The Indian Revealer
POST CONVENTION BULLETIN
VOL. 1
SAPULPA, CREEK COUNTY, OKLAHOMA. OCTOBER 14, 193$
NUMBER 4
Federation Proposes Cash Settlement with Government
Indian Promenade Brilliant and Unique
Bert Indian Play Ever Presented in 8tate, It to Said
By KATHRYN H. CHANDLER
Brilliant under a modern spotlight,
“From Camp to Campus,”—the color-
ful story of the red man was drama-
tised in song and dance each evening
of the convention August 18, 19, 20,
at the Tulsa Fair Grounds. It was all
Indian in character, every one in the
cast was of Indian blood and many
tribes were represented.
A quaint teepee centered the open
air stage with a semi-circle of trees
forming the background. There was
a curious touch of the old and the
new about the whole performance.
Indian braves and maidens, wise
men and squaws, all were bedecked
in feathers and native regalia for
the opening scenes. The ancient life
of the red man was depicted in pa-
geantry which showed the simple life
and customs.
Mifaunwy, 16 year old daughter
of Chief Shunatona, the director and
author of the play, was one of the
outstanding dancers. Her "Dance to
the Calumet” in the early style was
in marked contrast to the modern
swing of the present age but both
showed the same skill and under-
standing
In the modern section of the pa-
geant were featured the Collegiate
Indians chorus, the Pawnee drum and
bugle corps, Mifaunwy and Sookum.
who took satiric thrusts at “Unkie
John Collier" and his Indian bureau
The crowd roared in applause over
his comments in dialect.
Buck Burgess. Henryetta. believed
to be the only Indian snake dancer
outside of the Hopi tribe, dangled
live snakes from his mouth while
the crowd gazed in wonder.
Okema Boudlnol. Broken Arrow,
modern acrobatic dancer, demonstra-
ted skillfully an interpretative dance,
"To the Bow and Arrow."
lUe “Chief" was played by Hake-
Waste, (George Wilson I n full-bood
Sioux, and known as the Golden
Voiced Baritone of the South. Hake-
Waste, in his vocal numbers held the
audience entranced. His voice was
truly remarkable.
Manuel Knife Chief, Pawnee, was
the young chief and gave an interest-
ing dialogue in sign language with
his grandmother. He also sang a duet
with Mary Lane RedEagle, Quapaw,
"Indian Love Song," with ensemble
accompaniment.
Chief Blue Jacket demonstrated
his skill with the bow and arrow by
shooting from almost every conceiv-
able position. The Arrowmaker’s wife
Miss Maxine Fisher, pleased the au-
dience with her solo, a lullaby.
Outstanding in his showmanship
was Chief Rolling Cloud, Charles
Bruner, who came from Hollywood
where he is in pictures, to attend the
convention and take part In the pa-
geant. He played the part of the chief
of the visiting tribe who arrived at
the camp weary and footsore
Bunky Echo Hawk, Pawnee lad.
could put many a cowhand to shame
with his roping ability. Two other
lads. Micco-Hvtke, Creek, and Billy
Jo Fletcher, Osage, demonstrated
great war dance ability.
A touch of the aboriginal was giv-
en by the dances throughout the pro-
gram by the Pawnee Indians, be-
decked in the most colorful costumes
imaginable, feathers and beads shin-
ing through the gyrations of lithe
bodies
At the climax of the presentation
Chief Shunatona, in modern dress
sang, “Trail to Long Ago,” with cho-
rus accompaniment, with a voice so
full of feeling and emotion that hard-
ly a dry eye was to be seen in the
audience.
It was a perfect pageant
Conference to be Held
At Claremore, Okla.,
October 29
One of Girls
Denied Baptism
BILL DRAFTED AT TULSA CONVENTION
NOT A LAWSUIT
i
INDIANS I'RGEI) TO ATTEND
MEMORIAL PROGRAM
The national and district officers
of the American Indian Federation
urge all Indians to attend the dedi-
cation program at Claremore, Nov-
ember 4, when the Will Rogers me-
morial will be opened to the public.
W. E. McIntosh, president of dist-
rict 5, comprising Oklahoma, Texas,
Kansas and Arkansas, has issued a
call for a district conference to be
held October 29, 1938, at Claremore,
Okla. All members of the American
Indian Federation and those interest-
ed in the program of the Federation,
Indians and other taxpayers, are cor-
dially invited to attend
An executive meeting has been
scheduled for 10 a. m. at the Sequoy-
ah Hotel. Pres McIntosh has asked
that all unit officers attend this con-
ference as matters of importance will
be discusses.
