Z5 INDIANS AT • WORK - ' JANUARY ' 15, 1954 ■ A NEWS SHEET FOR INDIANS AND THE INDIAN SERVICE OFFICE' OF" INDIAN' AFFAIRS i 1 S p. I 4 I S A T W 0 E K CONTENTS OF THE ISSUE OP JAirUASY 15, 1934 Vnl-umo I , Ifuciber 11 Page EDITORIAL 1 The Indian Legislative Conference of Indian Welfare Bodies At Washington . Allan G. Harper . . 3 Reorienting Indian Land Policy 9 The Visit Of Conmiissioner Collier To The Pine Ridge Reservation 13 Dr. Saenz In Washington 15 The Order Rela.ting To Indian Religious Liherty '16 The Cover Picture 17 Advancement In The Cause Of Indian Arts And Crafts 13 The Puhlic Works Of Art Project And Indians . . Mrs. Charles Collier and Caroline Thompson 19 The Appointment Of Hugh Calkins ? • • 21 Ridding A Reservation Of Johnson Grass . . . . H. B. Jolley .... 23 Twelve New Indian Hospitals 27 Schools To Reach Full-Blood Indians In Oklahoma Samuel H. Thompson. . 23 The Progress Of Indian Irrigation In District N-umher 5 Under The Public Works Graaat . . A. L. Wathen .... 32 The Progress Of Indian Road Building Under The Puhlic Works Grant 25 Indian Supervisors Report On lECW Projects ^7 INDIANS I&IPROVE THEIR RANGES UNDER EMERGENCY CONSERVATION WORK PROJECTS The NavajoSj, ?JhoSe "Wealth Is Sheep, Agree To Sell Their Surplus Flocks In Order To Stop Over-grazingo A Navajo Flock, So Navajo Rodent Control Is Important In Range Improvement o Fto Hall Indian With 2 Days Catch o 985,070 Ac Treated Under lECW On Indian Reservations •-. ^"'^^^ - ' ^ ■ ' ^ Drift Fence To Conserve Snow For Stock Water, Shoshone, Over 100 miles of Range Fence Had Been Built By lEC Worke: On Reservations By October I5, 1933 A Dam To Save Soil, Kiowa Agencyo A Structure To Provide Stock Water And Check Erosion 83113 Ifcny Indians and others v/ill think that All^.n Harper's surrmary of the Indian le.^islative conference (pa^e 3) is the most vital neTfs in this issn.ft of IaTDIMS AT ',70KC. The hill-drafts and the supporting "briefs v/ill he furnished to all Indians and all Service men and women -.vho desire them. Pacts axd criticisms are earnestly v;anted. Legislation — and the ri^ht legis- lation — is iniperative. Indians want self -government. This Indian administration wants it for thera as strongly as any Indir-Ji wants it for himself* Let Indians "begin now , hy examining their own prohlem of land legislation and self- government legislation. Let them thinlc these qtiestions down into operative detail a,-? applied to their own local lands and. lives. Let them organize for studv of these matters and for action iipon them. Let them register their judg- ments and their wills with the Department and with Congress. Possihly the hoped-for futiarc self-government is not as im- portant, here and now, as the limited self-government which is already — and immediately — possihle; for upon the needed and dehr-.tahlc legis- lation the fature of Indian self-governraent depends. The f-ature of most Indian Ipjid depends on it — and of the hest things in Indian life, A trihe has recently submitted, hy mcgority vote, a. consti- tution. The document conflicted with existing Idm; it seemingly ignored some of the guarantees of the United States Constitution; it invited con- flicting constructions of its oivn meanings. There wa? no choice except 80119 to refuse to recognize this constitution and to r^fer it "back to fhf. tribe. The incident is /rientioned here tjO illustrate that hard and per- severinis: factupj thinlcing; by Indian tribes is called for if self- governraent is to become a reality. Such hard and factual thinking is first of all needed in the shaping of the enabling legislation for self -government. Equally is this true if lands are to be safeguarded, and nfiw land acquisitions provided for, and new business capital ac- quired, by means of ne-.v legislation. It is not meant that only the Indians must thinlc' steadfastly, boldly, and yet cautiously. We at the Washington office imist thinlc hard,' as likewise must the committees of Congress; and the field forces of the Indian Service must join with the Indians in finding light and supplying to Wa,shington the needed light. An unrolling, cumulative achievement, stage succeeding sta,ge, across years: such, if it be destined to succeed, must this self- government and this land regeneration program be. The effort at th^ Washington office is now "at a white heat". It is moving strongly at many agencies and among several tribes. Let us work together.' JOKII COLLIER Commissioner of Indian Affairs 30119 THE ii-roiAii J3M3MniA coKijt'Zieiica of imuii m_FASE B OD lES AT WASI'IlJaTQIT By Allan G, Eaz^j&r Executive Secretary, American Indian Defense Association, Inc. Meeting to contsider a ijrogrr^jr* of Indiaai li^gislation to "be introdixced in the present session of Congress, representatives of leading Indian-->7Clfare organizations gathered at the Coamos Cluh in Washington, January 7th, with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and his staff. The representation includ- ed the Indian Eights Association, the AKierican Indian Defense Association, the national Coioncil of American Indians, the Indian Comnittee of the Aitar- icaii Civil Liberties Union and the National Conmittee on Indian Affairs. At the end of a long, hard session of intensive debate, the conferees adjourned, having piled up a remarkable body of fundamental agreements, far- reaching in their implications on India,n life. As to the m-eeting itself, the Washington Post said editorially, it represented, "the first tine that associations dealing with Indian interests h^d been in agreement on a policy." 'Lend Reform . ' - Without one dissenting voice, the conference voted: "That the provisions of the allotmont law which require or permit the transfer of Indian tribal laiids to individual Indians, and the stile of such lands by individual Indians to non-Indians," should be immediately repealed," A hush fell over the conference when this proposition vras road at the end of a discussion which had lasted for more than three hours. An a\idience of experts, some of whom had once hailed the famous Act of 1837 as a dcvicf> of Indian salvation, v;as about to declare that the allotment system had failed; that it had rendered the India:iG a progressively landless people; 3 ecii9 that a new way nnist "be foutid to save the Indian lajided estate* They so voted, and ii the proposal to repeal the al'lotnient system is enacted "by Congress, it will mean a definite hreal: with the past, and a concrete protection for trust-patented Indians. Corollaries approved "by the meeting were of no less interest and import; 1. Tlia.t present existing trust lands he consolidated into Tisahle economic units, suhject to the control of the Indian com- m\mity» 2. That so far as feasible, allotted lands, especially forest and grazing la,iids, he restored to coDimunity ownership; that additional lands he acquired hy or for the Indian com^niin- ities;--- that the aliena,tion or dissipation of the capital assets of the tribes he guarded against; that a system of Indian credit for la.nd and industrial development he devised* 3. That the present laws of descent and distribution of Indian lands — resulting in the breaiing up of such lands into small tracts uiisuita.ble for use — be modified; th^a^t this pro- cess be reversed; that comm~anity ov/nership and control he promoted. . Self-Government "The Indian Community" — with what hopes and fears the friends of the Indians used the term.' Healising that an enlightened, workable land policy, aimed at changing the whole structure of Indipzi life, couJd succeed only by absorbing the interest and active participation of the Indians themselves* the conference resolutely faced the necessities of Indian self-government and the mechanisms by which it can be obtained. At the start, the conference broadly declared that, "the right of all Indians to orgaaiize should be specifically affirm.ed by statute," uncondition- ed by the will or f§.vor of the Secretary of the Interior. Moving a step furhter, rt was agreed that all the powers of government r-O^v exercised over the Indian? through the Office of Indian affairs should is. gradually, trajisferred to the Indian cominunity^ with only such restrictions 80113 as shall te needed to assure the contimiance of health, educational and wel- fare services maintained hy the Federal Grovernment. At this point, one of the conferees noted that, to his knov/ledge, fnis occ3,sion wa,s the first on record where a government official specifically rmd uiiequivocally agreed to the diminution of his power and prerogs,tives. Yet the proposition is of compelling logic: if the Indian community is to he huilt irp, the ever-grov?