The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-12-07

amount Oh MONEY, anu lcduci
ship are provided groups of indi-
viduals who are able and willing
to erect their own homes out of
locally available materials. This
approach has not often been used
on Indian reservations, but the
Task Force regards 1t as having
great potential value.
In order to bring the benefits
of the above programs to Indians,
the Task Force recommends es-
tablishing Housing Branch
within the Division of Commun-
ity Services of the Bureau of In
dian Affairs. This branch should
be represented at the area level
and at agencies as programs are
initiated.
DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS
FOOD COMMODITIES
Existing reports and testimony
at Task Force hearings show that
there are significant areas in the
Indian country where Indians do
not enjoy the benefits of the sur
plus food distribution program
because the counties in which
they reside do not have such
programs. The law permits In
dian tribes to make direct distri-
button to their members provid-
ed they can meet requirements
established by the Department
of Agriculture
The Task Force believes that
the Bureau should be energetic
in aiding Indian groups to estab-
lish contact with the proper State
authorities wherever there is a
need for this service. In some
cases requirements of account
ability and transportation costs
interfere with the adoption of
improved programs. Where this
is the case, the Bureau, to the
full extent of its capabilities,
should provide assistance.
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Although there have been sub
stantial improvements in Indian
health since World War II, In
dian death rates continue high
er than the national average. The
Indian life span is approximately
two-thirds that of the general
American population and infant
mortality rates are about three
times as high.
The Task Force found Indians
and others to be generally agreed
that health services have been
more effective since they were
transferred to the Department
of Health, Education and Well
fare. This situation partially is
attributable to the fact that the
latter department has had a larg-
er appropriation and more medi-
cal specialists at its disposal than
did the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Members of the Task Force
feel that there should be effec-
tive communication at all levels
between the Indian Health Divi-
sion and the Indian Bureau. They
believe that there is a need for
high level policy group com
posed of representatives of the
two departments and that this
group should meet regularly to
make sure that detectives, pro-
grams and policies are consist
ent. This suggestion is elaborat.
ed upon in Section iii.
For some months past, il
have been correctly informed
there has been an under-curren'
of expectation in the Bureau OF
Indian Affairs. / can understand
that. First you have a new ad
ministration, with a new Sec.
rotary and a new Assistant Sec
rotary, whose opinions, methods
and convictions YOU have not
known. Then, there has been tho
Task Force, and one of its mem
bers is the new commissioner
You have every reason to expec'
that he will, with my support
put into effect as rapidly as DOS
sible, those Task Force recon
mendations which can be han.
died by administrative action
Some of you may not have had |;
chance to read the Task Force
report. Therefore, / want to com
ment now on the more impor
tant recommendations, SO tina
you will understand what chang
es will be made and what thr
new policies are.
Let me say first that I full,
concur in the three basic obiec
tives which the Task Force has
stated: ID maximum Indian eco.
nomic self-sufficiency; (2) full
participation of Indians in Amer
lean life; and (3) equal citizen
ship privileges and responsible
ties for Indians. The Task Force
said truly that aid from the In
dian community is crucial to the
achievement of these detectives
Indian aid and support must be
secured before projects or pro-
grams are commenced. Indians
can retain their tribal identities
and much of their culture while