The place of the convention ses-
sions has not been determined as yet,
but will be announced later. The
morning session will convene at 11
a. m. and a tentative program has
been arranged.
District Judge N. B Johnson, pres-
ident of the Rogers County onit will
give the address of welcome and the
response will be given by W. W. Le-
Flore, Bennington. Okla., national
secretary Business of importance
will take up the morning hours and
following lunch the Proposed Bill,
adopted at the national convention in
Tulsa, Okla., will be explained by Mr.
McIntosh Most of the afternoon will
be given over to talks by state and
senatorial candidates, all of whom
are invited.
Hon. Gid Graham of Collinsville
will also be a speaker on the after-
noon program as will Hugh Amick,
of the Will Rogers Memorial dedica-
tion committee. Reports of commit-
tees will also be given.
The evening session will be devot-
ed to an address by O. K. Chandler,
Miami, Okia.. national chairman on
organization, who is now in Montana,
North and South Dakota on an or-
ganzation trip. He will tell of the
conditions of the Indians and theii
organizations in the northwest.
National President Joseph Brun-
er, Sapulpa. Okla , will also speak at
the evening session.
The payment of a cash settlement to all enrolled or allotted
Indians in a compromise or compensated adjustment of wrongs
in the claims for broken treaties and violated contracts was the
theme song of the fifth annual convention of the American In-
dian Federation held in Tulsa, Okla., August 18, 19, 20, 1938.
And although the Federation is admittedly a “political or-
ganization” it demonstrated that it is non-partisan by having a
Democratic and a Republican senatorial candidate on the prog-
ram during the three day session.
An estimated crowd of 500 with delegates from all sections
of the country attended the opening of the convention. Following
the opening by President Joseph Bruner the pledge of allegiance
to the American flag was given and a song, "America," by the
ensemble.
fyacti
—by—
Thr American Indian Federation
The Indian bureau uses Indians as an ex-
cuse to get Congress to appropriate money
for Indian bureau support. Why should the
Indians be used as an excuse for the approp-
riation of money — then not get the money?
The bureau tells congress each year there
are 340,000 or more Indians in the United
States; that these Indians are destitute, dis-
eased, ignorant and at the mercy of “design-
ing whites.” Congress promptly appropri-
ates vast sums of money for the Indians( ?)
and turns the money over to the Indian bur-
eau—not the Indians.
In two and a half years congress approp-
riated and turned over to the bureau, $186,
665.723.72, a sum sufficient to have paid ev-
ery allotted Indian in Oklahoma, $1,800. A
per capita payment out of this money of ov-
er $540 could have been made to each of the
340,000 Indians whom the bureau uses annu-
ally to get its appropriations from congress.
The spending of public money in this man-
ner for only a period of ten years would cre-
ate a fund upwards of $1,866,667,237.20, or
enough to more than pay every enrolled, al-
lotted or recognized Indian in the United
States, $3,000.
Commissioner Collier said before the ap-
propriation committee of the 75th Congress,
February 3, 1938, when asking for money
to run the Indian bureau, that it would be
“more than a hundred years to come” (p. 35
Interior Department Appropriation Bill for
1939) before the Indians’ claims would be
paid.
The American Indian Federation says the
Indians can be settled with NOW, using the
money which congress will be asked to ap-
propriate or icUl appropriate to run the Indi-
an bureau for the next twenty years judging
from appropriations for this purpose cover-
ing the period from June 30, 1933, to Dec. 1,
1936
Let’s see that congress is not fooled any
longer. Let’s give congress facts and ask it
to pay our claims with the money it is now
appropriating or will appropriate to run the
Indian bureau.
Yes, Indians have heard of Indian claims
against the government all their lives. Al-
ways, however, in connection with a lawsuit.
The Federation’s proposed bill is a compro-
mise settlement—adjusted compensation for
past wrongs. NOT A LAWSUIT. It is a
straight out appropriation bill, in which con-
gress is asked to pay each Indian named in
the bill, or his heirs, $3,000.
Why not the Indians ask congress to pay
them, instead of the bureau? If the Indians
never ask for a settlement, the bureau will
never ask for one, and no settlement icUl
ever be made. In the eyes of the Indian bur-
eau, the Indians will ALWAYS be DISEAS-
ED, DESTITUTE and INCOMPETENT. To
argue otherwise would be for the bureau to
destroy itself—and that it will never do. The
bureau will be before congress next year,
with an increased number of Indians and
the same old story of DISEASE, IGNOR-
ANCE and DESTITUTION among the Indi-
ans.