- ing Indian Service with its hureoxicratic control and. discretion over the lives of Inclians must he arrested; in fact progressively reduced. More specifically, the confer- ence agreed that the Secretary of the Interior shall have "the power and the duty" to estahlish self- governing comimmities, with only such restrictions as would safe- guard the rights of minorities and prevent the alienation or dissipa- tion of trihal assets. The proposal was also endorsed that the Indian comjmmity should he endowed with power to define c-'.nd en- force penalties in all matters tradi- tionally covered hy ordinance in white communities of like size and character, or previously exercised hy the communities as tribes. In this, the plan of self-government recognizes the fuQdamental fact that the prohleni of "law and order" on the reservations — one which agitates the minds of so many Service employees — can never he solved until the Indians themselves hear the responsihility, coupled with requisite pov»'er, ITor the hetter reg-alation of rela- tions hetv/een Indian communities naid the surrounding population, the con- ference approved the setting up of special agencies, with appropriate law officers, to administer justice and to deal with such matters as cpjmot he presently delegr.ted to local Indian judges "'resj-.onsible to the Indian comnunity. A ftindamental part of Indian self-government involves the right of the Indian community — a.ffiraed h" the conferees — to remove ujide- sirahle Service employees, s'ahject to suitable restrictions and protec- tions; and also to administer control over trihal and Federal funds expend- ed on hehalf of the trine, nnd to exer- cise choice over the purposes for which mone;i'"sare appropriated. Finally, the conference went on record as favoring the Federal regula- tion of trade and relations with Indians off as well as in the Indian country, and approved the principle that the guardianship of the Federal G-overnment should no longer he limited to Indians having so-called "restricted" property. The intent here was to take a step in hrealcing down the fictitious legal har- riers which have interferred with an efficient Indian administration in such fields as the control of the liqtior traf fie, the business of trading posts on the edge of the reservation an.d other social factors in Indian life. Because such a,ctivities are cond\icted tech- nically on "unrestricted" lands, they can and- often do work at cross purposes with the welfare of the Indian conunun.- ity. In adopting this a-greement, it was 80119 specifically noted tliat there was trol into the lives of those Indians no intention of pushing Federal con- who, having left the reservations, are "making good" in white coirraunities. Swing-Johnson Principle Endorsed The conference justified the hopes of many in the action it took upon the much dehated "Swing- John son Bill" which in the past has divided many of the Indians' sincere friends. Tor the first time, perhaps, there was a meeting of minds be- tween the proponents and opponents (perhaps the latter would he more accurately termed "sker)tics") of a measure which vi/ould permit the Secretary of the Interior to enter voluntarily into contracts with States for the health, educational and social welfare services to Indians. Cogently expressed were the fears of some that the power con- veyed in the hill might he ahuned in the hands of some future Secre- tary of the Interior? that the stand- ards of health, edrLcation and social welfare maintained 'bj the Indioji Bureau might he lowered hy entering into contracts with Stcites having inferior standards. Proponents of the hill pointed out that the Swing- Johnson principle was already in fact heing applied modestly in such states as Wisconsin, Minnesota and California with notahle success; that its pas- sage would allow the Indian communi- ties in all parts of the country to reach out for cooperative help from white institutions in solving their prohlems. As finally adopted, the reso- lution of the conference endorsed the vital principle of State-Pederal coojjeration vmere its use would he of genuine .advantage, and where there v;ould he no lowering of standards. Strictly spe,aking, this was not a "compromise," It was rather a fr^arik recognition hy hoth sides of the ad- vantages and the dangers of the propof i Five Civilized Trihes of Oklab.oma Instantaneous and energetic support was given a proposal of ne\i legisl-ation repealing the larg- er part of the special legislation applied solely to the Five Civil- ized Trihes of Oklahoma, releasing these Indians from State jurisdic- tion, rnd reasserting Federa.1 respon- sihility raid control. ~So single voice was raised against the proposal. The conference's action reflected a con- viction, long working in the minds of students of the Oklahoma situs.tion, that only hy such forthright action could the exigencies of the prohlem he adequately met. For the condition: w'hich heave teen pJlowed to develop since 1903 — • when the first special o.ct of Congress was pp&r.ed — are trul appalling. In the inter'-m, the Five Trihes have fallen vicoims of Govern- mental indiffere::._ce, hoth State and Federal, accompanied hy a relentless depredation of Indian lands a.nd a grov of poverty. Toe ay, the facts among the Five Trihes put a severe charge upon the collective conscience of the nation. Of ahout 28,000 hialf to full-hlood 80119 Indians, at least 8,000 are clar.sed ar, indigents e,t the Five- Civilised Trite s jigency at Muskogee. Sprea.d over forty counties of the State, the Federal G-overnment maintains for this "body of Indians only one field doctor, ai:d only one half- time field nurse. There are tut two social workers; there are hut two hospitals, with a comhined capacity of ninety-four hods. The Federal G-overnraent pays less thaJi one-half of the actual cost of the puhlic school education. Yet it maintains six e:cpensive hoarding schools whose enrollments could be ra,dically reduced hy limiting attend- ance to orphans and children from "broken homes. A h,andful of wealthy Indians take up at least three- fourths of the agency's time and a similar proportion of the agency's budget. Today, only 1,500,000 acres of land remain "restricted" and tax free out of the 15,000,000 acres origina,lly allotted — a result flowing naturally from the application of the statutes of 1908, 1918 and 1928, which have collectively forced the separation of the Inr^ian from his land. This brief analysis points the lines of reconstriiction, and the measure which received the approval of the conference definitely favors the restora,tion of Federal control and supervision over the land o.s it passes from the origina.l allottees to the heirs, and relieves the State courts of their present control over such lajids as well as wills, the probate of estates, and the leasir^g of homesteads and s^orplus lands. Miscellaneous Afcreeraents The conference condemned the ancient "espionage" acts, enacted in the days of Indian warfare, and 'urged their repeal. It unequivocally condemned the appropriation- of the princi'-^al of tribal capital for non-capital creating administrative expenses and per capita payments. It favored the introduction of a bill which would expedite the rapid settlement of Indian claims against the G-overnment. Though agreeing with the purpose, the cijnference sent back for further study a measure which would impose penalties for impersonating or mis- representing one's self to be an Indiazi. It took a. like action in regard to a measure providing more definite and detailed accounting of Indian tribal axid individual funds. It referred to a body of lawyers, for further study and refinement, the whole question of judicia.l review of administrative On only one question did the con- ference fail to arrive at -jiy definite decision, namely: the enactment of a law ■ .