Normandy High School - Saga Yearbook (Normandy, MO)

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The American Indian f American Indians vary some in physical likeness. However, all Indians have these characteristics: straight black hair, black eyes, high cheek bones, aquiline nose, large thick lips, narrow forehead, and a reddish-brown or cinnamon complexion. How he came, from where, and when, is knowledge that has never been satis- factorily answered and proven, but the accepted theory of the American Indian, who came before the white man, is that the natives crossed from Asia at Bering Strait over a passage which has disappeared. The Indian was named by mistake by Columbus, when, supposing he had reached India, he called the natives Hlndiansw. Before the white man came, the Indian lived a simple life, wearing clothing made of animal skins, relying upon the chase, agriculture, and fisheries for food, living in cabins or wigwams made of bark of skins. Many Indian tribes were very skillful in the art of making pottery, baskets, blankets, bows, and arrowheads, wearing apparel, and making birchbark canoes. Crude implements and utensils were made of stone, wood, and bone: axes, hammers, mauls, spears, implements for athletic games, and musical instruments such as the Hute and drum. Written laws were unknown. Government was based on opinion and custom, and was indeed very powerful. At the head of each tribe was a chief, his duty being to lead and obey the will of his tribe. Each tribe, or village had its own independent government, festivals, dances, and councils. Wlar and the chase were the Indian's chief delight and glory and both were regarded as labor and not amusement. By the peculiar rhythm of drums and flutes bands of painted warriors, before engaging in war, danced around a blazing fire, striking at the air and yelling war whoops. Since the coming of the first white men, the Indian has been treated quite cruelly by his pale face brother. He has been pushed farther and farther away from his ancient home, by the intruding pale face, cheated of his rich territory, introduced to the degrading habits of liquor, and used as the buffer in many of the white manls wars. Civilization destroyed the Indian's means and mode of living and for several years he has been a burden to the government. Reservations are provided for him by the government, but for about seventeen years little effort has been made to educate the Indian higher than the eighth grade. Last fall a New Deal Policy was given the Indian. Great changes are being made on the 48,000,000 acres owned by the Indians. 353,613,000 is financing the building or improvement of ll0 schools on the Indian lands. ,Iohn Collier, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, says ir1 behalf of the New Deal, mln the Wheeler-Howard Act, Congress has wiped out the whole destructive policy of liquidating Indian lands and natural resources, a policy that was sinking the Indians to even lower levels of pauperism, disease, and spiritual degradation. This act contains a mandate for the conservation of the lands, forests and grazing ranges of the Indian. HAnd of course, we are concerned not so much with the conservation of lands and resources as of human life. We can now begin to help the Indian lift himself out of the poverty, disease, fear, and apathy which a century of dishonor has inflicted upon him. And we can begin to conserve and release the Indian arts and the rich imaginative life of the Indians for the permanent enrichment of American culturef' -by Dorothy Barr, Quill Club Member. Page Eight

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Book I Book ll Book III Book IV Book V Book VI Book VII Contents V Y . School . Classes Dramatics Activities . Music Athletics Features

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