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

Executive which, over the past
rs years, have run the gamut
from extreme harshness 70 ex'
IRENE paternalism- Inevitably,
the results have disappointed
both the Indians and those who
we're sincerely and deeply con-
cerned about their welfare.
The Task Force will not con-
cede that, even with all its COM
pIexities, the Job of developing
and administering an effective
program for American Indians
Is impossible of execution. How
ever, II must be a Joint effort
Responsibility for the solution
of the many problems confronting
each tribe and reservation lies
not only with the Bureau OF In
dian Affairs, but also with the
Congress, with the Indians. with
local agencies of Government,
and very Importantly, with the
American People. Furthermore,
this solution cannot be found
through a return TO the extremes
of the past.
The programs which the Task
Force suggests In the pages
which follow are programs of
development - development OF
people and development Of re-
sources. What we are attempting
to do for those in the underde-
veIoped areas of the world, We
can and must also do for the
Indians here at home. Further
more, TO insure the success OF
our endeavor. we must solicit
the collaboration of those whom
we have to benefit-the Indians
themselves. To do otherwise is
contrary to the American concept
of democracy. Basically, We must
forget that ours Is a program
which deals with human beings.
We must have faith in their abil
tiles TO help themselves and be
willing TO take some risks with
them.
Statement Of Obieefives
In preparing their report, the
members of the Task Force at
tempted to define what they feel
the detectives of the Federal
Indian program should be and
TO offer proposals aimed at full,
filling these detectives At the
present time, the Bureau of In
dian Affairs defines its aims as
follows:
/. To create conditions under
which the Indians will advance
their social, economic and politi'
cal adjustment to achieve a stat.
us comparable to that of their
non-Indian neighbors.
2. To encourage Indians and
Indian tribes to assume an In
creasing measure of sef-suffi,
cheney.
8. To terminate, at appropriate
times, Federal supervision and
services special to Indians.
The Task Force feels that re-
cent Bureau policy has placed
more emphasis on the last OF
these three detectives than on
the first two. As a result, Indians,
fearful that termination will take
place before they are ready for
il, have become deeply concern
ed. Their preoccupation was re
Elected in vigorous denunciation
Of the so-called termination pol.
icy" during the many hearings
which the Task Force conducted
with Indian leaders. No other top
ic was accorded similar atten'
ton. II is apparent that Indian
morale generally has been low
cred and resistance to transition
programs heightened as a result
of the fear of premature FEEDER
al withdrawal Now, many In
dams see termination write n
into every new bill and admin
istrative decision and sometimes
are reluctant to accept help
which they need and want for
fear that IL will carry with II a
termination requirement. During
the Task Force hearings In Okla,
homa City, Acting Commissioner
Crow pointed out to those pres
ent that a few years ago II was
possible for Bureau employees
10 sit down with Indians and talk
constructively about the time
when special Federal services
for Indians would no longer be
provided. Now" said the Com.
missioner, I'VE have reached a
point where we can't talk about
II TO each other; we don't want
to talk about IL, and IL we do
talk about, we have rather harsh
words on the subject"
The experience of the past few
years demonstrates that placing
greater emphasis on termination
than on development impairs In.
dian morale and produces a hos
tile or apathetic response which
greatly limits the effectiveness
of the Federal Indian program.
The Task Force believes II Is
wiser TO assist the Indians to ad.
vance socially. economically and