-^ining an "Indian" in terms of blood quantuiT.s. The conferees faced this vexing q-aestion because there was a genera.1 feeling that, sooner or later, it must be solved. Yet the drafting of a legisl-ative mea,sure which wouJLd meet the varying conditions thjroughout the Indiaji co~.intry, and at the sr-~;e- time a.void illogical injustices, proved im- possible in the limited tine tiiat could be given the subject. The proposition was tabled with the conviction that it must be returned to iiETiedia.tely for further consideration and, if possible, agreement. 80119 The Indians ' Eesponsiljility Indians raust begin now to declare their attitiide in official Washington. The task of persuading Congress is essentially theirs. In studyijig the details, in malcing their voice heard "before the legislative conmittees, they ca.n turn with 3,ss"ii"ance of support and nractical helj: to the various Indian-welfare organizations devoted to their interests. Within the ne:ct two weeks, the hills Vv'ill be introduced. Their fate rests with us all -- hut mostly with the Indians.. 80119 ESOEIMTniG IlIDIAIT LAIID POLICY It is only recently that we have come fully to realize the magnitude of the disaster V7hich the allotment law of 1887 has wrought tipon the Indians. This law, in its origin, was intended to he a civilizing instrument for the Indians. It was reasoned that white civilization W3,s based on the individ-aa.l property system, and it was naively assumed that the way to make the Indian a responsihle citizen was forcibly to give him private property and extinguish his concern in comm'onity property. The Way Allotment Has Worked Put, in fact, the allotment law turned out to he prin- cipally an instrument to deprive the Indians of their lands. The successive steps of loss are easy to trace: Each Indian on the allotted reservations v.'as given an allotment of a.hout 160 acres, which was held in trust hy the Government far a time and then turned over in fee simple to the allottee. In most cases, the allottees sold their land to white settlers in order to have "easy money" for quick spending. If the allottee died before the end of the trust period, the land passed to his heirs. Often there were numerous heirs, and the practicable method of settling the estate was to' sell it and divide the money among the claimants. A third step in the loss of Indian land came from the disposa.1 of so-called "surplus" lands which were left after allotments had been made to all Indians of the reservations. These stirplus lands were then opened to entry and were homesteaded by white settlers. Of the lands OTmed "by the Indians in 1887, the year of the allotment law, two-thirds have heen lost hy these various processes of dissipation. In addition, some 17 nillion acres are now traveling the same route to ultimate loss, although the De- pa.rtraent "by administrative order has stopped the fiarthei- sale of "heirship" lands pending revision or repeal of the allotment law. As was to have "been expected, much of the lost land has heen the "best, leaving often the c"ull remnants for the Indians. die allotment system has heen peculiarly unfortunate in its application to forest and grazing lands. For sustained forest management, directed to continuous tree-crop production, it is essential that timher lands "be managed in large, contiguous areas. Likewise, good management of range lands can "best he "brought about hy comm-unity use. The partition of the Indian forests and grazing ranges has made intelligent management of these resources in many cases impossible or exceedingly difficult. The ITew Land Policy How, then, shall we reorient Indian land policy? It is clear that the allotment system has not chajiged the Indians into responsible, self-supoorting citizens. ITeither has it fitted them to enter into urban industrial piu-s\iits. It has merely deprived vast n^jm.bers of them of their land, t-orned them into paupers, and imposed an evergrowing relief problem, on the Govermnent. As a starting point for a rational policy, vre can categorically say 10 80119 that the immediate- pfohi em. is hot ■• tliat ■ of al5§orbing .the-, Indians into the white poimlation, jDut. first of til of lifting thten out of raaterial and ■spiritiial dependency and hopelessnesG. . It is eqioally cl-oar that thcpla-cc to begin this -process is on the land; for if the Indian cannot pixr sue the relatively sinplc and primitive arts of agri cult-ore, grpizing, and for&stry.^. there, see-is little prospect that he can be fitted for the- more exacting tech- nology of urban industi-y. Even if he could be at once so fitted, the industrial depre.ssion has taught us that -v/e alrea.d;;,'- have far too many industrial workers. And the agricultural .depression has taught -us that we have a great, surplus .of farm land. 'Through sub- sistence farming and animal husbandry, ^the Indian can become self- supporting without competing, on the one hand, with vvhite industrial labor or, on the other hand, vrith.whito comn\ercial a.gric-'olture.. If these a.ss-umption5 are sound, the.-main lines of the new land policy are eloa~r. The allotm.ent system m.ust be reversed. We must reacquire enoUj^a of the lost lands or of other lands to provide subsistence for eighty or ninety thousand landless Indians. In the case of forest and i-ange lands, we must reestablish tribal ownership and build up Indian use of these reso-orces instead of allowing the reso'arces to be exploited by whites. Even in the case of agricultural lands, conumxtiity ov.Tiership, with assignment of use to individ-ua,l Indi-ans, will in man;>^ reservations be the best system of ov/nership. In addition to land, we must provide capital in the way of buildings and other iirprovements, work 80119 stock, livestock, and farming equipmen-t 'to help the Indian farmer or livestock grower onto his feet. In the forests we must provide small portable sawmills and logging equipment in order to employ the Indian ?7orkers in harvesting their o\-;"n tree crops. Squipping the land for productive use will rec^aire, in shoi't, the provision of credit facilities for the Indians. '- If we can relieve the Indipjn- of the unrealistic and fatal allotment system, if we can provide him with land and the means 'to work the land, if through group organization and tribal incorporation we can give him a real share in the management of his own affairs, he ctm develop normally in his own natural en- vironment. The Indian proolem as it exists tcds,y, including the heaviest and most unproductive administration costr. of^puhlic ser- vice, has largely grown out of the allotment system which has destroyed the economic integrity of the Indioji estate and deprived the Indians of normal economic and huitir.n activity. 