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Show COMMIBSIONEB OF INDIAIT AFFBIILS. 33 LACE MAKING. The Sybil' C e e r Lace Association of New York City maintains. lace schools on several reservations, where it furnishes its own teachers, all the~material,t he funds needed to pay the Indians, and disposes of the finished product. Last September, through a coopera-tive agreement with this association, a meeting was held at Laguna, where the teachers of day schools and field matrons in that section were given instructions in lace making which would enable them to cooperate with the representative of the association in extending this' industq to the pueblos under the Albuquerque superintendency. This association also intended to start a lace school' at EasteG, Cherokee, N. C., but was unable toobtain a teacher, and was eom- 'pelled for the present to give up the project. Lace work among ihe Mission reservations in California was here: tofore conducted in cooperation with Mrs. Cordelia S. Sterling, of Redlands, Cal. Prior to her death this spring ill health caused her to give up this labor of love, and her death had a depressing effect upon the industry of which she had so long .been the mainspring. Last year two teachers were employedby the Indian Bureau to teach , this art among the Mission Indians in California. Altogether the Indians ha'ue shown an interest in and adaptability to lace making, indicating that it will be successful and profitable as an industry for the home employment of Indian women and children. Some In-dians have shown skill, both in the making of the lace and patterns. ~ s havne in~dicat ed industry. It has occurred to me that the interest of purchasers can be ihcreased by the development of native 1ndian patterns, and it is our purpose to undertake theworking out of such a plan. INDIAN FAIRS. The holding of agricultural fairs on the different reservations and of placing Indian exhibits at county and State fairs has been con-. tinued with excellent results. Fifty-four fairs were held in 1915, as compared yith 38 the previous year, of which 32, or nearly 60 per cent, were entirely supported by voluntary contributions froni Indians, gate receipts, etc. On most reservations where Indian-fairs are held there is a permanently organizedfair association, with In-dian officers, charged with entire responsibility for the management of the fair: under the supervision of the superintendent. This makes the Indians feel that it is their enterprise, for which they are respon-. sible. . About 100 certificates of merit, uider the official seal of the Indian Office and the personal signature of the commissioner, were sent to Indian first-prize winners at Indian and white fairs in recognition of their accomplishments. |
