The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-07-17
FORT YATES INDIANS
PETITION PRESIDENT
T00PP0SE TRANSFER
Reported Removal Of Agency
Headquarters to Mobridge
Arouses Opposition

Of the Standing Rock Indian agency
at Fl. Yates at q meeting there Sat-
urday adopted resolutions protesting
against consolidating OF the Standing
Rock agency with the Cheyenne River
agency in South Dakota and the NOV.
ing of the agency headquarters to
Mobridge, S. D., which has been re-
ported In news dispatches from
Washington.
Previous to the meeting kilograms
had been sent to the office of Con-
gresham Lemke at Washington ask
ing that he take steps to prevent the
proposed change and reply was re-
ceived from the congressman,s secre-
tary, w. Q. Skeels, former assistant
clerk OF the Indian Affairs committee
OF the senate, stating that he had
communicated with the office of In
dian Affairs, Department of the In
terror at washington, .. c., and had
been assured by the department that
no change would be made without a
hearing.
Members Of the Sioux tribe at TT.
Yates are very much disturbed over
the proposed change and in the reso-
lutions sent to President Franklin D.
Roosevelt, Harold Ickes, secretary Of
the Interior, and John Collier, COM
missioner OF Indian Affairs, recite the
TACT that the government has ex-
pended large sums Of money in build
ing up the TT. Yates agency by con-
structing residences for officials,
schools, dormitories, hospital, nurses
home, agency doctors residence, etc
They also recite the fact that the TT.
Yates agency is a point Of historical
interest and the buryiny place of such
noted Indians as Sitting Bull, Rain
in-the-Face, Gall, Running Antelope.
Goose, Bear Face, Grow King, Thun-
der Hawk, Fire Heart, Grass, Charg-
ing Bear, Two Bears, also Charles
Galpin and Major James Mclaughlin.
The resolutions state that under the
land grant agreement with certain
railroads provision was made for re-
duced passenger and freight rates ex-
tending to the government and its
various branches, including army, In
dian and other activities which affect
3 material saving to the government
and the Indians. It is understood
that the matter will be brought at the
tribal conference Of Sioux tribes of
North Dakota, South Dakota and
Montana which will be held soon.
The resolutions in part are as fol-
lows:
Whereas, throughout the years the
federal gc>ernment has greatly i'm
proved the original site by establish
ing extensive agency buildings, all of
brick or other permanent corstruc-
ton, erected under government SUI
pervision, including offices, superin-
tendent's and other officials resi-
dences, schools, including dormitories,
and recreation hall, we'll equipped
hospital, nurses home, and agency
doctors residence, large barns, ma
chinery sheds, blacksmith and ma
chine shops, carpenter shops, issue
buildings and storage warehouses,
modern water works system and ade-
quate landing facilities on the river
to receive coal, merchandise and
other necessities, and
Whereas, at Fort Yates the Indians
have established an extensive fair
grounds, with exhibition buildings,
grand stand, race track, rodeo cor
rails, and all other needed facilities,
for their annual fair and other gath
erings; and there is located the seat
Of government Of Sioux county, North
Dakota, and the Standing Rock mon
ument, and
Whereas, efforts are being made by
certain interests to locate the Stand
ing Rock agency away from the res
ervation, Were the Indians, who have
been taught to stay 1t home and farm
would be put to great expense and
lose much time travelling back and
forth, and both government and In
dams would lose heavily by reason Of
the loss of treaty transportation ben
efits and duplication Of buildings and
facilities"
The resolutions are signed by Ben
jannin White, Basil Two Bears, Claude
Kill Spotted and Alvin Warrior, rep
resenting the Indians on that portion
of the reservation situated in North
Dakota.