Milford chronicle., 1949-09-09
Independence For
American Indians

WASHINGTON - The American
Indian has taken another small but
important step toward indepen-
dance and self-sufficiency.
The Interior Department dis
closed that 1t had discontinued
government supervision over Ger
tain tribal affairs Of two Indian |
tribes-the Saginaw Chippewa of
Michigan and the Stockbridge-
Munsee of Wisconsin. 1t was the
first harvest from the Indian Re-
organization Act of 1884 (IRA), the
Indian version of the New Deal,
which was designed TO make all
Indians some day independent,
economically and politically
The IRA set up a plan under
which Indians could work their
way Out of the status of govern
ment wards by proving themselves
self supporting and capable of self
government. After a period OF
years they could gain their inde-
pendence either through vote of
5 the tribe or by permission of the
secretary of interior.
The two tribes were the first TO
apply for freedom and the first to
get it. Many others seem ready for
ii but can't seem to make up their
minds about some matters-such
as whether the new set-up should
continue communal tribal owner
chip of lumber, grazing and other
lands and enterprises.
h - fyShoC contains
about 500 Indians. Both are pre-
dominantly of mixed blood and are
we'll assimilated in their commune
ties, enjoying the same working
end social conditions as other Am
ericans there.
Their new status gives them all
the rights and responsibilities of
other Americans except that they
cannot sell their land without the
approval of the secretary of inter-
ior. This rule holds in the case of
all Indians, but the secretary free
ly grants his permission if it ap-
pears the sale will not lead to the
Indians impoverishment.
Many other Indians are relative
ly we'll off and seem ready for COM
plete freedom, such as Menomiees
Of Wisconsin, the Klamaths of Ore
gon and the 0sages of Oklahoma.
But until the final step istaken
all the approximately 100000 Am
erican Indians aside from the two
tribes are wards of the Federal
government. The secretary of the
interior must approve all business
transactions such as leases and
loans.
The bulk of the Indian popula-
ton is heavily dependent on Uncle
Sam for all kinds of welfare, edu-
cational and medical assistance
In the II months ending last June
80. they cost the government $44,.
310,314.
The program Of the Indian SER
vice for some years has been desig'
red to get the Indians on their fee
and off the taxpayers necks a.
rapidly as possible. But the COVER
nment has learned through painful
and expensive experience that thi
cannot be done all at once, despit,
repeated clamor for just giving tn,
lIQidu Ntidt 10 SOtiltHS " MN ttit'
letting him shift for himself.
That has been tried repeated.
in the history of the republic, AM
each time the need of public care
When he has been given full right
to his property ne has usually dis
sipatad it through his own impro
yidence and the Vaccinations o
white land grabbers.
Now the idea is first to prepar
the Indian for freedom: Teach hir
how to farm, raise cattle, fish, en-
gage in numbering and get jobs i
his community. Educate him, teaci
him self government, restore hi
pride in his race and culture, an
gradually let him get used to tax
ing care of himself-learning pri
marily as much as. the white ma
does about the value of the dollar
The Indian service has estimate
that about $4,000 Indians are no'
ready economically and education
ely to make the new adjustment
Another $4,000. it says, may
ready in five to 10 years. 1t sees n
chance, however, of turning loos
the remainder, more than 250,00I
for great many years.