The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-11-30
Indian Claims

Indian Claims
This was covered in the News
letter" of August /, 1861.
Contract Labor
This was covered in the News
letter" of August /, 1861.
Youth Conservation Corps
This was covered in the News
letter" of August /, 1861.
Vocational Training and
Placement
Although Indian witnesses had
many words of praise for the
idea of vocational training, they
were also highly critical of linn
itations which have been placed
on the present program because
of a lack of funds. They object
ed especially to the fact that In
dams not living on trust or re-
stricted property are ineligible
and that age requirements ex-
clude middle aged Indians who
also need this kind of assistance.
With respect to relocation, it
was evident to the Task Force
that Indians regard this "serv-
ice" as a primary instrument of
the termination policy" which
they universally fear. The Indians
protested that under the present
relocation program persons leav-
ing the reservation are not given
sufficient orientation and are
often declared ineligible for Blu
reau services before State and
local governments are willing to
assume responsibility for their
welfare. However, they unani-
mously endorsed some kind of
placement activity, preferably
one which would put emphasis
on local (near reservation) en-
ployment.
With respect to both vocation
al training and relocation, the
Task Force makes the following
recommendations:
/. These services should con-
tinue to be located within the
same branch of the Bureau, since
they are closely related, but the
name of this branch should be
changed to the Branch of Voca,
tional Training and Placement.
i 2. Wherever possible, increas'
ed emphasis should be put on
local placement, with a much
higher degree of cooperation be-
tween the Bureau of Indian AT.
fairs and local agencies. Funds
for providing necessary services
to Indians being placed in com,
munities close to the reserva
ton should be available just as
they are for Indians being trans
ported to distant cities.
i 3. The Bureau should review
its orientation program for those
leaving the reserv n and
should make certain that the
problems Indians will face in
off-reservation communities are
carefully spelled out for them.
i 4. The Department should &C
lively support the proposed
amendment to Public Law 84-95S
; GO Stat. $3.50 which would re
move the appropriation ceiling
from the vocational training pro
gram, and, if this amendment
passes, should seek additional
funds.
S. The regulation which re
stricts vocational training II
those residing on trust or re
stricted property should be
changed so that all those who
are eligible for other Bureau
services will also be eligible fol
vocational training and place
ment.
j 6. The age limits suggested ir
!. Public Law 84-959 should be flex
IDLY interpreted by the Bureau
in administering the vocational
training program.
Industrial Development
In recent years several indus
trial plants have been located or
Indian reservations, often with
such inducements as Bureau OF
tribal subsidies in the form OF
salaries, buildings, etc. Such pro
grams have improved the econ
omies of several tribes, have re
duced the welfare burden, and
have provided important voca
tional training.
1 In some sections of the country
such as the Northern Plains, in
dustrial development and off-reS
ervation placement are key pro
grams toward reducing unem
ployment. Conditions on the res,
ervations of the Aberdeen and
Billings areas are among the
most critical to be found in the
country. Industrial development
must be elevated to the highes.
plane of Importance among the
Bureaus activities in these re,
gions.
| At the present time literally
thousands of American commu.
mites have undertaken programs
of industrial development. The
Bureau must compete with these
communities, not only in obtain.