30113 THE VISIT OF COLWISSIOMEH COLLIER TO TtE PIIE RIDGE RSSER'^AIIO!: Old time ceroraony nnd djfor- cncG for the "Itancan" (Superior in Charge) marked the visit of Commissioner Jo>iii Collier to the Ogln.la Sioux Indians on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South D.'jJcota on Dvjcember 9th. Rare, trailing war-bonnets of eagle feather?, heavil-'-bcadcd suits of native tanned skins, gay, head-covered moccasins, elaborate bone neckla-ces and a highly-decor- ated tepee awaited him in forma.1 array, while the greeting and ex- hortation in earnest, friendly vein manifested the intense res- pect which the Indians desired to show to the Commissioner from. Washington. The Ceremony Of Left Heron, an aged 3io-a:x. held in repute and good-wili, who repre- sented his people, gave the sigjiificant handclasp of the Siou:c and then, presenting the Peace Pipe, voiced a prayer and an e:d-:ortation. Tlie sym- bolism of the Pipe of Peace is that of justice, for it has only one mouthpiece through which the sweet V^V f**^' Comi-jissioner Collier and Left Heron, Sioux Leader. The Peace Pipe fragrance. of the kniciCiiic is drawn out. In early days only chiefs, medicine men, and warriors liad the privilege of smoking the pipe. The one mouthpiece signifies that all who smoke it must be of one mouth., one mind ajid one heart. TCien the pipe is pa,ssed aroxmd as eacii laan brings the pipe to his mouth ho in 8011^ his hpart, agrees to ].ive s straight life and must be honsst. (Oncp a well-knov.-ii general, after lRa.:.'ni;i£; t,he . real sigiiif icsaice of the cersmrny, rsfused tf> Bmoke, and the Indiann were much iinpreesed whan a severe calaraity soon overtook him.) Eolding the pipe with mouth- piece pointing tipivard, Left Heron called four tiiaes, ''3ho-o-o-o-o-o'. "- the call to the &reat Spirit used only in tijie of worship arid repr'atpd fo'-ir timsB because of the "icir winds of heaven" coming from four directions. Then folloived his pra^ver, ' vjfhich has been literally translated by Enil Afraid of Hawk, ftdl-blood -official interpreter for the Pine' Eidgs Agency *Eho-o-o-o-o-ol Sao-o-o-o-o-ol Sho-o-o-c-o-ol El-.o-o-o— o-c— ol Great Spirit: ?/e offer up oui' supplication to you alone. Xou alone the Indian people call upon for help. Great Spirit, look down upon mel I beseech thee to reach out for this Big Chief's pipe. G-reat Spirit, may we pass tiirough this frost-bcund winter and step out into csfcty. Wq pray thee to rrat forth amidst trie growing grass the things for our material food. Wlip.n the days of the frosty winter ai-e gone bring it to pans that wa may se*. among the shrubs fruit in abundance. Ijrfat Spirit, have pity on us poor creatures that we ma;^' wallc on the read of justice, especipll^.^ those of the present generation ■ who ar« in dire need. Sender to us this day, both the young -and the old, the things for our need. " Th^xi cjihorting Mr. Collier, Left KiSTon procr»eded "♦Priehd, anoke this Pipe of Peace, the Pipe timt has led the IndioXL people to live up to justice, and speak to' the people here and tell them the truth and nothing but thp truth. Should other representatives ccm*? herA to consult the Indian ppopl?, let this Pipe be the sjiabol of justice. I now present to you as a gift this Pipe of Peace." Commissioner Crdller, receiv- ing the gift, pledged his life's effort to the Indian cause. He- \ \ voiced to the great Sio'cuc [Pribe the respect and the warm wishes of Presidi^nt Hoosevelt, of Secretary Ickes, and of the men and women at the Y/ashington Office cf the Indian Service. Tliereafter, at an &ll-day. council, the needs and probleais of the Pine Eidge Siotui were dlstfussed. 14 80119 In a. series of conferences attended ty members of Congress, Secretary of the Interior Ickes, Secretary of Agi-iculture ^/allace, and other GoverrjTier.t officials, members of the Indian Service staff and others, Dr. Saenz ha.s been giving his impressions and recomtnendations regarding Indian Service activities in the Southwest, following his two-months' visit to the Navajo, Pueblo and other Southwestern areas. Urgent necessity for better b:iman understanding of Indians as people, need for coordination on the part of Indian Service workf-rs through a coninon vision and purpose, as opposed to mere professional efficiency, and' the desirability of a community program in which Indians themselves play the significant part, were some of the main points made by Dr. Saenz. In a conference at the Washington Office on January 11,' Commissioner Collier and others of the Indian Bureau staff joined Dr, Saenz in a vigorous discussion of Indian educational work, health service, and other activities, particularly as involved in the KFavajo school and ■ conEiranity program. There was ;^iact_ical!y^ unanimous agreement as to the need for stajting out from an entirely new point of vi ew with the work under way in the tDIavaj 0 country, building up a community enter^prise based on a study of the J. Hava j 0 people, their needs azid wishes, and engaging the ITavajo ppople themselves ,in planning and working out their economic, social, juid cultural possibilities* 15 3011C THE ORDER HELATIUG TO II\[DIAIC EBLI&IOUS LI$RTY To S"uperintendents; On trips to jiirisdictionsj and through correrrpondence occasionally received at the Washington Office, I have dis- covered that some Indian Service officials and employees, some missionaries, and many India.ns, are not yet clearly advised as to the policy of this Office toward Indian religious expression and toward the ceremonial and art expression of Indians and the use of Indian native languages* I have discovered that it still is, in some jurisdictions, "believed "by the Indians that they must secure the permission of the Agency before they may hold da.nce-cerenonies of native religious or of folk significance. There are Government schools into which no trace of Indian native symholism or art or craft-expression has heen permitted to enter. There are large ntmihers of Indians who "believe that their native religious life -and Indian culture is frowned upon "by the G-overnment, if not actually "banned. You are directed to give the widest, most effective pu"blicity to this communication and to treat it as an instjnic- tion superseding any prior regulation, instruction or practice. llo interference with Indian religious life or ceremonial expression will hereafter "be tolerated. The cultural li"berty of Indians is in all respects to "be considered eq.ual to that of any non-Indian group. And it is desira"ble that Indians he hi~lingual — fluent and literate in the English language and fluent in their vital, beautiful and efficient native languages. The Indian arts and crafts are to he prized, nourished and honored. Violations of law or of the proprieties, if committed under the cloak of any religion, Indian or other, or any cul- tural tradition, Indian or other, are to he dealt with as such, hut in no case shall punishments for statutory viola- tions or for improprieties "be so administered as to constitute an interference with, or to inroly a censorship over, the religious or cultural life, Indian or other. 16 80119 The fullest conctitutioiia.l liberty, in a.ll matters affecting religion, conscience and culture, is insisted on for all Indians. In addition, an affirmative, appreciative a.ttitude tov/ard Indian cultural values is desired in the Indian Service. JOai GOLLIEH, Conmir.sioner, Approved: HAROLD L. ICKES, Secretary of the Interior, January 8, 1934. • The Cover Picture. The cover picture is a view of the Indian Emergency Conservation Work camp at Fort Defiance, 17 30119 iDVMCEMSNT IN THE CAU33 0? IITDLAjT JffiTS MJD CR/J?S Secretary of the Interior Ickes has appointed a coninittee to st\;dy and make recommendations concerning the whole problem of Indian arts and crafts in their relation to the economic and ciilt-aral welfare of the American Indian. The members of the committee are: Chainrian, Jaines W, Young, professor of lousiness History and Advertising in the School of Business, University of Chicago; Thomas L. Dodge, Chairman of the llava.jo Tribal Coi'^icil; Oliver LaParge, a^athor, and President of the ITational Association of Indian Affairs; Kenneth W. Chapman, of the Laboratory of Anthropology, Santa Te, ITew Mexico; Charles De Y. Ellcus, at- torney, of San Francisco; B. I. Staples of Crafts del ITavajo, Goolidge, IJew Mex- rico; Lorenzo Hubbell, merchant, of Oraibi, Arizona; Mrs. Willirara Denmp-n, San Francisco; and Deigo Abeita, Isleta Pueblo, Indian