The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-09-10
THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN
(By Major H. N. Crccl, Berlin,
Maryland.)


BISHOP WOULD ABOLISH
ALL INDIAN RESERVATIONS
Sioux Falls, s. D., June l6.-(H
The white man known simply
rs bishop" to the Sioux Indians
believes that the sooner the
reservation is abolished and the
red and white races are anal.
gamated the better il will be for
the Indian.
The Rt. Rev. Hugh l.atimcr
Burleson, missionary bishop Of
South Dakota Of the Episcopal
church. speaks from 6Sck.
ground Of thirty years residence
and work among the Indians.
~ do not mean amalgamatioN
through intcrmarriage, but the
absorption Of the Indian popu-
lation in the cities, towns and
country of the white mans
world" the bishop explained.
In predicting that thirty years
would bring the absorption Of the
Indian BY civilization, Bishop
Rurleson said he spoke only for
the Sioux Indians. Different
conditions. he said, may exist
among the Indians Of other
States.
Few Indians today live accord
ing to native customs, he added.
Bishop Burleson does not believe
that they should have a college
education, for they do not need
it.
educational schools serve the
purpose WE'LL" the missionary
said, explaining that most Of the
Indians turn to farming or stock
raising.
Concerning recent criticism of
the governmental conduct Of In
dian affairs, Bishop Burlcson as
serted that "if the government
would take little more counsel
from people who know the In
dian and less from politicians we
would como out better.
The above clipping brought to my
mind the conditions as I have seen
them Of our Indians from New York
to the Pacific and from Canada to
Mexico.
Agency . Menace
The Indian Agency Of today is the
worst menace to the advancement and
civilization Of almost the entire In.
dian tribes.
The White Earth. Chippewa rcser-
walton originally enrolled 1882 mem
bers Of that branch Of Minnesota
Chippcwas, the Clapp act allowed all
Indians with any white blood in then,
to become patent in fee Indians, that
is they could dispose Of their lands
covered with white and Norway pine
at will, which they did. The act was
in favor Of the large lumber inter-
csts. Scientists and doctors were en-.
ployed to pass upon their blood and
out Of the large number of this tribe
only about "a were found to be full
blood Indians. The rest were dcclar-
ed mixed breeds. They sold their
land for song and TO-DAY arc scat
tered all over the United States from,
Chicago 10 Seattle. doing far better
as, = whole than they did in idlcncss
on their reservation.
The Nez Perez Indians of IT. Lapwai
Idaho, are better off than their white
ncighbors on the reservation and per
haps just as competent as whole
10 conduct their own affairs. The
New York Indians arc almost en-
tircly under the supervision Of tho
state and the conflicting regulations
with the federal government prevent
ALLEGATION Of their lands and their
becoming full Pledged citizens. Many
Of them arc engineers on local rail-
roads, have good farms and yet como
from afar to receive some 10 cents
worth of linen yearly and are other
wise hampcred by loose agency
control.
1 inspected them three. years ago,
Originally there were five nations of
these Indians but they are six In
number now.
The Bootleg Menace
The great problem is to get the
Indian away from his momadic life,
assemblagcs in camps. dancing. idle
ness and now the menace Of bootleg
that business. At Cass Lake. MIMI,
where / inspected. Indians com plain
ed that they knew of Indians making
alcoholic drinks and burying it in
wooden kegs in the ground and other
Indians digging It up. I had Special
Ulf,ccr boyd 60 over the White
Earth reservation and he seized elcv-
en- stills, and shortly afterwards q
bright half breed told me that "a had
started in their place.
While In charge of Fort Tottcn
school and Indian Agency I was told
by the Commissioner of Indian A.
fairs that the Sioux nation, consist
ing Of some &c different bands with
different dialects, had petitioned him
to authorize a greater Sioux Council
and asked my opinion. submit be-
low my answer, which think very
plainly shows the real condition
Of these Indians and what should be
done in the premises:
ReQuest Should He Dented
''In reply to your request Is to my
opinion Of the ACCESSIBILITY Of Great
ing . Great Council Of the Dakota
Nation, I have the honor to state that
from . sentimental standpoint the
organization of q Great Council Of
the Dakota Nation might appear de-
sirablc, but il the problem Is to be
solved along rational lines and by
the only rule Of procedure possible,
think the request should be denied.
"Thc claims Of the various people
Vt the tribe are varied, they have
been placed in the hands Of compe-
tent attorneys, and therefore. the
final disposition Of these claimS
would involve disconnected action a.
a whole a. pertaining to the whole
Sioux Nation.
1.-THE election Of delegates would
involve LEGAL action and discussions
not beneficial to these people. They
are now too much engrossed with re-
liRious Conversations too far apart to
attend with safety to their homes and
property. They want an Indian fair.
They 70 to AL local county fairs.
circuses, and other public entertain
ments often resulting in their homes
being robbed. stock neglected and
large assemblage Of Indians. they in
,,ariably resort 10 their local dances
IN order to collect money to dcfray
expenses Of scnding delegates to