The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-08-16
INDIAN COUNCIL MONDAY

from the Fl. Hall reservation held g
council 1T the home of Senator
i Dubois, and talked over with him
matters of importance to their tribes
The meeting with Mr.. Dubois was
arranged by Tom Cosgrove and
Ralph Dixey and the Indians came
in ON the afternoon train and went
| down in q body, where he received
them ON the lawn and after exchang-
ing greetings they seated themselves
about the porch and Mr.. Dubois took
a chair ON the lawn facing them.
! There were present besides Dixey
and Cosgrove, John Ballard, Charles
Diggie, Billy George. James Watson,
Alex Watson, Charlie PizOka and
Yohoo Tindoy.
Mr.. Dubois is the Indians repre-
sentative in Washington, and after
the big council at Fl. Hall last week
they found there were two or three
matters he had not talked to them
about which they considered were of
sufficient Importance to justify an
other meeting of the representatives
of the tribes, and after a short con-
ference among themselves ON the
porch, Mr.. Cosgrove addressed Mr.
Dubois and said that at the old
treaty of McCammon when the res
ervation was laid out, it was agreed
that all the land within the reserva-
ton was to be the Indians own
country to have and to hold with all
its resources, and they accepted it as
the home and the property of their
people. AS the years went by and
members of Indian families died,
whatever lands there were that be-
longed to the family of the dead,
when the last member died, was con-
sidered to be the property of the
government. The Indians did not
follow the custom of the pale face in
making wills to pass their property
on to friends, but why take away
any lands lying in the Indian country
and make 1t belong to all the white
people when before the death It had
belonged to the Indian family and
before it was allotted to the Indian
family 1t belonged to all the Indians?
The senator said he agreed with
them 1t was the property of the
Indians and should be credited to
the account of community lands held
by all of them or in some way remain
in their hands-certainly It did not
become the property of the nation
just because a family died. Would
they like the money from the sale of
such land held in the tribal fund or
the lands held as community lands.
After another conference among
themselves Mr.. Cosgrove said that
there are unborn Indians to be
thought of and to provide estates
for, and since there may not be any
of lands for them, would
it not be well to set aside these
lands for such inheritance and estab-
fish estates for these boys and girls .
of the future.
Mr.. Dubois liked that idea and
said he felt proud of them for such
in looking to the sup
port of future members of their I
tribes. He would act on their sug- {
gestion and see what could be done
thru the proper influences in Wash
ngton.
After another talk among them
selves, Mr.. Cosgrove said there has !
recently been established a privilege
among the Indians which is proving
vicious in practice, the matter of is ,,
suing what they call competency !,
papers to individuals, and on auth
)rity of such paper, an Indian may
dispose of his real estate in any way
le chooses or in any way he is per-
,uaded. 1t has often happened that
IN Indian who knows little of values
md who is improvident and unable
% establish an estate or to take care
If it II he had it, would ask for and
'eceive competency papers and then
dispose of all he had, spend the
money more or less foolishly and be-
,ome a pauper, making his de- I
,endents the innocent victims of his
oolishness. Cases had happened {
where the Indian got in debt to !
omebody and was persuaded to take
papers and then decided
and for settlement Of some petty &C.
count of much less value than the
and. 1t was too easy to obtain ]
papers, and what was t
intended as privilege and S
benefit for educated or well-in- r
ormed, prudent members of their
ribes had proved to be a trap for S
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