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Minutes of the 
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS
Convention held in Santa Fe, New Mexico
December 4-6, 1947

December 6, 1947
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Morning Session

MR. FIRETHUNDER:

The last day of the fourth annual convention of the National Congress of American Indians is duly opened. I will ask Rev. Brown to give the invocation before we proceed.

(Invocation by Father Brown.)

MR. FIRETHUNDER:

We have a distinguished guest with us this morning who will speak. Following that the reports of the Resolutions Committee and discussion on the resolutions will be had. The Platform Committee will be ready to make a report following discussion of the various resolutions that have been made to the Resolutions Committee. Of course, the Membership Committee will be out there to take memberships.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor and privilege to present to you the Chairman of the Indian Welfare of the General Federation of Womens Clubs, and Chairman of the Welfare Board of the State of New Mexico, Mrs. Ruth Kirk.

(We regret that we do not have a copy of Mrs. Ruth Kirk's speech at this time.)

She gave us many valuable suggestions and pointed out a number of evils in the present administration of Indian Affairs and outlined in a most masterful way how it could be re-organized to meet the present day needs of the Indian. Many of her suggestions will be most helpful to the special Committee appointed by the President to make a special study of Indian problems, in preparing a program for the NCAI to follow.

MR. JOHNSON, President:

The Platform Committee is ready to make a partial report at this time. Mr. Edw. Rogers, Vice-President of the NCAI and Chairman of this Committee will make the report.

MR. ROGERS:

Mrs. Ruth Kirk gave a very fine discussion of why we should

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