BLACKFEET AGENCY

Questionnaires were mailed to 1,797 heirs of the Blackfeet Agency and completed returns were received from 255 (approximately 15 percent) adults.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Median age of the Blackfeet heirs is in the 41 to 50 year of age category with the distribution by categories as follows: 21 to 30, 37; 31 to 40, 52; 41 to 50, 66; 51 and over, 96; no answer, 4. There are 130 males and 122 females (3 did not answer). Three hundred and nine heirs have children with a total of 826. One hundred and fifty-seven heirs are heads of households and two reported they were not members of the tribe. Median blood quantum is one-half with the following distribution: fullbloods, 63; three-quarter bloods, 23; halfbloods, 83; onequarter or less Indian blood, 84; and no answer, 2. One hundred and fifteen heirs live on the reservation, 138 live off, 2 did not answer the question. Fifty-one heirs reported living on trust or restricted land, and 51 received some form of welfare assistance during 1958. Of the heirs receiving welfare assistance, 38 live on the reservation.

Median income for heads of households was between $3,001 and $4,000. Median income for all heirs reporting was between $2,001 and $3,000. While median income for heirs living on the reservation is between $1,001 and $2,000, the heirs living off the reservation have a median income between $3,001 and $4,000. Median income for fullbloods is less than $1,000; for three-quarter bloods it is between $1,001 and $2,000; for halfbloods it is between $3,001 and $4,000; and for those of one-quarter Indian blood or less the median is between $3,001 and $4,000.

Occupations of the heirs were reported as follows:

Heirs of the Blackfeet Agency hold 663 interests in heirship land, and 136 are in public domain allotments. Twenty-two heirs live on heirship land in which they own an interest and 17 of this group are fullbloods. Median age of the heirs living on heirship land is in the 41- to 50-year age category, 11 received welfare assistance during 1958, median income from heirship land is between $101 and $150. Twelve of this group ranch or farm the land, and four own other lands that are not in trust status. Median income of this group is less than $1,000.

Income from heirship land was reported by 181 heirs and the median was between $51 and $100, with the distribution by categories as follows: $0 to $50, 76; $51 to $100, 31; $101 to $150, 12; $151 to $200, 30; $201 to $500, 14; $501 to $1,000, 14; $1,001 to $2,000, 1; $2,001 and over, 2; no answer, 74. Forty-four heirs visited some of their heirship lands in 1959, 88 did so between 1958 and 1949, 12 between 1948 and 1939, 9 prior to 1939, and 102 did not answer. One hundred and twenty-nine heirs (the majority of those answering) lived within 300 miles of their heirship land, 15 lived within 301 to 600 miles, 22 from 601 to 900 miles, and 27 lived over 900 miles from their heirship land.

ACTIONS

Twenty-three heirs ranch or farm some of their heirship interests, while 35 others have done so within the past 10 years. This indicates a decrease in the use of heirship lands by heirs of approximately 60 percent. One hundred and one heirs have attempted to dispose of some heirship land, and 49 have succeeded. The majority of the heirship land disposed of went to individuals while in 15 cases it was disposed of to the tribe. In 16 cases the tribe has unsuccessfully attempted to purchase heirship interests and in 25 cases other Indians have been unsuccessful. The heirs themselves have attempted in 15 instances to purchase other heirs' land.

OPINIONS AND PROPOSALS

Fifty-three heirs plan to live on heirship land in the future, 63 plan to ranch or farm such land. When asked if they wanted to sell or exchange heirship interests, 45 wanted to sell or exchange some, 97 all, 99 none, and 14 did not answer. The majority of those heirs answering the question do want to sell or exchange some or all of their heirship land. One of the questions asked of the heirs was whether they wanted the Bureau of Indian Affairs to continue control of the heirship lands. One hundred and forty-five heirs wanted the Bureau of Indian Affairs control removed from heirship land, 65 wanted it retained, and 45 did not answer. Therefore, a majority of all heirs

want Bureau control removed. Reasons given for retaining or removing control were varied, and representative statements follow:

22468

23856 23037

22617

22952

22565

22299

22894

22699

REMOVE CONTROL

I think that if the Indian as an individual is ever going to be selfreliant, he should start somewhere. Of course, there are restrictions. I want to sell.

Because we live away from the reservation and make our livelihood off the reservation.

Because I think the Government does as bad a job of control as the Indians themselves could do.

Too much redtape, impossible to do anything.

I would like to be able to keep my share and do something with it but can't. We would all have to sell or leave it as it is and it's of no use to us like this.

Most of us today are capable of managing and disposing of our own interests in inherited as well as other lands.

I am a university graduate and believe that I can manage my own land problems.

To much redtape; it causes me to have no sense of responsibility.

23771

22947

So they could sell it and divide the money among the heirs.
Because no funds to pay taxes.

22569

Cannot handle them myself, lack of education.

22826

23594 23435

I just

Because I do not know anything about leasing the land.
wouldn't know what to do if the Government didn't take care of it.
I think we are better protected and cannot be cheated.
For the future use of my children.

Question 26b asked the heirs if they would want their interests sold and the money divided. One hundred and fifteen wanted all the heirship land sold, 23 wanted some, 51 none, and 66 did not answer. The majority of the Blackfeet heirs answering the question want all the heirship land sold. We have cross tabulated the answers to this question by various categories, i.e., blood quantum, residence, etc., to determine if there is any significant differences of opinion held by particular groups of heirs.

26b I would like to have the tract(s) of heirship land in which I own an interest sold and my share of the money paid to me.

An examination of the cross tabulation reveals that while the majority opinion is that all heirship lands be sold there are certain categories of heirs who disagree with this. Those heirs in the following categories were in favor of selling some or all: (1) 31 to 40 years of age; (2) fullbloods; (3) heirs living on trust or restricted land; (4) heirs living on heirship land; (5) heirs with income from heirship interests between $501 and $1,000; and (6) heirs farming or ranching heirship interests.

As a matter of interest we have cross tabulated question 25 concerning whether the heirs want to sell or exchange interests and question 26a concerning whether the heirs wanted Bureau supervision retained over heirship lands, with question 26b asking if they wanted all their interests sold.

Question 26b. I would like to have the tract(s) of heirs in land in which I own and interest sold and my share of the money paid to me.

It is interesting to note that 24 heirs not answering question 26b did answer 26a and 20 of this group wanted all heirship land sold. The same holds true for question 25 where 3 who did not answer it did answer 26b and wanted all interests sold. Of those heirs answering question 25 by stating they wanted none of the interests sold, 14 wanted all sold, and 2 wanted some sold in answer to question 26b. This might reflect the desire to have it sold by the Bureau of Indian Affairs rather than themselves.

Question 27 was an attempt to get the heirs to make suggestions to the Congress concerning possible solutions to the problem. The question was worded in such a way as to inform the Indians that possible solutions had been offered in the past and four of these were listed, then space was left for the heirs to make any recommendations they wanted. While the question was not intended to be one of multiple choice it was found that some heirs merely checked off one of the proposed solutions, while others wrote in suggestions coinciding with one or the other. In addition, some heirs presented different suggestions. Forty-four heirs prefer that a majority of heirs have authority to decide on the use or disposition of the land, 17 preferred that owners of over half the tract decide. Twelve wanted each heir