OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN J -' AFFAIRS. I ~ P A R T ~OFN TTHE INTERIOR, OMCE OF INDIAA~NA IRS , Washingtolt, October 93,1916. SIR: I have the honor to submit this, the eighty-first annual report of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1916. Large sums have been spent for hospitals and medical attention, and the campaign for sanitary and cleanly homes recently inaugu-rated has been vigorously pursued. To teach the Indian right home life gives him greater resistance to the ravages of disease and strengthens his hold upon life. As the battle for comfortable h-sides and for hygienic living goes on in white communities, so does the Indian Service seek the same end through every means at its command. Tuberculosis takes an excessive toll from the Indian, but an aggressive and unceasing campaign against this terrible menace is certainly checking its progress. The conservation of Indian baby life has appealed splendidly to the best efforts of every person connected with the service and the response has been notable. The Indian mother and father are being taught proper ways of protecting their young children so that they may grow to strong physical manhood and womanhood. The antip-athy of the Indian woman to the white man's hospital is fast being overcome and the medicine man will soon be only a memory. The most radical departure from the old plan for the development of the Indian was made in the formation %ad introduction of a new and comprehensi+e vocational course of study. It adequately meets all the Indian's industrial and home-building needs, and is a prac-tical application of the best academic thought to the requirements of a vocational education. The last year has been instructive and profitable for the Indians. They have made a remarkable showing in increased acreage and yield of lands cultivated. Their stock interests, both individual and tribal, have been a wonderful success. Tribal herds have been prop-erly cared for and are rapidly increasing. They have been indi-vidually taught to take care of their farms, fences, stock, and imple-ments and have acquired valuable lessons in thrift and industry. 3 |