The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-11-30
.. INTRODUCTION
Opening Statement

Government ceased TO make trea-
ties with Indian tribes, Congress
has appropriated millions of dol
lars 10 finance its programs for
the protection, subsistence and
acculteration Of this relatively
small group of Americans. Both
with and without Federal assist.
ance. many Indians have left the
reservations and taken up new
lives for themselves among their
non-Indian neighbOrs. However,
significant numbers have remain.
ed in Indian country and preSery'
ed their tribal identities.
From time 10 time during these
90 years, critics of the Federal
Indian program have raised the
question Of how long the Gov
eminent must continue its spe'
cial relationship with Indians,
Underlying their concern has
been an awareneSs of the &C.
celebrating cost Of the program,
a belief that TO provide special
services for Indians places them
in a privileged category, and that
because Of excessive paternalism,
the Federal program prevents In
dams from achieving their maxi
mum degree of self-sufficiency.
An examination of the history
and present status Of Indian az.
fairs reveals a certain justifica'
ton for the reservations which
these critics have expressed. An.
nual direct expenditures by the
Federal Government for its serv'
ices TO Indians have arisen from
slightly over 81 million in 1871
10 more than Sl6O million in
1861. Many treaties and hundreds
of Federal statutes qualify In.
dams for services in the fields
of health, education, welfare,
banking and land management
which are not available from gov.
ernmental sources to any other
group of Americans. Further.
more, the administration Of these
services has often been char.
acterized by a paternalistic EN-.
phasis which has fostered con.
tinuing Indian dependence.
Beset by criticisms based on
pragmatic and philosophical con-
siderations such as these listed
above, Federal administrators
and Congressman have at various
times offered proposals for ter.
minating the special relationship
between Indians and the Fed
eral Government. A paramount
feature Of many of these propos-
ais has been the abolition of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs. Such
demands were strongly made in
the last decade of the 18th cen.
fury, during the years I9l7-l9l8
and 1922-l924, and have domin-
ated much Of the Federal Indian
policy in recent years.
Yet, even those who are most
eager 10 end this special rela.
tionship are troubled by the fact
that the bulk of the reservation
Indian population is less well
educated than other Americans
has a shorter life span, and has
a much lower standard of living
Furthermore, critics of the pres
ent program know that States
in which many of these Indians
reside have limited financial re
sources and, unless they are sub
sidized from the Federal Urea
sury, cannot undertake the re
Mobilization programs which are
necessary II Indians, within their
Jurisdiction are 10 advance eco
nomically, socially and political
ly.
The distinct legal status Of In
dians is a further hindrance to
the adjustment of the Bureau
of Indian Affairs and the with,
drawal Of the Federal Govern,
ment from this field. In many de.
cisions, the United States Su,
preme Court has upheld Wash,
ington's responsibility for help.
ing Indians find solutions 10
their problems. Treaties and stat.
utes still in effect recognize In.
dians as partial wards Of the
Federal Government and rs rep
resentatives Of domestic, de.
pendent nations" while also rec.
ognizing them as citizens Of the
United States.
Through the years, the Indians
themselves have come 10 have
an ambiyalent regard for the
Federal Government They lock
10 IL for aid, but also resent and
resist its attempts 10 undermine
their social and cultural iden.
tity. Seldom do they perceive any
connection between what they
want and the demands upon them
which securing II imposes. Sim
LARRY, many well intentioned
non-Indians who recognize and
respect the underlying philoso-
phies Of the Indian way Of life
ignore or fail TO see this connec.
ton. Thus, while urging Indians
on the one hand to retain the
old ways, they exhort the Federal
r-ovarnnanf "a improve Indian