scarcely touch each
other. No one gets jealous Of his wife
because she dances with some other
man. They would not stand, in their
dances, the waltz, the bear hug, the
shimmie, the fox trot or the jazz. If
they must have a dance in the public
schools, why not install the feather
dance. l: is harmless anu looks well
and | am sure no ones morals will be
hurt by it. 1t partakes of religious
nature as well as a good deal of fun
and the exercise that you get in the
singing fills and expands the lungs
which is healthy and every muscle in
the body would be brought into play
which would make you strong and Wig
orCus. The suits the Indians wear
would look good The fine feathers.
beads and wampum belt would set a
bunch OF students off in good shape
and the beating of the tomtoms would
keep them moving on the double
quick. The music is also charming
The old Indians played their favorite
game Of tis-shie. This game is played
h,,p nh Of CT oh tho OF
OF knitting needles. Each bunch con-
tains 250 little sticks. The game is
played by two sides and each side has
a leader. A week before the game
comes off these leaders have to go in
tho river every morning for five days
and bathe in cold water, and when
they come out of the water they have
to rub down with various weeds and
herbs and then run through the woods
naked for some time. Then they put
on their clothes. This is to give them
power and make them strohg. Each
side choose so many men then they
are ready for the game. In one Oh
these punches is a marked stick.
When the game commences the sing
ing and drums commence. The sticks
are shuffled back Of the player. One
man on each side acts as shooters.
But before they point to the hand he
thinks has the marked stick he goes
through a good many contortions and
motions before he points to the hand
that has the marked stick. II the
marked stick is in that hand he looses.
The bunch that doesn't have the stick
wins. 1t is an interesting game and Is
played for pleasure and amusement.
Twelve points is a game. A set time
IT. GIVE SoI
H.. N-. T,