9-10:15: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10--continued Opening session-Why big problems in Indian communities? Chairman: Harold Tascher Address of welcome-Bert Hanson Responses Walter McDonald, chairman, State Intertribal Policy Board Rita Gunderson, chairman, institute committee, Community Services Lab- Address: The Maoris of New Zealand Arch C. Callaway, Department of Economics, Montana State University. Mr. Callaway is a New Zealander. His forebears were among the first settlers in that country. He is a graduate of the University of New Zealand, also of Cambridge and Oxford Universities in England. 10:30: Coffee break 10:45: Let Us Take a Look, by J. Verne Dusenberry, Indian specialist, Montana Panel of questioners: James W. Carroll, Montana State University Joe Medicine Crow, Crow Agency, Montana Percy Mellis, Billings Walter McDonald, St. Ignatius Gerard F. Price, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Belcourt, N. Dak. 12:30-1:45: Luncheon. Special features. Yellowstone Room, Lodge 2-5: Workshop I-Social Welfare. Music Recital Hall To what extent have welfare services been adapted to the Indian culture? A. General session: Brainstorming B. Buzz sessions: Small groups working with results of "brainstorming" session; Indian leadership and the help of consultants C. General session: Reports of "buzz groups," discussion, and conclusions Note: Buzz session will meet in room selected for its purpose. See list of room designations. Both general sessions will be held in the Musical Recital Hall. In charge of recording: Carling Malouf 8, evening: Liberal Arts Building, room 104 Famous Hill 57, and Port Royal, Great Falls Dr. Milton Colvin, Montana State University THURSDAY, APRIL 11 9-12:15: Workshop II-Economic Welfare. Music Recital Hall How well can the Indian adjust to the economic requirements of the machine age? Chairman and coordinator: J. Verne Dusenberry A. General session-Brainstorming B. Buzz sessions-Refining C. General session-Reporting, discussing, and making conclusions to be held in Music Recital Hall General sessions 12:30-1:45: Luncheon. Special features. Yellowstone Room, Lodge How well do we understand Indian youth and family problems? A. General session-Brainstorming B. Buzz sessions-Refining C. General session-Reporting, discussion, and making conclusions 8, evening: Music Recital Hall The Yellowtail and Paradise Dam issues Robert Yellowtail, Crow Tribe. William Morigeau, Flathead Tribe FRIDAY, APRIL 12 9-12:15: Workshop IV-Community welfare How may the advantages of self-help be secured by Indian people-by individuals, families, tribes, neighborhoods, communities and government? Chairman and coordinator: J. Verne Dusenberry A. General session-Brainstorming B. Buzz sessions-Refining C. General session-Reporting, discussing, and making conclusions to be held in Music Recital Hall 12:30-1:45: Luncheon. Special features. 24: General sessions. Music Recital Hall General sessions Yellowstone Room, Lodge Talk: Robert Yellowtail, Has Indian Tribal Sovereignty Been Wiped Out? Guest analyst: Gerard F. Price Business session: Steps immediately ahead Historical Museum, Journalism Building, open 6: Elk barbecue. Field House. In charge of short circuits, Missoula Charges: Adults $1; Children 50 cents 7:30-10: Variety Show and Festival-Indian Ceremonial Dances, Acts Starr School fancy dancers featured. Local talent. Field House. Charges: Adults $1; Children 50 cents Senator DOUGLAS. Would you give your name for the record? Mr. MORIGEAU. Bill Morigeau. I am a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana. Mr. Chairman Senator DOUGLAS. Yes. Mr. MORIGEAU. Mr. McDonald has covered our problem on the Flathead Reservation, I think, quite thoroughly, and we have about 10 or 12 reservations that want to be heard. I think I will just relinquish my time to that. We are submitting a written statement as well. Senator DOUGLAS. Thank you very much. Mr. MORIGEAU. Thank you. Senator DOUGLAS. We have a statement from the Indians Rights Association for the record. (The statement from the Indian Rights Association follows:) STATEMENT OF THE INDIAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION, PHILADELPHIA, PA. The Indian Rights Association urges the enactment of S. 964 because of its specific provisions that it shall apply to Indian reservations and communities. It is not possible, nor would it be helpful, for me to endeavor to list all of the Indian communities that are in need of the type of assistance envisioned in this bill, or to detail the nature of their problems. The general statement can be made that there are very few Indian communities that would not rate as depressed areas on the basis of the general low standard of living. Some Indian communities are depressed areas because of the great decline in cattle prices. Individuals and groups who were getting an excellent start in the cattle business have been brought to the brink of financial disaster, if not actual bankruptcy, through the lack of sufficient reserves or of adequate credit. It would be most shortsighted policy to fail to give any possible help to prevent the failure of such persons or groups in a field in which they seem to have unusual ability and qualifications. To surround them with conditions that would lead to their drifting into a state of dependency, would be extremely wasteful of economic assets and destructive of human dignity. Many Indian groups have land that is primarily useful for the cattle business. They should be helped to make the best possible use of this asset. Indian communities in the Dakotas, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma are examples of this situation. Other Indian communities have developed in areas in which the natural resources are so very limited that they offer no promise of ever giving adequate support to a rapidly increasing population. Examples of this type of depressed areas are the Rocky Boy group in northern Montana, and the Turtle Mountain group near the Canadian border in North Dakota. In each of these situations the standard of living is extremely low. Much of the work engaged in by the people is of intermittent and migrant nature. Dependency is high because of the lack of employment opportunities, particularly through the long winters. The jewel manufacturing plant, located at the edge of the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota, gives regular work to a limited number of Indians, and may offer a suggestion for further industrial enterprises near this or other Indian reservations. This project is entirely inadequate to meet the full need. In a study of the Five Civilized Tribes of eastern Oklahoma made a few years ago for the Indian Rights Association by Miss Angie Debo of the Oklahoma A. and M. College, she said, "the whole beautiful region east of the Grand River is one vast slum." "These Indians" says Miss Debo, "who less than 50 years ago owned half of what is now the State of Oklahoma, live in appalling poverty." They made re markable adjustment following their "trail of tears" migration from the Southeastern States so that in 1883, after a visit in Indian Territory and apparently speaking of the Cherokees, Senator Dawes of Massachusetts reported: "The head chief told us that there was not a family in the whole nation that had not a home of its own. There was not a pauper in that nation and the nation did not owe a dollar. It built its own capitol, in which we had this examination, and it built its schools and its hospitals. As the country filled up with land-hungry whites, "their land holdings were broken up into individual allotments, their public funds were divided per capitamany of them made satisfactory adjustments and became leaders in the new composite society." "But the majority of the fullbloods were unable to make the transition." They were crowded into their unproductive mountain areas and scrub timber. Educational progress stopped, their social life stagnated, their simple agricul ture was disrupted." Local rehabilitation programs in this area indicate what might be achieved if rehabilitation for the Five Tribes were undertaken on a scale sufficient for ultimate success. An agricultural program for those who stay on the land is essential. Home crafts, including spinning and weaving, and perhaps some small local industries, should be encouraged and given the support of adequate credit where needed. Here is a depressed area in great need of assistance and to which we as a Nation-have a responsibility. The Papago Indians of Arizona for years have been asking for a rehabilita tion program based on plans carefully worked out by tribal leaders with expert help from the Indian Service technicians. Many other Indian groups need such a program. The Indian Rights Association urges the enactment of S. 964 with its specific application to the needs of the Indian people. Senator DOUGLAS. The next witness will be Mr. Frank Ketcham of the Board of Home Missions of the Congregational Christian Churches. STATEMENT OF FRANK KETCHAM, BOARD OF HOME MISSIONS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES Mr. KETCHAM. Mr. Chairman, my name is Frank S. Ketcham, I am engaged in the general practice of law in Washington, D. C. and New York City. I am the attorney in Washington, D. C. for the Board of Home Missions of the Congregational Christian Churches. Among the many functions of the Board of Home Missions, a primary responsibility is the Christian social welfare of American citi zens. For some 300 years Congregationalists have been concerned with the welfare of Indian Americans. Our fellowship has sponsored extensive educational and religious work among the Indians. Our mis sionaries have constantly fought against injustices toward the Indians and in behalf of constructive governmental policies that will aid Indians in their efforts to become self-respecting citizens. Congregationalists first worked with Indians in New England in colonial times. Later our missionaries were active among the Cherokees in North Carolina and Georgia. Our churches followed the Cherokees to Indian territory in Oklahoma after the removal of the tribe west of the Mississippi. For 80 years the Board of Home Missions has worked with the Three Affiliated Tribes in Fort Berthold, N. Dak. We have worked among the Sioux groups in Minnesota and South Dakota for an even longer period. Senator DOUGLAS. Mr. Ketcham, I know of the fine work of the Congregational denomination. Many of my friends who are Congregational ministers have gone out and served their missionary apprenticeship with the tribes in Montana. It has been very good for them, and I do say that the Congregational Chruch has been very active in attempting to work cooperatively with the Indians and for them. As a boy, I used to go to the Congregational Church because my own small religious denomination did not have a meeting in the town in which I grew up, but I have at times wondered whether the Congregational Church was not in part making amends for the behavior of the New England Congregationalists who when they landed were said to have first fallen upon their knees and then upon the aborigines. Mr. KETCHAM. I suspect you have a very good point, Senator, and I hope that the