1914 - Commercializing the Indian (in exhibits, Wild West shows, movies) "is the greatest hinrance, injustice, and detriment"... of the American Indians...
by Chauncey Yellow Robe (Sioux) of Rapid City, SD, at the Fourth Annual Conference of the Society of the American Indians, held at Madison, Wis October 6-11, 1914
I feel like the Indian chief in this case when I see the old hunting and battle grounds of our forefathers, in which now civilization has taken place; but I do not come before you to-night with the intention of declaring a Sioux outbreak on the frontier settlement or to stir up a strife, but wish to call your attention to the evil and degrading influence of commercializing the Indian before the world. The solution of this question is now in the hands of the Government.
It is now more than four centuries ago since Columbus came to our shores and claimed the country and gave us the name of Indians, and at the same time inaugurated the first Indian show by importing some of the Indians across the water for exhibition before the Spanish throne, and to-day the practice continues to exist in the wild-west Indian shows.
Some time ago, Judge Sells, the United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs, said: "Let us save the American Indian from the curse of whiskey." I believe these words hold the key to the Indian problem of to-day, but how can we save the american Indian if the Indian Bureau is permitting special privileges in favor of the wild-west Indian shows, moving-picture concerns, and fair associations for commercializing the Indian? This is the greatest hindrance, injustice, and detriment to the present progress of the American Indians toward civilization. The Indians should be protected from the curse of the wild-west show schemes, wherein the Indians have been led to the white man's poison cup and have become drunkards.
In some of the celebrations, convention, and county fairs in Rapid City and other reservation border towns, in order to make the attraction a success, they think they cannot do without wild-west Indian shows, consequently certain citizens have the Indian show crazy. In fact, the South Dakota State Fairs always have largely consisted of these shows. We can see from this state of affairs that the white man persistently perpetuating the tribal habits and customs. We see the showman is manufacturing the Indian plays intended to amuse and instruct young children, and is teaching them that the Indian is only a savage being. We hear now and then of a boy or a girl who is hurt or killed by playing savage. these are the direct consequences of the wild-west Indian shows and moving pictures that depict lawlessness and hatred.
Before the closing history of the nineteenth century an awful crime was committed in this great Christian nation. It was only a few days after the civilized nations of the world had celebrated the message of the heavenly host saying, "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people;" and "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men." A band of Sioux Indians, including women and children, unarmed, were massacred. The wounded were left on the field to die without care at Wounded Knee by the United States troops just because they had founded a new religion called "The Indian Messiah." This was a cowardly and criminal act without diplomacy. Twenty-three years afterward, on the same field of Wounded Knee, the tragedy was reproduced for "historical preservation" in moving-picture films and called "The Last Great Battle of the Sioux." The whole production of the field was misrepresented and yet approved by the Government. This is a disgrace and injustice to the Indian race.
I am not speaking here from selfish and sensitive motives, but from my own point of view, for cleaner civilization, education, and citizenship for my race. We are here to-day to consider the means to find support for our cause in this present generation, if it is ever to be settled. We have arrived at the point where the great demands must be met. "To the American Indian let there be given equal opportunities, equal responsibilities, equal education."
The Menace of the Wild West Show
Years ago some Indians chiefs went to Washington to see the "Great Father," and while they were in the city, an old army officer who used to fight these warriors on the plains in the west invited them to dinner and told of his experiences on the old frontier. One of the chiefs, who had no experience in table manners, imitated the old officer by eating whatever he saw the general eating. The general took some horse radish and spread it over his meat. The chief did likewise and, after testing a spoonful of it, hung his head and shed tears. The general saw his misery and asked, "My friend, why are you crying?" The chief replied, "My friend, I am thinking of how you and I used to fight each other on the plains and when I remember how my brother was nearly killed on the battle field it makes my tears come."I feel like the Indian chief in this case when I see the old hunting and battle grounds of our forefathers, in which now civilization has taken place; but I do not come before you to-night with the intention of declaring a Sioux outbreak on the frontier settlement or to stir up a strife, but wish to call your attention to the evil and degrading influence of commercializing the Indian before the world. The solution of this question is now in the hands of the Government.
It is now more than four centuries ago since Columbus came to our shores and claimed the country and gave us the name of Indians, and at the same time inaugurated the first Indian show by importing some of the Indians across the water for exhibition before the Spanish throne, and to-day the practice continues to exist in the wild-west Indian shows.
Some time ago, Judge Sells, the United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs, said: "Let us save the American Indian from the curse of whiskey." I believe these words hold the key to the Indian problem of to-day, but how can we save the american Indian if the Indian Bureau is permitting special privileges in favor of the wild-west Indian shows, moving-picture concerns, and fair associations for commercializing the Indian? This is the greatest hindrance, injustice, and detriment to the present progress of the American Indians toward civilization. The Indians should be protected from the curse of the wild-west show schemes, wherein the Indians have been led to the white man's poison cup and have become drunkards.
In some of the celebrations, convention, and county fairs in Rapid City and other reservation border towns, in order to make the attraction a success, they think they cannot do without wild-west Indian shows, consequently certain citizens have the Indian show crazy. In fact, the South Dakota State Fairs always have largely consisted of these shows. We can see from this state of affairs that the white man persistently perpetuating the tribal habits and customs. We see the showman is manufacturing the Indian plays intended to amuse and instruct young children, and is teaching them that the Indian is only a savage being. We hear now and then of a boy or a girl who is hurt or killed by playing savage. these are the direct consequences of the wild-west Indian shows and moving pictures that depict lawlessness and hatred.
Before the closing history of the nineteenth century an awful crime was committed in this great Christian nation. It was only a few days after the civilized nations of the world had celebrated the message of the heavenly host saying, "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people;" and "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men." A band of Sioux Indians, including women and children, unarmed, were massacred. The wounded were left on the field to die without care at Wounded Knee by the United States troops just because they had founded a new religion called "The Indian Messiah." This was a cowardly and criminal act without diplomacy. Twenty-three years afterward, on the same field of Wounded Knee, the tragedy was reproduced for "historical preservation" in moving-picture films and called "The Last Great Battle of the Sioux." The whole production of the field was misrepresented and yet approved by the Government. This is a disgrace and injustice to the Indian race.
I am not speaking here from selfish and sensitive motives, but from my own point of view, for cleaner civilization, education, and citizenship for my race. We are here to-day to consider the means to find support for our cause in this present generation, if it is ever to be settled. We have arrived at the point where the great demands must be met. "To the American Indian let there be given equal opportunities, equal responsibilities, equal education."
--- The End ---
