St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-01-09

AAA Afhh' AAANNNhA NNNNhNAAAN aNA a" y
here. Clifford r. Rucker, Exec
Human Rights Commission rep
sioD's Annual Report 20 Cover
Substantial gains were not
ing public accommodations whore
fewer complaints were received by
the commission than In previous
years, Rucker attributed this 10
definite tendency on the part OF
operators Of resorts and others 20
make their public accommodations
available TO all in compliance with
the laws Of the state OF Mime
sofa. Instances alleging discrim.
nation or refusal Of accommoda-
tons In motels. hotels and res
taurants across the state are now
relatively infrequent" Rucker re-
ported
Regarding tho Indian situation,
the report stated that problems re-
lating 10 the Indian population Of
Minnesota have come increasingly
before the citizens Of the state a.
a result OF the apparent efforts Of
Washington more and more 10 put
Indians ION their own, Among
these IL the utter lack OF prepare
ton 10 enable Indians 10 cope
with the problems Of non-Indian
culture and the one-sidcdness Of
government policy which has fail
ed 10 bring the Indians into fun
partnership in reaching decisions
concerning their future, The re-
suit has been the building up Of a
situation Of social maladjustment
and embitterness posing TO the
state Of Minnesota It's most serious
challenge.
Among the Commissions 1858
Indian activities are:
~ An experimental orientation
visit in October bringing 10 Red
Lake High School students 20 In
stitutions Of higher learning In
the Twin Cities area, touring po-
tential employment outlets such
Ne hospitals, beauty schools, elsr-
zeal offices, Industrial plants and
apprentice training schools. II Is
hoped that thru such exposure.
more Indian students can be en-
couraged to seek higher education
by continuing on 10 college.
p observations and reports con-
corning the meteing out Of Justice
where Indians are concerned. The
Commission noted that II Is dis
couraging 10 find that some juries,
courts, prosecutors and law en-
forcement agencies in Minnesota
have not yet given evidence that
they consider the life and we'll
being Of an Indian citizen equally
important as that Of a white Min.
nesotan.
81 the encouragement Of econ
omic activity. The Van Loon report,
completed two years ago for the
Commission stressed the import
ance Of productive activity in
areas adjacent 10 reservations. In
1858, the first Of the reports re-
commended projects, n maple sy-
rup plant at Grand Portage began
successful operation
~ Of special concern Is the
plight Of reservation Indians who
migrate 20 the Twin Cities. The
Commission, with other organiza-
lions has given encouragement 20
the establishment Of an Indian
Center In the Twin Cities where
communication and assistance to
Indians in their adjustment TO
urban conditions can be facilitat-
ed.
81 other areas include Indian
health and hospital services; the
construction Of Highway 81 thru
the Grand Portage Reservation 10
the Canadian border; institution
OF surplus commodities 20 reser-
vations and the expansion Of the
Minnesota Indian Scholarship fund
which provides assistance 10 needy /
Indian students beyond the high |
school level
In the field Of Migrant Workers,
the report noted that fewer such !
workers came into Minnesota dur
ing 1858. Migrant housing In some |
areas showed Improvement but
there was a notable lack Of effort !
in the matter Of compulsory school
attendance for children Of migrant
workers. In 1858. Minnesota joined
with other mid-western states in
the Mid-American Council on
Migratory Labor which seeks
greater interstate cooperation In
such matters as recruitment,
wages, working conditions. trans
portation and school records.
The Commissions statewide ed
vocational program now includes IS
Citizens Committees on Human
Rights and Fair Employment
Practices across the state. The
report also Indicated that research
studies IN basic areas Of human
relationships are being developed
In conjunction with the University
(ContiBuod on Page -