AMERICA’S INDIANS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1926, Page 1

AMERICA’S INDIANS

PROGRAMME OF BETTERMENT. SAN FRANCISCO, June 16th. A liberal and progressive policy of administration and supervision of the newly-organised educational, industrial and agricultural activities of the Indian service has been announced. The policy carried out in recent years of placing Indian children in the public schools is to be continued, ■ and an effort is to-be made to encourage the Indians to send their children to school in greater numbers. The curriculum is being carefully revised to bring it more nearly in touch with present-day educational thought, but with general education of the Indians based on vocational training. Health tdueation is being given emphasis, with appropriate follow-up work among the Indian communities and homes. A continuing survey is to be made of the economic, social, and moral conditions on each Indian reservation. Local authorities and semi-public communities are being asked to regard the Indian problem n.s a general problem, and to co-operate with the State and Federal authorities. For this purpose, it is intended to set up district organisations, with sufficient machinery to handle the problem of Indian employment. It is realised that the critical period in the life of the Indian is when lie leaves school. Plans are being made to keep in touch with the youths and girls, to see that they are placed in profitable employment, and live and move under congenial conditions as well.

It is intended also to set apart sufficient funds to enable each district agency to bring the livestock industry. agriculture, employment of Indians, and other closely allied activities to a higher standard of efficiency. A definite and continuous campaign is to be followed, to encourage the Indians to desire good homes, and be willing to make the sacrifice necessary to secure them.

Young people, as they marry, arc to be encouraged, and assisted in establishing homes, separate and apart from their parents, where they will have an opportunity to work out life’s problems, without interference from relatives. Better sanitation, better food, and an increased interest in good living, developed through clubs or similar organisations, or through suitable community, and extension work from the Indian schools, are to be aimed at.

The health programme in the schools and reservations, with continued emphasis on the formation of simple health habits of diet, cleanliness, rest and sanitation, and closer and more frequent medical inspection, arc also features of the new official propaganda for the betterment of the conditions of life of the Indians of the United States.