craftsman. The members of the committee will serve without pay. Their assign- ment is to study the status of IndiaT^ arts and cra.fts Jiinong the various tribes and to recomjiend to Secretary Ickes and Commissioner of Indian Affairs Collier practical procedures for organized marketing methods, for improvem-ents aaid reviva in the arts themselves, and for the tra.ining of the newer generations of Indians in their production. Commenting, Secreta.r^,' Ickes said, "The weavings, pottery, basketry, Jewelry and other arts and crafts of the American Indian are a cultural heritage which the American people cannot afford to lose. They are already well kno\'m and appreciated among students, collectors and travelers both here and abroad; but we believe there is a.n opportimity greatly to increase the apprecia-tion of 18 80119 these beautiful and useful T)roduct3 "Dy the general public. '^ doing bo, we can at the Gsune time mo2ce an imjiortant contribution to tlie economic and social wel- fare of the Indian. His arts and crafts are his ovai. They are his opportunity to make a unique, non-competitive contribution to A^aerican life. They can yield him income and dignity. In tribes where these 3.rts h-ave been presenred they are nov/ an important part of the total income; the trade in Llava.jo rags, for instance, exceediruc in norraal times $1,000,000 a year. It is our hope that o"c.t of the studies of this coraKiittee v/ill come plans for protect- ing the ex:isti,n^^ products from t?ie competition of machine-made imitations and for improving and exx^anding their market; also that revivals of near-lost crafts may be brought about; and that the oncoming generation of Indians may find an opport'onity and a training which will- enable them to live in the modern world withor.t sacrifice of their cultixral and racial integrity." THB PUBLIC ITCPJCS 0? ^2 PROJSC^J MiL I1DIM3 By Mrs, Charles Collier a::d Caroline Thompson, Secretary of the Washington Branch Of the IT-ational Association on Indian Affairs The Public Works Of Art Project is already functioning to include Indian artists under its emergency program. 19 80119 The latest report from the South/vest indicates that fifteen painters and fifteen craftsmen are employed at the Santa Pe Indian School and another fifteen at the AlDuquerque School to paint wall panels and to make rugs, pottery and other craft objects for the nev/ schools, hospitals aaid comriiimity centers now "being constmcted luider Public Works. The Indian Office, through Superintendent Faris, is offering student mess subsistence and dormitory lodging and, in some cases, transportation to this group of Indians. Mr. Jesse Nusbaum, the regional art director of the Public Works Project, has evidently, in an incredibly short time, managed to assem.ble a group of thoroughly competent Indian .artists. Such works as panels for the Taos and Zuni School au.ditoriuins, and paintings for the libraries, living rooms and corridors of these and many other schools have been suggested as projects. Mrs, Michael Conlan, curator of the Kistoric?.l Society in Oklahoma City, who is now in Washington, brings the news that four Kiowa Indians are preparing sketches for paintings in the Kistoricfd Society Building, and that other projects for this gifted group of Indian artists are contemplated. Mr, Oscar 3. Jacobson, Director of the Art School s.t the University of Oklahoma, has already put his graduate students to woi'k on research in Indian costumes, ornaments and designs, 'de is assembling this m.aterial for the use of the Indian artists in preparing their sketches for mura,l decorations. Great interest and enthusiasm has been apparent from the many letters which have been received from the field in reply to the questionnaire asking for the names of Indian artists throughout the country, Mr. Roman Hubbell, Ganado, Arizona, in his letter, sent with lists of local artists, tells the legend of the Navajo s' first coming to the Ganado area from Canon Blanco, 20 80119 to the Salt Lake co'Oiitry, south of Z"'.xrii, wher'? they divided, a part of them forming the Apache group in the Wiite Mounfca,i;is and the rest comng north through Y7ide Ruins, Kin Na Zi:iriie, where the old fort still stands, to G-anado. There they ou-ilt a Puehlo with the help of Zirii sla.ves. Tliroughcut their waiiderinj:;;s Jill jaal was the medicine man and war chief, the big man v?ith tig feet and a cluh, who was always victorious in tattle ai:d who brought his twelve wives v/ith hira to G-anado, Mr. Hubbell suggests that this story would make a splendid subject for Indian raurals in some of the schools of that area. The Indian contribution in tlie arts said crafts field is one of enormous richness which may vrell add to the culture of the white man in the United States. The Public Works of Art Project, by- recognizing Indian artists in its emergency emploj'^ment , is giving a strong impetus to this development. Perhaps this is only the beginning of a sort of Henaissance of Indian art. Mr. Hugh G. Calkins, formerly chief of operations in the Southwestern Region of the United States Forest Service, has been appointed Regional Director of the Ifevajo Soil Erosion Project. This project, vfliich is being carried foi^ ward under the United States Soil Erosion Service, an.d for which .^1, 000, 000 has been set aside, is altogether on Indian lands. Mr. Richard Boko, heretofore in charge of the Mexican Springs Erosion Station of S. C. IT., has been appointed Special Assistant to Mr. Calkins. PICTURES FROM INDIAN HiERGENCY CONSERVATION CAMPS AND PROJECTS An Indian Family Lives In Traditional Style At lECW Camp, Flathead # :. i /■} Building Range Fence, An Indian Crew, Fto Belknap Fire Trail Worko Pima Indians At Ft Apache .\.j.u'ig Pests r Indian Grew Spraying Mormon Crickets, Fto Hall "■*v Making Roado Mission Indians An All-Indian Crew 22 80113 RIDDING A HESSEVAI'ION OP JOIglSOlJ GHAS3. UNDER IECT7 By H. 3. Jolley Superintendent, Port YuTia .Agency (Note; The eradication of plant pests and pnisonoxiG pla^its is included in the Indian Emergency Consen/ation Work pro£;ra".i as part of range improvement. On some reservations the extent to which such plants had t?ken the land was an actual menace to its future useftilness. Mr. Jolley's accoujit of the work on the extermination of Johnson grass on the Yxima Reservation will give an idea of need for corrective raeasures, such as ISGW made possitle, aiid a picture of the rather complicated ¥/ork entailed. To Mr. Jolley's article have been added notes from a supei-visor' s report.) ITor many years Johnson grass has been a great pest on the Yuma Indian Reservation and has heen a serioiis hindrance to Indians and lessees in their famiing operations. This grass spreads very rapidly, is of rani: growth and even when cut to the gro-ond in the suimriCr v.