The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-11-06
Commissioner Emmons Outlines New Policies

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dismayed or discouraged. Altho
the burdens are heavy, the op.
porunity for constructive accom-
plishment are even more far
reaching and impressive.
Right here l would like to en-
phasize that l did not seek the
office of Commissioner of Indian
Affairs. l did not ask for the sup
port or the endorsement of any
individual or any organization.
bring this out not to give you any
impression that 1 ever backed a.
way from the job because I most
certainly have been interested in
it, completely and wholehearted-
ly, ever since I was first men.
toned as a possible candidate.
However, I want you to know that
I am entering on my duties with
out any commitments and with a
free and open mind.
During the short period that l
have been in office so far, l be-
lieve that l have already added a
bit to my previous knowledge of
Indian affairs. One thing that has
impressed me above all others is
the tremendous completely and
diversity of this subject. | have
realized for many years, of
course that there are a large num-
Der of Indian groups throughout
the country who are quite differ
ent from the tribes which I have
known more intimately in the
area around Gallup. But l find
that these differences are even
more substantial than l had ex-
pectcd. l am now more convinced
than ever that you cannot apply
the same yardstick to the more
than 200 tribal groups throughout
the United States. Each tribe has
its own customs and traditions, its
own set of problems, its own type
of organization, its own past his
tory of relations with the feder-
al government, it's own ideas a.
bout its future development. All
of these things and many others
will have to be carefully consid-
cred before we decide on course
of action with respect to any par
ticular tribal group.
So l have come out here with
out any preconceived ideas or pat
ent remedy solutions for all In
dian problems but with a real Gag
erness to listen and to learn. Aft
er l have finished these remarks
we are going to have an open ses-
sion just as long as time will per-
init, and we are going to give as
many people as possible a chance
to express their ideas, their cri-
ticisms, and their suggestions. If
any of you have complaints about
the Bureau and its operation in
this area, we want to know about
them. If you have any critical
comments about the new COM
missioner or anything that l have
said here today, we want to hear
those, too. But it will be particu.
larly helpful to me if l can have
your constructive recommended
tions for a forward-looking pro-
gram in the field of Indian af-
fairs.
Needless to say, l have no
thought that we are going to sat
isfy everyone. That is seldom pos
sible in any field of activity and
l suspect that it is especially diff
ficult to achieve in a field like
this one where we are dealing di-
rectly with human beings. But
am hopeful that we shall be able
to satisfy at least a majority of
the Indian people that we are
sincerely and conscien tiously
working for their benefit and
with their best interests always
uppermost in our minds.
AS you all know, President Els
enhower has expressed his views
about Indian affairs on a number
of occasions. l would like to read
to you the remarks he made in
speech delivered at Albuquerque.
New Mexico, last October. Here
is what he had to say:
ITO my friends whom | met at
Gallup some weeks ago, my
friends who were the first inhab
itants of this broad land, | pay
my tribute to their gallantry in
war, to the record they establish
ed. Today I want to make them
a pledge. Because | believe so
sincerely that all government
must be close to the people, that
Washington 1000 or 5000 miles
away from this spot is unable to
know or solve our problems as
we'll as they be solved lovally, l
want to assure these people that
any official of government set up
to advise them or to direct
any affairs in connection with
them will be selected in the new
administration only with their
counsel and advice | want to tell
them also, that as | fight dis
elimination among our citizens in
all its forms, that wherever there
Is in our procedures and o,,,.