OCR Text |
Show -5- Ridge Sioux lost 90,000 acres in the past foul' years. Relocation is an important feature of present day Government policy with Indians. It means the transfer of families or individuals into rural or urban areas away from the Reservations, with some .initial supervision, help to find jobs and homes, etc. Since the Navaho Indians are increasing in number at a rate which would make impossible their continued life on a Reservation where sheepherding is the only possible livelihood, Relocation must have a very valuable contribution to make. However it must be limited to such families as have by education learned enough of American culture and language to be able to feel at home in new surroundings. MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, it must not be used to remove the more intelligent and socialminded Indians, leaving quite unprotected the conservative Indians who would be unable to resist legislation aimed at terminating their Tribal status and confiscating their land. It is our informal opinion now that Congress is aware of the Navaho situation, and will refuse to be trapped into any move which would make our Nation recreant to its obligations to the Navaho people. But, "eternal vigilance is the price of safety," and we must all keep ourselves well informed of any further moves to despoil the People. IT jHIS YEAR we produced our own cal-endar for distribution among our Navahos - it bears sketches which you see reproduced in this Newsletter: the high altar is of course that of St. Christopher's, at Bluff; the hoghan-shaped C}1urch is St. Mary's of the Moonlight, Oljeto, while the gable-roof building is San Juan Bautista at Montezuma Creek. Services are held daily at Bluff. |