Page:LewisMeriam-TheProblemOfIndianAdministration.djvu/162

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
The Matter of Organization
135

act, the farmers of the Indian Service as a class had been the equals of this man, what would have been the status of the Indian today? At the other extreme are the farmers who as agriculturists appeal, unwittingly, only to the Indian’s sense of humor. One farmer frankly admitted that he could not teach the Indians anything; he did not even raise a garden for himself or keep a cow, he couldn’t raise anything in this country; but the Indians were doing it and had been for years, despite the difficulties. That was the only way they had to live.

The qualifications for farmers should be raised to the level required for agricultural demonstration agents and the salaries correspondingly increased.

A word should be said here against using farmers and other employees who should be teachers and leaders as law enforcement officers. On one of the reservations visited by the survey staff, four men of the group were taken to visit homes by the farmer. The Indians called upon were so thoroughly frightened and ill at ease that practically nothing could be learned that could not be seen. Later in talking with the farmer it developed that his real joy in life was in being sent to catch an Indian wanted for some offense. He described his technique, which was in brief to surprise the Indians in their homes or camps just before daybreak, Although such work may be necessary, it should not be done by the person who is supposedly trying to teach them agriculture. In this particular instance the Indians are already farming, but according to the local county agricultural agent, they need instruction and aid in renovating their soil, now rapidly approaching depletion through constant planting of corn. He hoped himself to be able to do something for them, because he believed their condition would be serious in a few years if it were not done, as yields have already become low. The government farmer made no report of this condition, which is basic to the economic welfare of these Indians. As he had himself never gone beyond the first year of high school and had no scientific training in agriculture, it is extremely doubtful if he had the technical knowledge to determine the needs of that particular soil condition and to work out the rotation of crops and other treatment that are required if these Indian farmers are to be rewarded for their labor.