As the Commissioner says, it will be “more
than a hundred years to come” before our
claims are settled through the courts. And,
when the courts give the Indians a judgment
they destroy it by allowing the government
to charge back to the Indians all the Indian
bureau has spent, presumably on the Indians
as in the case of the Cherokees, since 1867,
and the judgment is wiped out — the Indi-
ans get nothiny.
If the Indians of today want a settlement
with the government during their lifetime,
it is up to them to act; organize and take
their case to congress—not the courts.
MAXINE VAUGHN
Miss Maxine Vaughn, sixteen year
old Salina. Okla , high school girl,
A’ho was one of seven girls attend -
ng the Seneca Indian school at Wy-
andotte. Okla., who professed faith
at a service at the First Baptist
Church in the town of Wyandotte
tod asked to be baptized and were
refused by the school authorities
"When we came back from Sun-
day school that morning," said Miss
Vaughn, “one of the girls told Mrs.
Mi-Cray about it. "Mrs. McCray ask-
ed her if she knew what that meant
She said she did and Mrs. McCray
sai l she did not think she did, but if
she was sure, it would be alright
But after dinner when we were to go
down to the creek to be baptized
Mrs. McCray gave orders that NO
ONE was to leave the campus
jyr mds
"Right after that Mr. Keagy, the
superintendent told us we did not
have to go to Sunday school if we
| did not want to. Up until that time
everybody had to go or be punished
When asked if that statement
changed the church going much. Mias
Vaughn replied, “Most of the girls
just kept right on going but the
boys, most of them, dropped out"
Before this incident chapel services
were held at the school every Sun-
day afternoon when visiting minis-
ters and missionaries came to hold
services. After that no service was
held.
Maxine is the daughter of Rev
and Mrs. Jackson Wolf of near Sa-
lina. and is a freshman in high
school. She is a regular church at- J
tendant now upon her own volition.
Mayor T. A. Penney, Tulsa, gave
a warm welcome to the Indian visi-
tors and the response was given by
S. R. Lewis, Tulsa, member of the
federation.
Congressman Wesley E. Disney,
representative from the first Con-
gresional district of Oklahoma was
a featured speaker at the Thursday
afternoon session. He pledged sup-
port to the federation program and
promised any aid he might give in
Washington.
W. E. McIntosh, Democratic chair-
man of Ottawa County, Thursday
afternoon hurled attacks against the
Indian service, describing it as an
"octopus" in Washington "stretching
out its tentacles to destroy the Ind-
ians."
McIntosh declared, "The constitu-
tion of Oklahoma divides the races
into whites and the Negroes We are
a member of the white race of the
state of Oklahoma and want to be
treated that way, not segregated on
reservations "
Bruner Praised
Praising the program of the feder-
Irving, N. Y. and Washington, D. C.
Rizley was introduced by Major
Victor M. Locke, Jr., Oklahoma City,
and praised the Indian people and
expressed admiration for the efforts
extended to help themselves and for
standing for their own rights. He im-
pressed upon them that he is a friend
and will assist in their matters of
legislation whenever possible
Armstrong spoke briefly, told of
acquaintance with the Federation
and praised the Indians for their in-
sight into the complications which
tend to hold them back He urged
the success of the federation prog-
ram and offered his aid in all mat-
ters whenever possible.
Mrs. Jemison, who is the Washing-
ton representative of Pres. Bruner,
and who keeps constantly in touch
with matters of legislation pertain-
ing to Indians in both house and
senate told of the inroads of Com-
munism into the governmental de-
partments, principally through the
Indian bureau. She told of many of
the indignities practiced upon the
Indian and of how the communistic
ation, McIntosh declared. “Joe Brun- f influence is felt in government circles
er has done a wonderful work. I in Washington.
think he should continue as president Sen Dennis Chavf of New Mrxi-
until the legislative program is vi- co. who was to have been on Friday's
talized."    program wired his regret in his ina-
The crowd cheered and Bruner ac- bility to be present, due to a speak-
knowledged with a smile.    ing engagement elsewhere.
In his annual address. President Also appearing on the Friday prog-
Bruner called on the legislative com- ram were George Wilson, fullblood
Blackfeet Required
To Pay For
Negligible Service
The Blackfeet Tribal Business
council met for their regular Septem-
ber session at the reservation in
Montana and among other business
matters attended to was the receipt
jf a letter • • •
A circular letter from the In-
dian office raised “hob" gener-
ally and again another outburst
of criticism and fireworks. Brief-
ly the department notified all
and sundry, that ten percent of
all tribal and individual Indian
oil royalties, bonuses, rentals,
etc., are to be impounded and
used as a reimbursable fund of
$95,000, this to pay the cost of
the supervisory and regulatory
activities performed by the U.