-ill grow enough to produce seed in from three weeks to a month. Also, it is propagated by the roots as well as the seed; every joint in the root system of a Johnson grass plant, often several feet in length, is a possible source of propagation, and even the joints of the plant itself, if laid on the ground and covered up, can put forth roots and start another plant. The seed is scattered by winds, carried oy irrigation canals -and ditches and so spread on the ground by water. It is carried from place to place by birds and stock also, and its fertility is not diminished ^:)y being eaten and passed through the alimentary canals of animals. Control Efforts Before The ISC17 Frogrsm For some years past our Agency simply trying to persuade the Indians has made a yearly request for funds to endeavor to keep the grass on their to^aid us in combating this evil, allotments luider control and to mske but until this year it was found some effort toward eradicating it. impossible to allot f^u^ds for this But, as this eradication requires an purpose and we have done the best iinmense amouiit of toil and, in many with the means at hand, which were cases, the loss of the croiD for the 23 80119 year of eradication, we vrere only partially successful. When it is re- called that soiristimes the roots ex- tend as far as ten feet down into the gronnd and that the aj.lotments were sometimes covered practically solid, the great expense and effort required for this eradication cajn he realized, Tnis grans was introduced into the reservation many years ago and, while sporadic efforts had he en made to keep it under control, u.ntil this year no systematized and determined attack was launched against it. As a result, it is estimated that 2,000 acres or practically one-fourth of the reservation v/as affected. Kot all this area was entirely covered, but Joinison grass wn,s in evidence on it, ranging from scattered clunips to al- lotments which were entirely taken and w^ould produce no crops worth harvesting. Indian Crew Constructing The Walls Of Dikes To Hold Water Por Drowning The Desti-^.xctive Johnson C-rass Eradication Measures Under lECW An allotment of fusids to the amount of $10,000 was finally sccixr- ed from the Emergency Conservation Work appropriation, however, and this initial sum was later increas- ed to $15,000. Thereupon the work of getting rid of Jolmson grass "be- gan in systematic earnest. In this uniertalring we have had the cooperation of the County author- ities, who ha^'^e been urging that more attention he given it for several years. The horticraltural Commissioner of Im-' perial County, California, has given the services of his assistant in supervising the work. Ee also has recommended two 24 sous e35)erlenced men to act as foremen and direct the actual work of erad- ication. Two methods of handling the pest are used. One is to dig the grass out hy the roots, which is prac- ticable \7here there are only scatter- ed hunches, hut not where a consider- able area is completely covered. The other is to construct high banks or dikes around the affected area and keep the land under water for a couple of months. Both these methods are be- ing used, and it is too early at this time to state the degree of success of either plan. Another plan practiced in the Im- perial Valley is spraying with chem- icals, which has the effect of killing the growing plant, but rarely does any great damage to the roots and is not recommended very highly by the County authorities. Others spray the grass with oil preparations with nuch the same effect as the cheaicals, and v/ith the added disadvantage of doing consid- erable harm to the soil and making it less fit for fne production of other crops. Another method is to cut the grass down to the ground and ccver the stalks with manure to the depth of from eighteen inches to two feet, but this is not practicable over as larg^ an area of infested land as we have here, on accoijnt of the eJipcnse. In small tracts sometimes it is found feasible to cover the ground with sheet iron. This has proved effective in some cases; it is especially so in tne summer tim.e; but it has the disadvan- tage of being ton expensive to use on a large acreage. Moreover, none of these latter methods would provide much work for the Indians, as almost all the exoense would be on materials. Flooding The Fields At the present time we are us- ing one hundred and twenty men in this work, employing two crews of thirty men each alternate week. This gives half time work to these hundred and twenty men, and is of material assis- tance in relieving the pressure of hard times on the Yuma Indians. It also is work that is distinctly of benefit to the reservation, as must be apparent. It is difficult to estimate the value of the -and.ertal'iing in exact terms but is expected that over 400 acres of land which were wholly unproductive last year on account of Johnson grass infestation will be restored to pro- ductivity as soon as the flooding pro- cess is completed. ^--- Before the water will stay in ■^'he area the gopher holes have to be stopped up and the gophers caught and killed. Fortunately we have an expert here, an Indian named 3ig Dick, vfho is a professional gopher trapper, if there ever was one. Fifty gophers is Just a good day's work for this Indian. One field alone yielded over two hundred rodents. Tnen this part of the work is finished and the holes stopped up, the water is turned into the dyked fields, Vv'hich soon resemble the rice fields of Sacranento Valley. THiat the "drovna- in^-:" really accomplishes is to keep the air out and actuallj' s-offocate the pl'jjits. The dykes will be left standing thro-agh the v/inter and some more flooding will be done draring the late spring or early summer to complete the destruction of the pest. Also, follow-up work v.'ill be neceosaiy where the seeds and roots of the plant have escaped destruction. 25 80119 The question may arise j;s to the value of this work if some of the meaiLS of propagation are left undestrjoyed - auid the spreadir^ of the grass is as sure and rapid as I have "before stated. It must he talcen into consideration that the roots newly- sprouted from the seed and from bits of old root are "by no means the ten-foot roots mentioned. At first they are quite small and the Indians fairly free from the grass they vYill be able to get an even start and will be able to keep the destruct- ive pest cleared off their premises. This v/ill require a lot of extra work and considerable vigilance from the farm agent and other field employees, but it is believed tha,t the result will be well worth the effort made. In addition to this 400 acres of A Dyke Made By Indian Crews Holding The Water In Fields That Were Once Waving St-ands Of Johnson G-rass capable of being grabbed out with a hoe. If the land is turned back to land that were wholly unproductive, there are approximately 1,500 acres affected to a less degree, but still requiring some work done on them. 26 80119 '^MA ¥51 ISPJM HOSPITALS Bffortr5 of the Indian Service to olitain better hospital facilities for the Indians were recently rewarded by the allotinent of $1,568,500 from the Public 7/ork:s appropriation for the construction of twelve r.eiv hospitals or sanatoria. More tlian this, an additional ciora of $43,000 was granted to supplement an earlier allotment of $1?0,000 for improving the hospital facilities at ten separate points in the Indian Service. While these grants make possible great improvements in the Service hospital scheme, there still remain many jurisdictions in the Indian Coventry that are without suitable hospital facilities, and it is hoped that as time goes on additional allotments can be obtained so that the health needs of the Indian population can be met with much greater adequacy. The new buildings and the sutig appropriated for them are as follows; State Jurisdiction Ar-^-O'U^-t ITew Mexico Zuni $125,000 " 'I Eastern Havajo 180,000 Oregon Wayia Springs 85,000 Minnesota Cass Laice 100,000 Montana Blackfeet 172,500 Nevada Western Shoshone 75,000 Washington Colvillo 180,000 North Carolina Cherokee 80,000 Montana Crow 160,000 South Dal:ota Yaiikton 80,000 Arizona Port Tuna 75,000 Minnesota Chippewa 250,000 $1,562,500 Hospital facilities for the Ghippev.'a Indians in Minnesota "nave been inadequate as well as \msatisfactory for a long time. Th? new appro- priation for tliis group includes a definite example of cooperation between Federal and State authorities in handling the health problem of the Indians 27 80119 within the State of Minnesota, It is to 'be hoped tha.t a wider degree of this' tj'pe of cooperation can "be ohtainea in tins and other States* The prograia en tiie Consolidated Chippe\va Jurisdiction calls for thj construction of a general hospital at Cass Lake, at a cost of $100,000. This will replace an institution now labeled "general hospital", occupying several private dwellings. More important, however, is the allotment of $350,000 for the addition 'of an Indian unit to the Ah g'.Tah chin Sta,te SanatorivjTi. TMs will he erected solely for the hospitaliza.tion of Indians, some of whom are now provided with sanatorium facilities at the Onigum sanatorium near Walker, The existing arrangements have been condenmed a.s the worst in the Service, and medical authorities are gratified tliat this improvement can be made. progress is being made in the completion of plans and specifications for repairs to existing structiirus, field studies '.mving "teen made by a representative of the construction force of the Indian Office. Plans and specifications for the new hospitals will be prepared by a firm or firms of private P.rchitects b^iving wide and varied experience in hospital design. It is expected that field studies will be made almost im-- mediately and that actual construction will begin on some of these projects early in the spring. 