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Show 56 EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAK AFFAIRS. this direction put forth by devoted missionaries of all denominations residing upon the reservations. With the exception of an item in the Sioux treaty of 1868, which pro-vided 5500 annually for a matron, and one in the Chippewa treaty of 1865, which gave $1,000 annually to pay for theu teaching of Indian girls in domestic economy," the Government made no provision for this sort of work until upon the urgent request of this office and thepeti-tions of pl~ilanthropists, Congress made the following appropriation in the Indian appropriation act of March 3, 1891: To euablethe Cornmissioner of Indian Affairs to employ sniteble persons as matrons to teaoh Inclilian gids in hausekeoping and other household duties at a rnteuot exoeeding $60 per mouth, $2,500. For last year, and for the current liscal year, the appropriation was increased to $5,000. This will keep only seven matrons at work; but small as is the field which they mu cover, and intangible as are many of its results, their work is of great value in hastening Indian civiliza-tion and putting it upon the right basis, which is the home basis. During the three years of their employment, field matrons have been assigned to the following tribes: Yakamas, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes, Mission Indians, Poncas in Nebraska, Mexican Kickapoos, Sioux, Navajoes, and Moquis, t.he aim being to place them mainly among tribes who have received or are about to receive allotments, and who are endeavoring t,o adopt new modes of living. Their rluties were detailed in the last report slid cover everything conneoted with domestic work, sewing, care of children, nursing the siok, improvement of house and premises, organizing of societies for mental, moral, and social addvncement of old' and young, and in fact anything which women of good judgment, quick sympathies, fertility of resource, l a r ~ epr actical experience, abundant energy and sound health can find to do among an ignorant, superstitious, poor, and con-fiding people. Kindly house to house visitation, with practical lessons then and there of how to do what needs to be done, is the method employed, coupled with ln~lch hospitality and frequent gatherings in the home of the field matron, which home serves always as an object lesson, and often as a refuge. Perhaps to no one more than the much talked of ((returned student', does the field matron come with needed he.lp just when the downpull of the camp is struggliug with the memory of elevating school influ-ences. Her neat home, her moral encouragement, her mental stimulus, may come in at ,just the critical point to prevent "relapsing," which usua.lly comes from disheartenment. From a financial standpoint the ' I saving" ill this may of only one or two studerlts in a year would cover the cost of the matrons' salary if the expense of education is looked upon merely as a money investment. I am so convinced of the valuable, though, as I have said, the often intangible, results of the work of a faithful field matron that I heartily recommend the renewal of the appropriation for such service. |
