| OCR Text |
Show ; \ < , , ' . ,, b, LXXTI REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF ISDIAN AFFAIRS. of each case; consequently a fixed rule equally applicable to all cases can not well be adopted. Every application for tribal rights by mixed ' 'bloods should, as a matter of justice to the Indians, be closely scruti-nized. ' The adoption by different tribes of members ofother tribesorof white ' , persons, and the wnsequent results, is a subject which has been fre-quently before this Bureau for consideration. The general rule acted upon is that these adoptions are not valid unless approved by the De-partment, and that they will be sanctioned oulywhere some peculiar circumstances seem to justify it, especially when the applica~itf or adoption is a white person or one having but a slight admixture of ' Indian blood. As a general thing adopted persons secure no right tlierehy to lands or annuities and obtain merely the right of residing among the Indians and such minor privileges as the tribes may noncede to them, although the practice of this Bnreau has not been at all uniform on the subject. In no case, however, has a person been allowed au annuity with two \ .: tribes. If he has equal rights in each he must elect with which he will draw annuities. In a recent application of a tribe to be permitted to adopt an Indian of another tribe, and give him full rights as to property, etc., aqd where the caudidate for adoption filed a written relinquishment of all his rights in his own tribe, the Department declined to sanction the adoption. It simply authorized the unrollment of the applicant as a member of his own rribe upon the rolls of the tribe in which he was seeking adoption, with the privilege of residing with the tribe until otherwise ordered. This course was deemed advisable in view of the fact that some tribes are much richer in lands and annuities than others, and hence that In-dians fully adopted by other tribes might materially injure their own interests, or to put it more strongly, give awaF their birthrights, with-out fully comprehcnding it. In addition, the approving of the full adop-tion of Indians by other tribes ~ o u l dh ave a decided tendency to eu-courage restlessness ant1 a roving spirit among them, thus taking their attention from the building up of permanent homes for themselves and families. Siuce, under existing conditions, tribal organizations are now rapidly passing away, almost every question of importance depending upon the tribal system will be solved. After this is accomplished, however, questions will arise concerning tribal funds and credits, in deciding whichit will be necessary to regard the Indians in the same attitude as if they maintained their tribal status. |
