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The Magnolia News
March 19, 1970
Serving Seattle's Ideal Community
Vol. XXXV NO. 15

Indian Siege of Lawton Continues; Army Stands Firm

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[[caption]] Grace Thorpe, above, a daughter of Jim Thorpe, renounced Indian athlete, is a council member of United Indians of All Tribes, sponsors of the Ft. Lawton Indian Camp-In, which has been going on since March 10 at the post's main gate. Pictures of the encampment and some of her comments are on page 2 [/caption]]

"We feel," Grace Thorpe said this week, "that the Federal government has a moral obligation to the Indian people to give the Indians top priority on lands and buildings that are being declared surplus.'

The Indian camp-in, of which she is a leader, is designed to call attention to the needs of Indians of all tribes for education and cultural facilities. Situated at the east gate of the Army post, the Indian camp is populated by from 20 to 200  persons at all times, xxxx Miss Thorpe said.

She said she thinks the chances of the Indians having their demands met are "excellent.:

"It is so right - and so just - that it just has to be," she said.

The Army and the neighboring community has been generally friendly in their reception of the Indians, Miss Thorpe said. "When we first got here, people come by and drop things off - sometimes they don't even say who they are. They leave food, clothes, things we need. The little children particularly, are delightful.

She said the Army has been "very nice" under the circumstances. "They are the Army, of course," she said.

The encampment apparently will go on indefinitely until the Indians are satisfied in their demands, she said.