guilty conscience of the past will operate today. Senator DOUGLAS. Well, we all make atonements. Mr. KETCHAM. These are days of change for the Indians. Gradually in some areas, more abruptly in others, the United States Government is relinquishing its trustee relation over the property of Indian citizens and transferring educational and other services, such as health, to other jurisdictions. Indian Americans will one day be in every way full and equal participants in our common life. Our churches have been watching governmental developments with interest and concern, lest rights be forgotten in transition, and change bring needless difficulty and fear. To this end, on June 30, 1954, the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches, at New Haven, Conn., adopted the following resolution on Indian rights. And this, I may say, Senator Douglas, is probably an effort at atonement: Whereas the Congregational Christian Churches have, for more than a century been concerned with the welfare of the American Indian people, and have contributed, through schools and churches, to their advance as members of our common country; and Whereas the Federal Government has carried the principal responsibility for education and for health and welfare services to these original Americans; and Whereas tax exemption on and trust status for the land that was reserved to the various tribes and to individuals, along with pledges to maintain schools, were accepted by the Federal Government as a solemn obligation; and Whereas we note the policy of the Federal Government to terminate its services and relationships special to Indians, and to transfer responsibilities to States and counties; be it Resolved, That we urge that certain conditions be met prior to such withdrawal by the Federal Government, such as: 1. Negotiation in good faith between the Federal Government officials and freely chosen representatives of the tribes or bands affected, in formulating all policies relating to termination, followed by consent of the groups involved before these policies are put into operation. 2. Termination of Federal services and trusteeship should be preceded by a program that accomplishes the following objectives: (a) Opportunities for fundamental education equal to those afforded the nonIndian population. (b) Health and physical well-being of Indians so that they may meet acceptable public health standards. (c) Provision of facilities for the development and use of reservation resources and solution of the fractionated land problem; facilities for the development of economic skills that will make possible normal adjustment to employment; continuation and expansion of the Federal Government's program of assisted voluntary relocation. 3. In the case of any tribe electing to continue its tribal organization and cultural integrity, including communally owned and managed property, the Federal Government should facilitate the effort. 4. Negotiations should be carried on between the Federal Government and State and local units of government to the end that mutually acceptable arrangements are worked out that guarantee that services to Indians will be administered on a nonsegregated basis and equal to those provided for other citizens. 5. The responsibility for accomplishing the above objectives should be ac cepted by goth governmental and voluntary agencies. Churches should take steps to prepare their own congregations to understand the problems and to maintain mutually helpful relationships between Indians and non-Indians. For more than a hundred years, the United States has had a program for American Indians which in many respects resembles presentday programs of foreign aid. This program was commenced shortly after the founding of our Republic by the process of treatymaking which was the cornerstone of our American Indian policy and which was the main device by which programs for the assistance of the Indians were to be carried out. As you know, our Government has made almost 400 treaties with the various Indian tribes. The general outline of these treaties was to take possession of the lands used by the Indians for their homes, for their hunting, for their crops, for their fishing, and for the other uses needed in their economy. As a portion of the consideration for the sale of Indian tribal lands to the Government, most of the treaties provided for the payment of annuities and the furnishing of various services to the particular Indian tribes concerned. These services, in general, represented the differences between the white man's economy and the Indian's civilization. For example, cattle, hogs, iron, steel, wagons, plows, and other farm equipment were furnished the Indians, along with such services as the building of a grist mill, a sawmill, and the supplying of technical information for the development of such skills as blacksmiths, gunsmiths, millers, et cetera. Sometimes even an agricultural extension agent, who had a different title in those days, went along to supervise the operations. Houses were built by the Government for residences for the Indian chiefs. Schools and churches were erected, and the training of Indians in the white man's ways was begun. I should like at this point to refer to the extremely interesting history of our governmental relations with the Indian Americans. All of you are familiar with the old removal policy under which, as a result of a series of treaties, beginning with the years following the War of 1812, most of the large Indian tribes in the East, such as the Five Civilized Nations, were induced to leave their lands in the East and for consid |