The Chemawa American, February 28, 1934, Image 1

MR - 8 1934
CHEMAWA1LAMERICAN
Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education
VOL. XXXV
WEDNESDAY FEB. 28, 1934
OH EM AWA TOPS FIFTY-FOUR
From the north, the south, the east and the west
came the freshmen, the sophomores, the juniors and
the seniors, the judges and countless interested spec­
tators to contest and observe the annual altercation
which is held each year on Chemawa’s birthday.
The grand ol’ class of ’34 raised their banners and
voices and were awarded first place. It was a glorious
day for them and their loved sponsors. Second place
was taken by their worthy rivals and understudies,
the juniors. Third place was obtained by the fresh­
men. One can well imagine that the judges had no
easy time in making their decisions as all material
presented was of excellent quality.
Chemawa has reached the golden age of fifty-four,
during which time she has sent out uncountable num­
bers of young Indians with sufficient knowledge to
cope with their life problems wisely. It isour sincere
wish that she will see many more such happy birthdays
and send out many more loyal little Copperskins.
FOREST CAMPS ARE MAKING STURDY MEN
In more than thirteen hundred camps throughout
the country is scattered an army of young foresters.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching. Their
front-line trenches skirt the waste acres and the jungle-
grown thickets. They are scouting through the burned-
over sections. They are building trails through the
trackless wildernesses. They are fighting the white­
pine blister rust that threatens the complete destruc­
tion of almost the whole of our remaining supplies of
virgin white pine. They are doing for America some
of the things that have brought order and system and
protection for the vast forests of Germany and France.
A busy time they are having of it, in building roads
and bridges, removing undergrowth, scouring the
woods of the barrier zone against the gypsy-moth in­
vasion, and doing any number of miscellaneous forest
jobs that come to hand.
In addition to these many jobs they have been doing a
bigger job for themselves in character building. Out in
the clear air or in the brilliant sunlight they are toil­
ing and tramping until they are thoroughly tired out
when tattoo is sounded and lights go out. Yet, in the
morning, life takes on a new zest, a deep determination
to do the work in hand. Day by day they are learning
their lessons in the forest, gaining strength from the
mere presence of the sturdy oak and the stately elm,
NO. 11
building character that will endure throughout life,
and thus adding substantially to the permanent wealth
of the Nation.— Young People, Philadelphia, Pa.
COUNCILS TO MEET HERE
Chemawa has been designated by the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs as the meeting place for the tribal
councils of the states of Idaho, Washington, Oregon
and the Hoopa Valley and Sacramento Agency in Cal­
ifornia. The purpose of this conference is to discuss
the merits of Senate Bill 2755, which is a bill “To
grant to Indians living under Federal tutelage the
freedom to organize for purposes of local self-govern­
ment and economic enterprises; to provide for the nec­
essary training of Indians in administrative and eco­
nomic affairs; to conserve and develop Indian lands;
and to promote the more effective administration of
justice in matters affecting Indian tribes and commun­
ities by establishing a Federal Court of Indian Affairs. ’ ’
Other conferences are slated for the various districts
throughout the Indian country.
Preparations are being made to entertain and ac­
commodate the visiting officials and delegates. Che­
mawa is looking forward to seeing many former stu­
dents and friends in attendance.
ALLAN SHEPARD TRANSFERRED
With the exception of a few comparatively brief
periods, Allan Shepard, as boy and man, has passed
his life at Chemawa as student and employee. He is
an artist, a craftsman of first rank as a printer, a
young man of unblemished character of whom Che­
mawa may well be proud.
He has transferred to
Haskell Institute to assume charge of the print shop
at that school. Haskell has made Allan an alluring
offer, hence the transfer. From the youngest to the
oldest we of Chemawa wish him the best that life has
to offer in his new field. We shall all miss him.
A great many of us have heard at one time or an­
other, the statement made that “the only good Indian
is the dead one.” However, in the case of Chief
Washakie of the Shoshone tribe, this was not true.
Washakie lived many years ago in the stormy days
when the white people were settling the west. Dur­
ing his long and busy life this old chief had never
wronged the whites or any of his own people. It was
he who piloted General Fremont across the country
when he went to make a way for the advance of civil-
zation beyond the Rockies.