Chilocco Indian Agricultural School - Chiloccoan Yearbook (Chilocco, OK)

Page 5 text:

CHILOCCO INDIAN SCHOOL CHILOCCO, OKLAHOMA 1967-68 STUDENT UNION THE OLD AND THE NEW Bea Johnson Our ancestors lived in wigwams made of animal skin, They had a hard way of life, the people then. And yet, they had the blessing of the earth and the sun, Making them happy when the day’s work was done. Then, the white man came and took our land away. Our freedom and peace vanished with the com- ing day. We taught the white man the laws of nature and earth, And they in turn, taught us the laws of ambit- tion and mirth. • , With this new knowledge we learned to build and progress. We felt the infinite joy and glory of success. We discovered it takes courage and ambition to build a city, And that a civilization can’t be built on self- pity. So, that is how it came to be, That Chilocco was founded in 1883. Yesterday, it was only a building or two. On the Oklahoma prairies under skies of blue. Today, it has expanded and is a busy place. It houses and teaches 92 tribes of the Indian race. Yesterday, its teachers and materials were small, But today, hundreds of people will answer the call. But neither do the students neglect their fun, In the evening they meet at the new Student Union. It has been a beloved part of Chilocco since 1965, And to conserve its safety and neatness, the students strive. But apart from their work and their socializ- ing, The students of Chilocco are busy realizin, That soon they will hear fate and destiny beck- oning. And it will be time to stand tall and hear the world’s reckoning. They will soon go forth and meet the world’s demands. Perhaps cross the oceans and visit many lands. Yes, Chilocco is striving to build a nation of strong women and men. So that they may work and progress and face the world with a grin. Published by Chilocco Press