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arrangements to carry on this fight. The NCAI should probably raise money not only from the tribes but also from outsiders. It has been suggested that a special Missouri Valley Indian Defense Committee be established for this purpose.

The NCAI has taken the position that Indians have a special position with regard to the taking of their lands by the federal government, different from that of white people. White people got the title to their land from the government and, therefore, it can be taken without their consent, so long as they are fairly paid. But the Indian tribes did not get their title from Uncle Sam. So their land should not be taken from them unless they agree in advance (a) that it may be taken, and (b) upon how much money they are to get for it.

If this policy can be established, as has been done to some extent in the case of Fort Berthold, it is easy to see how much more the Indians will get from their land than they would if ordinary condemnation proceedings were followed.  Obviously, they will get more for their land if they must agree to the price themselves than they would if a judge or other government official fixes the price without their consent.  We must insist as strongly as possible that this policy be followed and that no Indian land anywhere shall be taken on any other basis.

Oglala Sioux Bombing Range Claims

The new Commissioner is to be highly commended, along with Congressman Francis Case, on their handling of the Oglala Sioux Bombing Range claims.  Those Indians were told during the war that they had to move out of their land immediately so that it could be used for a gunnery range.  Some of them, it is said, were told they had better move fast because the Japs were coming over the hill.  After they moved, some money was paid them but not nearly enough to compensate them for their losses and no real effort was made to get new homes for them.

The result is that most of these Indians are now "displaced persons' in the truest sense.  At Congressman Case's motion, the House Subcommittee on Indian Affairs and the House Committee on Public Lands adopted a resolution asking the Department to investigate the situation and report back to the Committee.  The Commissioner of Indian Affairs responded promptly and arranged to send Mr. Carl Holloway to the Aberdeen Area Office to make an investigation in cooperation with the tribal council and its attorney. It is hoped that the investigation will result in new legislation provided for reconstruction of the Indian community along the lines of the Fort Berthold Act.

Pribilof Islanders

The government sent a committee to the Pribilof Islands to investigate conditions among the Indians there which came back with a "whitewash" report late last year.  The report laid greatest emphasis on the drinking among Aleuts instead of ciriticizing the deficiencies of government administration.  The natives of these islands are now seeking increases in the wages paid them by the government for taking seals.  These are processed and sold by the government at an annual profit of millions of dollars.

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Transcription Notes:
[[criticizing]]