S. Geological survey. Like flaunt-
ing a red flag in the face of a
wild bull, this letter raised the
ire and fighting blood of every
member present, the department
being severely criticized for such
action. It was brought out that
the tribe and allottees would be
compelled to pay approximately
$500 per month under present
conditions for services that ap-
pear to be negligible and of no
value to the Blackfeet.
Dedication program Will Rogers
Memorial, at Claremore. Oklahoma.
November 4, 1938.
1, The advertisihg is good news too’
mittee to prepare a program with
the following highlights:
1 Abolition of the Indian bureau.
2.    Payment of all Indian claims
into the hands of the Indians and
not the federal treasury.
3.    Protection of incompetent In-
dians and to obtain education for In-
dians.
"Since Commissioner Collier took
charge in 1933. the government has
appropriated about $50,000,000 a year
to maintain the Indian bureau," Bru-
ner declared. During the past 113
years the bureau has wasted enough
taxpayers' money to have given ev-
ery Indian in the United States 160
acres of the finest farming land in
the country, with modern improve-
ments, an automobile and money in
the bank, other than their vested
rights."
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, show
me an Indian who has ever received
a first-class college education under
suprvision of the Indian bureau, or
who holds an executive position in
the bureau or otherwise:    through
education received under the bureau.
Show me an Indian who has ever
received his pro rata share of any
appropriations made for the Bureau
Thomas Benton Williams, Oklaho-
ma City, author of The Soul of the
Red Man," a guest speaker scathing-
ly denounced the program of the In-
dian bureau He paid tribute to the
program of the federation and ex-
pressed a desire to see its aims ful-
filled. He made one of the strongest
talks of the convention driving his
points home forcibly.
Walter Colbert, Ardmore, Chicka-
saw, in denunciation of the practices
of the white man > • • the Indian
bureau, said, "we must put the white
man on tne stand We have called
the Indians to testify Nothing is
more eloquent than a fact We claim
on originality, we must submit the
evidence to sustain our assertions
and with a supreme confidence await
the verdict."
The features of Friday s sessions
were addresses by Hon Ross Rizley.
Guymon. Okla.. Republican candidate
for governor. A M. Armstrong. Pi-
cber. Okla . Republican candidate for
Congress from the first district, and
Mrs. Alice Lee Jemison. Seneca.
Sioux and a noted baritone singer,
who gave vocal numbers, and his
three children, Winona. 11, George,
i Jr. 9, and Lonah. 7, who are known
as the youngest harmony trio In the
United States.
Chief Rolling Cloud, Creek, of
Hollywood, and a member of the pic-
ture colony, sang the “Indian Love
Song " He accompanied himself on
the tom-tom.
Seated on the platform with Presi-
dent Bruner during the afternoon
session was Sam Morris, 78 years
old. known on his home reservation
as Horse Blanket. He wore long
braids, mocassins, and wide beaded
belt. He likes bright colors, but he is
as modern as any Indian. He came
from Lapwai, Idaho, in his own big
car. accompanied by Thomas Beall
and William T Allen, brother Nez
Perce Indians Morris told the audi-
ence that he disapproves of many of
the white man's ways but he pre-
fers the modern auto to the horse
"It is more convenient," he says
A memorial service for those mem-
bers who had passed on during the
year was conducted Saturday morn-
ing by the Rev. Floyd O. Burnett,
Sac and Fox of Schurz. Nev., and na-
tional chaplain of the federation. The
service was opened with a solo by
Hake-Waste. (George Wilson) mov-
ing the audience to tears by his rev-
erent and soul-stirring voice. Willi-
am T Allen, president of district No
8, gave a brief resume of the life of
three of the members from his dis-
trict who had passed away. Mrs Re-
be ca Foust, member of district No
5 told of the passing of Frank Aud-
rain. the first member to join any
unit in Oklahoma. Mrs. Alice Lee
Jimison told of the tragic death by
drowning of Wallace Peshlakai, Re-
hoboth. New Mexico, who was at the
time of his death first vice president
of the federation. The service was
concluded with a prayer by the Rev
Burnett.
O K ('handler Miami. Okla. told
of some of the non-Christian prac-
tices of the Indian bureau, of the
dissolution of religious training in
Indian schools. He introduced Maxine
Vaughn, a young Cherokee girl, who
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