The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-11-02
WetzeI Explains
Views On National
Indian Affairs
To Members of Blackfeet Tribe:

To Members of Blackfeet Tribe:
/ have not had time to express
my appreciation to you for the
honor given me recently by being
elected as President of the Ma
tionaI Congress of American Inv
dams. No doubt l received this
honor from the experience that
! gained being a member of the
Blackfeet governing body for
nearly ten years.
/ want to thank the Blackfeet
Tribal Council for their support
while at the national meeting in
Lewiston, Idaho. / was very hap
Ply to get the support of all the
Tribes in the State of Montana.
While / was in the process Of
contracting other Tribes prior TO
the election / had based my cam
paign on working to establish
unity of the Tribes in the U. S.
| know that fully organized we
can be strong. / vigorously oppos-
ed the Termination of Federal
Supervision over Tribes. l am
in full support of the laws that
give Indians a special federal
status. 1t is the responsibility of
the government to give assistance
to the Indians. Furthermore, |
have advocated a program to
keep Indian land in Indian own
ership.
l told the Indian people that
it is absolutely necessary for the
Tribes to develop their human
and natural resources. Our Ulti-
mate goal would be for the In
dians to become self-sufficient.
Education plays a vital role in
our plans for the future. Bring
ing in or creating employment
for our able bodied people was
very essential Getting work for
our own Blackfeet is something
we must all work for.
Recently l had the opportunity
to speak at the national meeting
of Superintendent of the Bu-
reau of Indian Affairs at Denver,
Colorado. Present at this meet
ing were Asst Secretary of the
Interior, Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, Area Directors, and
other high government officials.
l asked that the Bureau concen-
trate on the problems of the
Reservations. l mentioned that
the past trend has been to en-
courage people to leave their
homes to seek employment away.
advocated a policy where pro-
grams would be set up to help
the Indian become self-sufficient
at home.
My observation from hearing
the Secretary of the Interior talk
leads me to believe that a new
policy of helping the Indians is
going into effect. His talk was
excellent and he asked all per-
sonnet of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs to work with the Indians
and to do all they possibly can
in solving their problems.
The feeling for Indians at the
Dept. of Interior in Washington,
ID. c. is very warm these days.
This month l have been in
vited to attend a meeting called
by the Secretary of the Interior.
will have the opportunity to
discuss with Secretary and his
staff many Indian problems.
AT this meeting I'm sure that
discussion will be made on the
disposition of judgment or claim
funds awarded to Indians. For
your information a recent sur
vey conducted on 5 Montana In
dian Reservations, including our
own, found that the people want
to be paid at least half of the
money in per capita.
Realizing the hardships and
tremendous need of our people
due to no employment and sub
standard income the payment 10
them should be made from the
money awarded to the Tribe.
From a recent survey that |
made on the Reservation a pay
ment of some sort would be
most welcome. / will ask the Sec
rotary of the Interior that pay
ments be made to the people.
This is my PERSONAL viewpoint
and surely reveals my feeling on
how / supported payments to
our people for the many years
that ! was member of our coun-
Gil.
Someday soon / would like to
talk to members of the Blackfeet
at a gathering. Possibly upon my
return from meeting with the
Secretary of the Interior this
can be arranged.
would like to have some ideas
from you on Indian affairs be-
fore ! leave November Is.
Sincerely,
Blackie Wetzel