The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-06-11
Hears Again Mothers
Cry of Childhood
CONTINUED from maze one)

OIL ana OtneE RESOURCES are impress
sive. Yet the Indian stands starving
in rags today beneath his trees and
his oil resources are a record of ex-
ploitation that has never been APP
preciated by the people Of the coun-
try at large.
"They have never heard the story
of the Birthday Book that was kept
in Oklahoma recording birth dates
of Indian children 50 that upon the
very day they reached maturity the
agents Of exploiters could reach
them and defraud them of their
rights.
THE Indian believed that man
should not sell land. He held that
the ownership Of land was universal.
Sitting Bull said: God made me an
Indian, but never . reservation In
dian. l would rather 60 hungry
when game is scarce than to receive
daily rations and thereby lose my
freedom He was a great man, for
he believed in liberty of thought, re-
ligion and. expression. For those
things he was ostracized.
WnIIeS Iet AlIOtmentS
True the Indian is allotted land,
but for the Indian there was never
q better system than that of Sitting
Bull. Under the present allotment
policy when the allottee dies and
there are several heirs the land is
sold and the sale price is divided
among the heirs. l would rathS
see the Indians keep their land.
Thus is the Indians land passing to
the whites. Thus is the Indian
helped to get rid Of his land, more
valuable to him than money.
1.-THE religion of the Indian was
that Of universal brotherhood. Two
years ago in Oklahoma l was privi-
legged to 60 with the Arapahoes to
their prayer shrine. We entered
there barefoot over a carpet Of sweet
sage grass. I wish all the world
might have heard that Indian prayer.
1t invoked . blessing on every liv-
ing thing from the blade of grass to
the highest form of life.
II have been privileged recently to
attend the sun dance of my people,
the Yanktons. Its imagery is based
on the myth Of a superhuman Indian
woman who appeared to the camp
and gave to the virgin maidcns and
the young men a code for life. It
covered all the simple virtues. It
was in effect the Indians Ten Com
mandmsnts, for it covered practical
" the same ground.
Shall We Drawn the Curtain
Il plead with our people to give
the Indian a chance to live. This is
the eleventh hour. Shall we draw
the curtain? ] do not like to, for
there 10 yet time to redeem the honor
OF the nation and the flag for the
first OF oil Americans.
Il have just come from the Stand
ing Rock reservation. l do not care
TO speak Of that. l shall give my
life to my people, for ever in my
reminiscent moods Is contemplate
their tragedy I hear again the cries
OF the mothers 1T night in the hills
along this old Missouri as l heard
them when ! was Z child Of seven.
y am m Indian. believe in the
Great Spirit. believe in the re.
ligion Of universal brotherhood and
universal love as it was taught me
about the camp fires Of my people
in the great out-of-doors, at night,
beneath the mystery Of the stars.
There We were close to the infinite.
Over W came its spell to touch. to
chasten, to impress"
Mrs. Bonnin's husband is Captain
Richard Bonnin, World War volun-
tear. discharged from the service
with the rank Of captain. He is one
Of the Investigators Of the United
States senate committee now making
. survey Of Indian affairs in North
Dakota and Montana.
She will b In Bismarck al this
week and arrangements are being
made for several public appearances
tor her, one q which probably will
b et . mass meeting open to the
public when she will give ! talk upon
Indian problems.
ohe holds there are four detectives
IN solving the. Indian problem. They
are 70 SO that hs has proper sduca-
tionel opportunity, proper health
service, that hjs remaining resources
b propsFly conserved and that the
present unsympathstic administra-
tjou It hls a4fairs b ended.