OCR Text |
Show 12 COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. Indians themselves, under the supervision of the superintendent, which furnishes them with practical experience in business organiza-tion. The Indians also exhibit at county and State fairs, sometimes in open competition with the whites, where they have won numerous prizes. Encouragement is given to these industrial displays and coop-erati0n. i~s ought from county and State agricultural associations. I t is believed that such occasions may be the means of diverting the 4 interest of the Indians from so-called Wild West shows and sensa-tional round-ups, which offer little aside from old-time feats of har-barity that have no elevating effect upon the spectators but tend to impress the Indian that these performances receive popular ap-proval. STOCK RAISING. The live-stock industry of the Indians, in common with like inter-ests throughout the country, has during the past two or three years faced the most trying and disastrous period in its history. The severest drought ever experienced in the Southwest has prevailed in that region and seriously, affected the interests of the Indian on all reservations. Similar conditions prevailed in Montana and other parts of the Northwest during the summer of 1918, and were followed by the most severe winter experienced in that locality. Reports received indicate, however, that the herds on severai. of the reservations came through these periods more satisfactorily than. any of the other herds in the Northwest, and that the stock interests of the Indians there are now in exceptionally good candition. It is also understood that the calf crop this season is a good one. These conditions have emphasized the need for conserving and rotecting the range on Indian reservations i n every way possible. Fhese ranges are now overrun with large numbers of wild and worthless ponies, which should be disposed of in order that the . . ranges may he available and utilized for more valuable stock. I t is therefore proposed to adopt plans for ridding the various ranges of this class of stock and inaugurate a strenuous campaign to that end. . Arrangements are now being made for the distribution of the tribal herd on the Crow Indian Reservation under the provisions of the act of June 4, 1920 (41 Stats., 751-754). Regulations and instructions were approved under date of June 7, 1921, in accordance with the provisions of that act, by which the Indians of that reservation who are competent to handle stock will receive their shares in stock and the other Indians will have their shares placed to their cred~itn cash. Many of these Indians have been very successful in handling their live-stock interests, and this action will no doubt materially aid them in their advancement alon such lines. During the year the 1n8ans of the Jicarilla Reservation have been enabled to establish themselves in the sheep industry by reason of having about 12 head of sheep issued from the tribal herd to each member of the tribe, which provided each family with from 24 to 100 head, according to the size of the family. This has led them to resume their outdoor life and habits, with material benefit to their health, as well as to take an active interest in their industrial advance-ment. The results from the adoption of this policy on the Jicarilla |