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The Gallup 
Independent 
12/6/47

NCAI Considers Indian Office Change; Ballots
Akeah Blames US for Plight
By The Associated Press

SANTA FE, N.M., Dec. 6—Representatives of some 50 American Indian tribes attending the National Congress of American Indians voted unanimously today on proposals calling for reorganization of the U.S. Indian service, votes for Indians, and Navajo relief and rehabilitation. The resolutions were being considered for presentation at the closing session of the congress' annual convention late today, after discussion at yesterday's session. 

DEMAND FOR reorganization of the U.S. Indian Service came from Mrs. Ruth Kirk, Gallup, N.M. Mrs Kirk., wife of an Indian trader and chairman of the Indian welfare committee of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, last night asked for a national Indian board, with Indian representation. The proposed board would make all general policies and hire a commissioner for Indian affairs. 

Mrs. Kirk also called for standards of health, education, welfare, economics, and other phases of Indian life. When those standards, to compare with those of surrounding areas, are reached, federal aid would be withdrawn. 

The proposal followed these other developments at yesterday's session:

1. James E Curry, Washington, D.C., general counsel for the congress, urged use of the courts and political pressure as a means of securing a program for the Indians.

2. N.B. Johnson, Claremont, Okla., congress president, said the group is "extremely interested" in refusal of New Mexico and Arizona to extend the franchise to tribesmen. Another speaker said that "if New Mexico and Arizona Indians had been able to vote, Congress would not have dared let the Navajos get into their present plight." 

3. SAM AKEAH, chairman of the Navajo Tribal council, told delegates his people need help in the way of education and health facilities, and blamed the federal government and the Indian bureau for present condition of the Navajos. 

4. One sizeable portion of the convention took a firm stand opposing "any liberation at this time of reservations, any move to abolish the Indian Service, and any move to move to place Indian lands on the tax rolls. 

Akeah told delegates his tribe was "embarrassed" because of its present condition, but blamed the Indian bureau and the federal government for its situation.

He expressed thanks on behalf of his tribesmen for the current relief drives, saying "without these kind-hearted efforts, many of our people would not have seen spring."

Akeah also asked a voice for Indians in the Navajo agency budget, and proposed Navajo leaders be consulted before presentation of a proposed $80,000,000 ten-year program before Congress.

REFERRING to proposals to construct a dam on the San Juan river in the Mexican Hat area, Akeah voiced approval of the plan and remarked "If it accomplished nothing else, we at least would have good fishing."

Miss Elma Smith, Navajo teacher in the Ganado, Ariz., mission, said there was an urgent need for educated leaders "to lead our people out of this mess and to take their place in society."

Miss Smith, said to be the first Navajo woman to receive a master's degree, said her people are still in the primitive stage and as a result "follow the practices of the lowest social levels in the towns near the reservation, patronizing the ever-present bootlegger."

"In the Treaty of 1868," she said "the federal government definitely promised one teacher for every thirty children of school age. Today there are about 25,000 children of school age and the government has accomodation [[accommodation]] for only 5,000 children."

"The Navajo is not a museum piece," she concluded. "He should be given his liberty from the prisoner of war status he has held 80 years after the final treaty was signed."