Federal Indian Policy

Federal Indian Policy

It was Edward S. Curtis’s monumental, The North American Indian, in which photographed the “vanishing race”. Produced in 1913 through expeditions sent by Rodman Wanamaker, to photograph the final gatherings of the tribes but he also applauded the assimilation of the passing race into American society. It was 1915 when sculptor James Earl Fraser famed his portrayal of a pathetic head bowed Indian on a worn out pony called “the end of the trail”. The positive assimilations’ legislative program of the late 19th century reformers was carried out in administrative detail. There was little question that tribalism, the reason for the treaty system, was a thing of the past and whatever remnants were left should be quickly an efficiently stamped out. Commissioner William Jones was in office from 1897 to 1905 was obsessed with moving the Indians toward self support and hit hard the rations delivered to Indians. Often in pursuance of treaty stipulations, he also fought against per capita payment of annuities based on treaty provisions. He declared that the issuing of rations was an effectual barrier to civilization and the periodical distribution of money was demoralizing in the extreme. (Prucha, p. 361-362)
Of major interest Commissioner Jones would show photographs of school and agency buildings, various types of dwellings, pupils in posed groups and engaged in vocational training, and dancers, agricultural workers and cowboys. Many of the school and reservation images provide insight into the federal government’s attempt to "civilize" Native Americans, especially through the education of Indian children.
Redbird Smith, of the Keetoowah Cherokee, took the position that it was grossly unjust for the United States Government, their Trustee, to precipitately plunge a large number of his people into so radically changed conditions, he accordingly advised his following (about 5789 according to the roll of their number at that time) that he reposed confidence in the...

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