28 80119 SCHOOLS „T0 EXA.CH MTLL-BLOOI) IITDIAJ.TS III GKIAIIDllA liy Samuel II. Thorrroson Supervisor Indian Sducation in Cmrgre of Pu.blic Scliool Relations Eastern Oklahoma is the home of what is knovm as the ?ive Civilised Tribes of Indians, dating of course largely, if not en- tirely, from the "G-reat Hemoval" between 1830 and 1340. This part of Oklahoma is knovm as the "hill covs^tv-j" . From time to time Indian l.and.G have been sold in it imtil n^^7, a la,nd map of it presents a checkerboard aopearance, v;ith Indians and white people and a few colored people living side by side in the same neighborhood. School conditions are not so very favorable to any of these peoples, but less to the Indians than the others perhaps, although Indians are admitted to white schools v;ithout q-uestion. The trouble is that the Indians have, 'by choice or otherwise, selected homes far up in the hills a,way from other people or, in some instances, along the small creeks of this hill co'untry. Much of their land is not stibject to taxation, hence schools have been established with a view to the convenience of the white people — the ta.x payers. Then the policy of the Gover^mient for two generations of providing sepai-ate boarding schools for Indians lias "nad sometMng to do witn this. Anyway, there are himdreds of Indian children in this lo- cality who have no public schools available. This is liirewiso true oQ 80119 in the greS-t Southv/est liut the causes are entirely different, there "being "b^'at few white settlements iu the latter area. At this tirr.e the -policy of thp Indian Office is to establish several, so^y from ten to fifteen, modern school huildings with teach- erages where needed, in this Pive Tribes a,rea so tliat these Indian children, mostly full-hloods, may attend school through eight grades wMle living at home, in the same wJ?.y tliat w}:ite childi'en attend school. To all intents and purposes these schools will be public schools and white children may attend. They are ^niown as "special t^^^e" schools because the G-overrjiient will pay the tea.c?aers, but the teachers will be selected in council v/ith the local district school board. A fe\7 schools of this tj^pe are being conducted now in tMs section of Oklahoma , The Indians them.selves are very irpach interested, and in two or three instances they hs,ve erected the buildings themselves or almost entirely so. At one or two jila-ces the fev/ white j}eople have e>.lso helped. The ouality of the teacher is very carefully considered. Qualified Indians are used in these schools; some of them are college gradua-tes and a.ll have had one or two or three years in a teachers' college. One feels tliat tills type of v/ork need not be special to Oklahoma but that it can be done elsow/here. In fact, it is being dor.e in some places. Hov/ever, the appealing thing in this area is that the full-blood IndiE.n is being reached. He is the 30 80119 one who has "bRGn neglected; the Indio,ns with v/hite hlood us^urJlly arrang"? for'thc pducaticnof thoir fcrailies but the full-olood, ■ racially insulated, often hesitates to make the hreak v;ith his children 'until it is a little late. It should not he forgotten that in this section of Oklahoira, alone there are some 30,000 Indian children of school ago and that the ones who are out of school arc, for the mosu part, f-jJl— hloods whose parents, true to tradition and a desire to he let alone, r^ave isolated themselves in more or less inaccessihle places, Tliese are the children who are most in need "f schooling, and thpy are the ones who will he reached hy the schools described above. In summing up the oduca.ticnal sitijr.tion in " Oklaho:na , it should not be forgotten that, educationally speaking, she is a yung State, for both whites and Indians. On the northern boundary line there is a large stone inscribed as follow-s: Missouri, 1£21; Arkansas, 1336; Oklahoma, 1007 - these being the dat^s the respective States came into their statehood. 31 60119 TIffi PROSRESS OF IMDIAlJ IRRIjI^AtlOH IN DISTRICT MJICBER 5 FilDER THE PUBLIC WORKS GRAlfT By A. L. Wathen, Director of Irrigation, Indian Service. Irrigation District I'J-umi'ber 5 talces in the v/hole State of Uew Mexico, all of Arizona north, of the Grand Canyon and the extreme southern part of Colorado. The Puhlic Works Indian Irrigation program here includes a total of 51 projects of the widest range of magnitude, the expenditures varying as greatly as from $1,500 for some maintenance work to $350,000 for the "big Fruitland Project, the largest one job "being undertaken. Fork is now under vi^ay on 20 of these projects and, during December j a total of 1,125 Indians were employed at one time. Taking into account the rotation of labor, fully 2,000 Indians were employed during the month. Of these 30 were in supervisory positions, such as those of subforemen, while a large number were employed as skilled and semi-skilled laborers - that is, as rodmen, chainmen, carpenters, jack hammer operators, compressor operators, truck drivers and so forth. A nvimber were also employed as time keepers and for'' other field office work. The Fruitland Project The Fruitland Project in the IvJorthem IJavajo has as many as 309 Indians employed at one time. Some of these men work as hands, some as teamsters. In the latter case, if they use their oi,?n horses, there is additional compensation for them. On account of the rotation of labor, it is estimated that fully 500 Indians from the adjacent area received employ- ment on this project during the month of December. The Indians have been doing excellent work. To date they have completed the earth work for more than six of the tv/enty-two miles of cs-nal, 32 80119 Other I-Tava ,j o Projects Other projects in the ITavajo couritriy nov/ teing v/orked on are as follows: • ' Captain Tom Wash, • ITorthern Ilavaj c Jurisdiction. The 7.'ork here consists of a storage dam to furnish water for an extension of the exist- ing Captain Tom Wash Project, and to create an additional supply for the acreage already under constructed works. Hogback Project, northern IJava j o Jurisdiction. I'ev; canal headings and extension of the system to add more land to Indian farms. Eed Rock Valley, northern Havajo Jurisdiction. Improvement of irrigation ditches. Lower Sock Point, Northern ITava j o Jurisdiction. Th-is project is located on Chinle Wash, approximately forty miles iDelov; Chinle. Here the work consists of a large earth and rock dam. hailt in the Chinle Wash, with a spillway over rock on the west side, Tliis will enahle the Indians of that district to irrigate approximately 1,000 acros of land by flood waters frca Chinle . 7fesh, Mariano Lake, Eastern ITava j o Jurisdiction. This work consists of diversion of -washes into the lake and of ra.ising the dam to store more water for irrigation in tiia.t region. Heretofore the Indians have not been able to use Mariano Lake water to an appreciable extent for irrigation, but now they will be able to produce crops on the fertile valley lands below the lake. Lower Crystal, Southern ITavajo Jurisdiction. This project is to supply the lands below the Crystal Project, where the Indians Ivive been at- tempting in the past to divert the water. A new dam is being built, so as to provide permanent diversion. 