The Coconino sun., 1924-07-25
NAVAJOS WILL USE OIL
MONEY TO BREED UP SHEEP

Navajo council met at Shiprock on
July Z with "a official councillors of
the Navajo tribe and 20 alternates IN
attendance. Commissioners HerDerV
J. Hagerman was in charge OF the
meeting which discussed the affairs
of the Navajo tribe in general.
AS the Navajo tribe is the largest ln
the United States, numbering about
$4,000 Indians who occupy the entire
northwestern part of New Mexico and
the northeastern part of Arizona on
a reservation larger than many of the
states great deal of interest is shown
in their progress. Chez Dodge vet
eran Navajo of considerable wealth.
and much wisdom is head of the tribal
council, having been elected by the
Navajos themselves.
The disposition of money which has
accrued to the credit of the Navajos
from the sale of oil leases was one of
the chief matter under discussion. By
unanimous vote the council decided
that their people did not want the
money doled out to them. There is
not enough to do any good if dis
tributed at so much per capita. They
would very much rather have their
herds of sheep improved by the IN
PRODUCTION of better blood and breed
ing. Hence they one and all voted for
a five year program of sheep better
ment by the expenditure of 100000
for better rams. Either Rambouillet
or Merino rams will be purchased
during the years and carefully dis
tributed among their herds so that the
quality of sheep will be improved.
This will increase the wool production
of the Navajo sheep by many thous-
ands of pounds and will be a very
great economic benefit to them as well
as the business men engaged IN trad
| ing with the Navajos.
In the matter of schooling of their
children they decided that they would
like to have their children educated
along industrial lines ON the reserva-
| tion close to their homes. They are
| opposed to sending their youngter
children away to far-off points for
their learning. They think that the
most useful knowledge can be gained
| by combination of schooling and
practical home training.
The water problem was. taken up
| and discussed. Wherever possible
more watering places for their sheep
will be established either by the build
| ing of surface dams or the drilling OF
wells. It was pointed out that already
great deal of water had been de-
veloped by the oil companies which
practically always strike good water
wells if they fail in OIL. This water is
being used not only for domestic and
stock use but will be devoted to water
| ing their fields of corn, beans and
| squash.
One of the serious drawbacks of the
Navajos is the great numbers of pom
les they own. 1t is estimated that
they own close to 100000 head
of horses. Most of them are inbred
| ponies of little value except as saddle
horses. They tramp out the range,
eat the grass and drink the water
| which is best used by the more pro-
ductive sheep. A great deal of the
time of the men is taken up in caring
| for their herds of horses which are of
no economic value to them.
While fat pony is dear to every
| Indian heart the wiser men of the
council, especially the younger and
more progressive element, are willing
to see large numbers of their horses
sold off thus leaving more room for
sheep grazing. The government may
Iwork out some plan of buying up the
least desirable ponies and shipping
them to canning factories for making
meat for European expectation and
consumption
The NavaJos living off the reser-
walton on allotments are desirious of
sharing in the benefits to be derived
from the expenditures Of oil money
They are in turn willing to give the
reservation Navajos the benefit of any
revenue resulting from oil discovery
on the allotment lands off of the re-
servation
| The Nayajos are taking keen inter-
| est in the industrial as well as cere-
monial side of the Inter Tribal Cere-
nronial to be held in Gallup in Sep
tember Thousands of them will trek
there with their families and best
horses, and the best specimens of their
rug weaving, silver work, farm crops
and fruits.
The meetings are held and conduct
ed with the help of interpreters ais
most of the Navajos speak only their
own tongue known as "Dine Bizad."
4 - 49,.