Viewing page 52 of 120

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

RESOLUTION NO. 5 - STATE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIANS

WHEREAS, more Indian students should have the opportunity to acquire higher education, and

WHEREAS, a few states, notably the state of South Dakota, have inaugurated a plan whereby Indians are selected on the basis of merit and are granted financial assistance in order to make it possible for them to receive the benefits of a collegiate or university education,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Congress of American Indians commends the State of South Dakota for this action and recommends that other states having Indian populations follow its example.

Mr. Rogers moved that Resolution No. 5 be adopted. Motion was seconded by George Adams. When brought to a vote the motion carried by unanimous vote.

The delegate recessed by 5:00 P. M. and were to convene for a short meeting at 7:00 P. M.

Night Session, Friday Evening, Sept. 23, 1949.

The delegates met at the civic auditorium at 7:00 P. M.

The principal speaker for the evening was President N. B. Johnson.

N. B. JOHNSON: Fellow delegates, distinguished guests, and friends of our common cause: I greet you on American Indian Day. This is not as yet a day of national observance. I hope the time may not be far off when this nation, to which our forefathers contributed in material and spiritual values, will set aside a day on which all citizens of our country will give throughout to the conditions of life in which their Indian fellow citizens find themselves. I firmly believe that when such a day is set aside and the American people acquaint themselves with Indian affairs, we will begin to see Indian life improved. The Indian today is the most forgotten and the most neglected man in America. This Congress of American Indians has dedicated itself to the task of obtaining nation-wide observance of American Indian Day.

A nation-wide broadcast was made by the Mutual Broadcasting Company today. The script for this broadcast was ready some time ago. In recording my talk for the radio program, I said in part: "The American Indians wants, most of all, just to be an American citizen, like other American citizens. He wants to assume the responsibilities of citizenship and to enjoy the privilege of citizenship . . . . " This broadcast across the nation has done much to tell our white friends about the Indian people. The Indians had purchased more war bonds to help with prosecution of the war than any other group. During the last few years, the Indians have been in need. Their need is not generally known. With the removal of Indians from their areas, most people lost sight sight of them. When Indians are mentioned, they are pictured as renegades or feather-banded heroes of fiction. Many people have forgotten the many important