33 Klagetoh, Southern Kavaj_o_ Jurisdiction. D^oxing the past month approximately 200 men were e?Tiployed at various times on tliis project. It consists of the construction of a storage da^n for the pui'pose of holding tack flood water and melting snow for summer irrigation. Ivinlechee, Southern IJava j o Jurisdiction* A new diversion dam and new sections of a canal -.vhich will enahle the Indians of this district to have a dependahle v;ater supply. Begashihito, t7estern Ilavaj o Jurisdiction, piping water out of a lake "bed for irrigation use by the Indians. The Value To The Indians These llavajo projects h^d "been requested marxy years "by the Indians in order that they might raise more food and thus not he so dependent upon their sheep and goats for a livelihood. These projects, together v/ith others to he constructed in the llavajo counti'y under the Puhlic Works program, will he of great importance in diverting the Kavajos from sheep raising, thus assist" ing materially in saving the range. TTork In The ITevr Mexico Paehlos In the h'ew Mexico Puehlos, flood control work h^as heen done at Santa Clara, canal improvements at San Juan, flood control work at Santo Domingo and canal and canal structure improvement at Acome., At Laguma tv;o diversion dams are under construction. At Zia paehlo a storage dam was completed dur- ing the mionth of Decemher and work was under way on a siphon with which to deliver water from a storage dam and canal to lands on the south side of the Jemez River, Work is "begun at Zuni and upper Pescado. ITeather condi- tions were favorahle throughout the month, and we were thus enabled to put many Indians to work on this aspect of the national recovery progrs-m. 34 80119 TES PROGRESS CF IITDIAIT ROJJD BUILDETG UITDIE TJ{E PU3LIG TTORKS GRAIT? The employment of Indians on road work just now is on the increase on many jurisdictions. The reason is - partly - that Eraergency Conservation Work has slo?/ed dovm somev/hat, due to the season. Many Emergency Conservation Work projects are of a nature tliat cannot bo carried on at high altitudes iixr- ing the winter season. This circ-orastance has released some -.vorkmen, and hap- pily these v/orlcmen. are now heing taken up ty the road building program - at least, wherever it is possible. Another reason for the increase of road eraplojTnent is the recent acquisition of additional road machinery, including tractors, road graders, road builders, rock ciushers and so forth. ^??^. ?:2^A Employment Figures At Consolide.ted Chippewa the Superintendent reports th^t one Indian out of every eleven is employed on road projects. A compilation of reports from practically all Agencies, as of November 15, shows that 8,904 Indians were then employed. Of these, 351 were skilled in various phases of road improvement work. With the rotation of woi'k among the Indians, it is possible that as many as 20,000 hs,ve been given road work to do. Four liundred and forty-three whites v;ere also employed in skilled positions, including that of engineer. The Superintendents estimate tliat they can employ 13,561 Indians and 1,333 v/liites d^rring the next fiscal year if fraids are provided for all the projects they have outlined. There are Indians filling evex-y position in comiection with road work, from thjat of common laborer to that of cliief engineer. 3y rotation of the employment of the Indians under the proposed prograiti for next yepTj 35 80119 it is possible that 50,000 could be given v/ork of some sort and the wages accruing to them would benefit directly or indirectly 150,000 Indians, or practically half the Indian population. The Kind Of Work They Are Doing Although Superintendents were delayed in getting their road programs under way, because of the lack of nachdnery and the necessity of giving prior- ity to Emergency Conservation Work, it is reported that 736 miles of new road were constructed before ITovember 15, 1,533 miles of road improved and ninety~four bridges built. Bridge constraction, side ball cuts, rock work and gravel oper- ations can be continued to some extent d-'oring winter weather, with advantage both to the projects and the employment of men. It is the plan for these winter undertakings to favor school roads in bridge constraction and graveling. On a number of reservations attempts are being made to keep the roads clear of drifting snov; to permit all winter travel. Most of tMs snow clear- ing will be done with snov; plov/s mounted on large four wheel di'ive trucks equipped to operate twenty-four hours per day v/hen needed. It is possible that more snox: removal equipment will be obtained in the future, with the aim of keeping all school bus roads open in regions of heavy snow fall. 36 80119 IirPIAlT SLTPBRYISORS ESPORT OH lECW PHOJECTS The follov.diig notes are taken iroin v/eekly reports of IEC¥ projects. In ivery case, the man reporting the project is an Indian, as are the workmen. ISCW Program at Consolidated Chipip e".'a, . Telephone comi-aunication line het'.-reen the Camp and ITett Lake Agency completed during the week, '.vhen gay wires were placed. Telephone work was started on the Stolen Lookout Project, the clearing of the right of MS.y and about half mile of poles set. Ahout one mile of roadside clearing on the Bois Porte Road was done during the week. Two miles of road maintenance was added to our twenty-eight miles. Because of recently heavy snow storms, the two miles "became our "burden to maintain to the adjoining county line. All of the tMrty miles was snow plowed during the week. Hauling gravel for floor in our work shop and garage and "banking of the other "buildings has kept a crew of men on the jo"b daily. TJood hauling h^s also "been a "big undertaking, m.en and tracks are daily on thiis jo'b and the camp is well~ supplied as far as i\xel is concerned. Xiork on the Cutoff Trail (four miles) has started. Brushing and stunrping "being the nature of the work on this project. Ahout one fourth of a mile completed. J_^ Eenry Broker, Assistant Gamp Manager. Porest Work at Red Lake. Pro- ject lluraoer 7. Work consisted of general cleanup and cord wood cut- ting. 22 cords were cut and de- livered to the G-overrjnent savmill at Red"by, Minnesota. 9 cords were cnat 3,r.d delivered to the G-overnrnent school at ri.ed Lake, Minnesota. 106 man days exit ting cord wood. 19 man da,ys telephone maintenance, 8 man days survey crew ma,p-oing. 4 sick days. Henry Sayers. Building Pence At Tongue River. We put post in the hole. fe work all day long. L'elson Hawk . The Hew Telephone Line at Chey- enne River. Indians are at work at Cheyenne River Reservation, patting in projects that y/ill prove more worth tha.n s.ny others that have "been there. One of these is the telephone line, connecting all su"bagencies scattered over this large reservation, perhaps the most important of all. The time shows that they have lined the Mghways with good array of fine solid poles, well set, showing the excellent work done "by the sta-veying crew, the poles linicing together with shining copper v/ires, tvrenty miles from the Agency to La plant, eighteen m.iles from La Plant to Whitehorse, thirty-five miles from La Plant to Eagle Butte, thirty-eight miles from Dupree to Thunder Butte, the latter just started, when completed will culminate the splendid work that these "boys from fne reservation liave started. Stephen S. Jones, Assistant Camp Manager. "Winter, Snow and Cold" at San Juan Puehlo. This week we have hard .digging. We are going with our work 13-1/2 and quarter of mile. Winter, snow and cold my mans are going ahead with the work road repairing cutting trees for fence line digging post holds and setting post. This will keep us "busy every day, Martin Vigil. 37 SOLICITOR'S OFFICE ■ iKTERlOR DEPl . ,- ROOM '5104 3 9088 01629 1304