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United States. Office of Indian Affairs / Annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for the year 1874
([1874])
[Montana], pp. 259-270
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Page 259
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 259 agency can be done by the half-breed and Indian mechanics, under one good white superin- tendent. Besides the above apprentices, I have also started a weaving-room, where I con- stantly employ from six to eight Indian women in weaving. The cloth made is of a very good quality, and will serve the Indians much better than what is bought for them. As these Indians have now a flock of sovae 800 sheep, it will not be long ere the clothing for the nation can be produced and manufactured at home. I would recommend that this pursuit be encouraged as much as possible, even though at first the cloth could be purchased at a less price, as it will in time prove of great importance, and for the time being is a civil- izing power of no small merit. BASKET-MAKING. As there is on this reserve a great abundance of good willow fit for basket-making, I have employed a practical manufacturer as an instructor in this useful branch of labor. We are now making a very good plain basket, and shall ere long be able to make all kinds of wil- low baskets. This is an employment which I endeavor to introduce among the old men, as it s not a very hard work, and can be carried on at their houses. Besides these apprentices, I have also a number of young Indians employed as farm-laborers. As these continue stead- ily to labor year after year, some of them having now continued in the employ of the Gov- ernment for the last six or seven years, they become more and more skillful. I can now in- trust to these men my breaking-teams, stirring-plows, mowers, and hay-rakes. They are now capable farm-hands, and, with the superintendent-farmer, are able to conduct the entire farm-work of the agency. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. There are now upon this agency seven schools and six churches. Of these, two are Pres byterian and under the care of the Rev. John Williamson, and the rest Episcopal, under the charge of the Right Rev. Bishop Hare. Great improvements have been wrought at this agency during the last year by Bishop Hare. A large stone structure for a boys' boarding- school and residence for the Bishop and co-laborers has been erected, besides other substan- tial structures in connection with the work of the mission. The efforts now made by the Episcopal church, as well as the Presbyterian, I trust will result in much good to the Yane- tons. It is a slow, hard work, requiring great patience and wisdom. We see improvement in many ways, but not in proportion to the work devoted to them and the means expended upon them. The boarding-school system has been introduced by Bishop Hare, and so far promises to be much more successful than the day school. In this connection I would recom- mend that a manual-labor school be given to these people as soon as practicable. Our great hope must be with the young people; we must rescue these from their habits of indolence and filth, and make them see the value of labor and cleanliness. In conclusion, it gives me pleasure to be able to commend these people for their quiet and peaceable conduct. We have no jail, nor law except the treaty and the agent's word; yet we have no quarrels, no fighting, and, with one or two exceptions, there has not been a single case of drunkenness during the year. This I consider quite remarkable when we take into consideration the fact that the reservation is surrounded by ranches where liquors of all. kinds can be obtained. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN G. GASMA&N, United States Indian Agent. Hon. E. P. SMITH, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. BLACKFEET AGENCY, M. T., September 10, 1874. SIR: In compliance with requirements of circular letter of August 7, 1874, 1 submit my first annual report. On the 13th day of January last I relieved my immediate predecessor, D. W. Buck, and assumed charge of this agency. The tribes entitled to report and draw rations at the agency are the Blackfeet, Bloods, and Piegans. For several years the two former have ranged across the line; none of the Blackfeet coming here, occasionally a'few of the Bloods. The condition of the Blackfeet and Bloods, as I hear, is deplorable; especially is this the case with the Blackfeet. They are living in a country where there is no law, except that which is administered by bloodthirsty " wolfers " and whisky-sellers. Both of these tribes, I am convinced, could easily be induced to occupy in part this reserve and come to the agency if the appropriations were large enough to offer them greater inducements. The Piegans are in frequent intercourse with the agency, and their uniform good conduct shows.th at the effort of the Government to benefit and civilize them has had its good effect. I do not know of a single depredation having been committed by them upon the whites since I have been with them. In A4pril last a young Piegan was compelled to shoot and kill two white whisky-traders
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