The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-10-16
observations
FROM The SIDELINES .
By T. A. Busey

This is. an important week to
the Indian people on the Black
feet Indian reservation, and for
that matter, for every white indi-
dual who owns property, conducts
business or profession, or ex-
poets to live for any length of
time in this community.
Before this column is printed.
the much-talked of Congressional
committee will have been here,
listened to arguments both for
and against the governments pro-
posed policy of terminating the
ward status of American Indians,
and departed. What may be ex-
pected in the future may be
cleaned, to some extent, by the
attitude of the members of this
committee, and how much infor-
nation of vital importance to the
people most concerned they real
ly want to gather, will be appar-
ent from the hearing Wednesday
afternoon. We will endeavor to
cover the news angle in a separ-
ate column, and next week will
write what we think the attitudes
of the members of the committee
were, and what may reasonably
be expected to result from their
visit.
AS time goes on, and the date
during the next congress when
some action is almost sure to be
taken approaches, it is becoming
more and more apparent that the
problem under consideration is
a big one, and should not be has
tily acted upon. There are so
many varying opinions as to what
should be done, and of course
most of the opinions have merit
that quick action in attempting to
solve this problem should not be
taken.
Undoubtedly the government
representatives are turning up
come surprising and unpleasant
facts as they 60 about the task of
gathering data to present to the
next Congress, and in carrying
out the mission given them by the
President of the United States
and his advisers.
That there is something radio
ally wrong with the present pro-
gram, and other programs that
have been tried before, there is
no doubt. But how to improve
the situation, without working a
grave injustice to a people who
have long been mistreated and
deprived of their just property
rights, should be the sole OBJ
Jective of the present movement
1t is self-evident fact that the
huge amount of money that is ex-
pended every year for the ostens
ible purpose of helping the In
dian people is getting mighty
small returns for the dollar value
expended. How this condition
can be remedied without working
hardship on the people intend
end to be helped should be the
chief aim of those apparently
seeking remedy in good faith.
The article published in this
issue written by Mr.. John Collier,
who was Commissioner of Indian
Affairs for IL years, and who
probably understands the situa-
ton better than anyone else, is
timely and should be given care
full study. Mr.. Collier states
bluntly, and intimates il a more
subtle style, his belief that the
conduct of the governments pol
icy in handling the Indian prob
lem for the past 125 years has
been a failure. He does not
come up with any specific pan
acea to solve the complex prob
lem by the waving of any magic
wand, but he does counsel study
and careful consideration of all
the complexities of the situation
before any action is taken. TO
solve the whole problem with two
short Congressional measures.
authored and sponsored by two
men who probably have little OF
no expert knowledge of the sub
ject which they are attempting to
settle, is preposterous. as Mr.. Col
lier points out
AS the present Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, who is on mis-
sion under direct assignment
from President Eisenhower to in
vestigate conditions on the var
ious reservations in the nation,
and to ascertain the condition of
the people directly affected, he is
apparently gaining some unpleas.
ant information The picture
presented OH his visit to North
Dakota was not a pretty one. A
former member of one of the
tribes in that state described the
lot of the Indian people on the