THE RED MAN.

Shannon News, 6 September 1927, Page 4

THE RED MAN.

INCREASING IN CANADA. CARE FOE .HIS WELFARE. Contrary to general opinion, Canadian Indians are increasing in numbers. The 1926 Indian Census gives the population as 104,894, located on 1570 reserves, containing an area of almost 50,000,000 acres. The adminstration and control rests in the Department, of Indian Affairs' at Ottawa and the relationship between the Department and the Indians is that of guardian and ward. Real and personal property of the Indians is valued at £15,000,000, and their total income for the fiscal year 1925-26 was £2,000,000. The capital of the Indian trust fund during the same year amounted to £2,500,000, an increase over the previous vear of more than £50,000. The Indian of to-day differs but little from his white neighbours. In statute and in finance there is broad and generous provision to protect his interests, but individual liberty is almost untouched. Living conditions are improving by means of suasion and appeals to reason by the local Indian agents, and tuberculosis and smallpox, those dreaded foes of the Red man, are being successfully combated. Church Education. Educational facilities are modern and thorough, although under the control in all cases of various religious denominations. Throughout the Dominion there are for Indian use exclusively 74 residential educational institutions, with an enrolment of 6327 pupils, and the cost of Indian education for the year 1925-26 was about £400,000. There were 254 day schools and 16 combined schools in operation during the vear.

In religion, the great majority of the Indians to-day are Christians, only 6000 retaining some form of aboriginal belief. The Christian element is given as 48,671 Roman Catholics, 23,557 Anglicans, 13,930 Methodists, 2175 Presbyterians, and 1173 Baptists.

Originally fishermen and ’hunters, the Indians to-day follow varied occupations, and, in Western Canada, many have, by departmental instructions and assistance, developed into substantial farmers or raisers of live stock. In the three prairie provinces, 2500 arc employed in agriculture, and 106,007 acres of land are under cultivation. It is estimated that the Indians of these provinces own 26,000 head of cattle. The Indian population of Ontario is -he largest of any of the provinces, being 26,706. British Columbia conies second with 24,316, Quebec third with 13,191, while Manitoba has 11,673, Saskatchewan 10,271, and Albeita 8990. Less than 4000 live in the Maritime Provinces.