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Show COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS May 2, 1927 Uintah & Ouray Indian Agency Ft. Duchesne Utah Superintendent Tidwell: "My friends, as I see it this meeting means a good deal to you people in the future. It is a beginning of a business administration. For that reason I am going to ask that all of us stand and that Dick Wash ask God Almighty to be with us through this meeting this afternoon. (Prayer by Dick Wash) Superintendent Tidwell: "At our last meeting it was decided, in view of the fact that there were so many, that each band, the Whiterivers, the Uintahs, the Uncompahgres, would select six headmen who would come in on this date. We will now have the names of the six men from the Whiteriver band. (The Whiterivers stated that they did not know that the purpose of this meeting was to select these six men.) The following men were selected to represent the Uintah band: John Duncan, Wm. Wash, Jim Atwine, Dick Wanrodes, John Copperfield, and Grasshopper. Shawtoinchachicut, (Whiteriver Band) "I would like to know what your purpose was when you first came to this reservation. Ever since we Indians were put on this reservation by the Government we have never been dealt with fair. I have yet to hear what your purpose was when you came out here. We Whiterivers don't understand the purpose of this Business Committee. Remember the last time I spoke I said that I was just an Indian and felt that I should have the right to be treated like an Indian and have my rights as an Indian. I am opposed to this Business Committee. I don't want the way of the white man. When we.were placed here on this reservation it was understood that we should always get our rations and our regular monthly payments. George Washington wanted us to live as Indians as I understand it." Nannats, (Uncompahgre) I don't think it is right for anyone to express themselves not knowing what we are trying to get at." Soccioff, (Whiteriver Band) "I don't know you very well and don't know from where you came. Did you come from Washington? If you didn't come from Washington I don't know whether to believe you have the authority. I understood when the Government took us over that we would all get fair treatment. There are so many things that come up that we do not understand and are most acquainted with. I think that when you bring matters to our attention that you do not tell us everything that is going on at Washington. There is always something left out. I hope your talk today will be nothing but straight talk and tell us what your purpose is. In that way we can get along better with each other. We have been up against it all the time on this reservation. We do not have money to cloth ourselves good. The school children at Whiterocks are in need of food and clothing. You are in charge of these children; where have you been. You have not been taking care of our needs. This is what I heard. My purpose in saying what I am saying is if you have authority to protect us and care for us that you should and see that we get our needs and our rights." Superintendent Tidwell: "I want to say a few words and I want it thoroughly interpreted and especially to you Whiterivers. When I cam here November the 1st I was informed that the Government of the United States was not treating the Whiterivers right. That they have not been giving you rations as they had agreed to do. The they had taken your land away from you and not paid you for it. They they had mistreated you in a great many ways, and that you wanted to hire attorneys and sue the Governement of the United States for your just rights. Now then T have |