Show Letter Lette Cit Cites s Indian Need f To Ecce The following letter was written by H rum C foont di- di director di rector letor of the public welfare of fire fice in Uintah County to Rep Hep Ralph A The letter was read rond in a 1 special report to the Vernal Chamber of Com Coin coerce merce Tuesday 1101 is reprint rd d here hele with permission of Mr Toone January 18 1967 Dear DIr 11 This is the result of three years of my intensive in in- in involvement with Indian citizens of Uintah County as an Indian caseworker and Director of our om local Welfare office I feel it will give you ou a basic under standing of our problems as I Isee Isee see them i In response therefore to your request l 1 am writing some someI of the problems and I i lotions lations for helping the Indian people who live lve within our state and especially Uintah County As I reported to you almost hAlf of our public assis- assis assistance tance caseload is Indian people and the census figures indicate they comprise sc only 15 of our population There are arc several reasons 1 MANY HAVE spent all allper allper per capita money from their trust accounts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs but they ate are still dependent and they have ha to live Jive The Welfare Department is their only resource and is treating them as citizens of our state We have a moral ob ob- ob obligation to meet this need 2 The fhe Ute Indian is living in a poverty area because their main source of income is work work- working ing for the Ute Tribal Enter Enter- Enterprises There are very few In In- In Indian dian people working in private industry or in commercial ser ser- services I vices in our communities Our I county government schools 1 and other government agencies have had very few Indian pee peo I IpIe pIe working in their service ex ex- ex except I the Bureau Dureau of Indian Af- Af Affairs fairs at Ft Duchesne MI I THE INDIAN people have proven themselves in our mili mili- military tary and private employment to tobe tobe be very capable and honorable Many stores and the school dis dis- dis district are willing to hire them but it Is hard for them to break breakaway breakaway away from their dependent pat pat- patterns terns of behavior created by a paternal for past generations depriving the India Indi an father of being the decision decision- making head of his family Here is a clue and an indica indica- lien tion of how they feel feci about their situation They want to get bet bet- ter higher paying job jobs so they can feel worthwhile and support their families Ther They realize it takes time and training Many have moved to Vernal because beems they like the better living condi- condi conditions and to be near their theil work Many have been very diligent and outstanding workers on our i public welfare works projects I They are ne learning good od work I habits and feel good at being a working father in their home and 3 WE HAVE man many ted and deprived Indian child child- children ren Ien because they were not pro pro- protected by law as other children In our state Parents were nere not held responsible and many of therm children were beaten de de- de deserted deprived of food clo do thing and shelter The children have been severely damaged and many Ire are now in foster homes Since October 15 1965 when the Ute Ule Tribal Juvenile Code was established with Judge Paul C Keller as judge many children were referred to toI I the Welfare Department and added 1 to our Child Welfare rolls I I 1 I I I II I REALIZE there are arc many problems which the Indian peo- peo people people have to face and we are arc arcI I trying to be there to help them themI I when they ask for it it The Indian needs the security of a helping agency ncy to extend financial as- as assistance I to meet the minimal requirements for fol food I and clothing in time of n ne nd d They nerd need someone who cares to to help them face their lens and do something about it by face their I responsibility to themselves and to their families The Uintah County Welfare has been making these s services available such as respectable and honorable work projects for forI forthe forthe the unemployed father to earn the public assistance grant to support the family and other which strengthen fam fam- fam family ily unity develop potential for self support for the physically able and self care for the aged and disabled I 1 AM ENCLOSING I a copy of the goals of public welfare which will help you understand our role in helping people In time of trouble to realistically face their problems when they seek this help Other than this they are arc free to practice living in any way they choose as any uny responsible citizen of our alii state RECOMMENDATION NO 1 We have a vast reservoir of human resources in the Uintah Basin if it could ho tapped as the oil companies have done for oil production it would In in- in increase crease the total economy of our counties many times I run am thinking of Industrial Develop meat u using in the surplus labor in inI inthe I till the Uintah Basin Why have alii all i steered I cl clear r of the tote Indian Reser- Reser Reservation I know many com com- companies have tried but have given en up The emasculating bureaucracy ey cy of the Bureau of Indian Af- Af Affairs fairs has made it economical economical- economically ly Iy unsound to do bus business on Indian Trust Land What can Utah do to change this so the Indian father can work and earn eam sufficient income to sup sup- support port his family We Ve have the resources human and natural but why cant can't the Indian people be given an to im im- im improve prove their condition THE LEGISLATURE E has a to try to find a solution to this condition We have community organizations such sUeh ns as th the Chamber of Com Com- Commeree meree merce and others ethers that would oll tin and energy to pro mote industrial development If were tn free I to set as in other othel communities in Utah I NO 2 i 1 that the 1967 r F ril hie or t 1 i l tion to 1 il th T Council to 10 make e a 1 thorough tion thou of of Indian uno ao ole on th the in Utah in the following area 1 i Adult and Juvenile Crim anal inal responsibilities of Indian I Are Arc the Indian p people ople boing h ing equal justice be for the law and conversely are the Indian citizens n being I held responsible for their irre acts toward their own families and other citizens Do Dothe Dothe the reservation boundaries create a super state where her citizens can do no wrong 2 ARE INDIAN citizens cl- cl wily vily responsible or are they still treated as wards of the federal government and protected I believe the legislature can bring bringan bringan an end to this jurisdiction dis disc which Is depriving our Indian citizens of equal justice before the law Many Indians have expressed to me a sincere desire of wanting to be respect respect- respected ed cd as a citizen of this great land and free to live li his own life and to develop his own resources and abilities within the limits of our constitution and the laws of our state S SEVERAL EVE RAt years ago the area Dh Dire to of Social Services of I the Bureau of Indian Affairs made nu tl a statement in our Wel- Wel tare in m 1 which caused aused us much concern lie He stated that the Indian reserva- reserva then tion was as a sick culture or sick society In trying to find the answer we have become very much involved with the In In- In Indian dian Affairs personnel at Ft Duchesne Why shouldn't reservations be besick besick sick They have been bren subjected to social experiments studies anti and every type of paternal per formulated by changing political expediency and changing policy makers of I which has take taken a away a their I manhood and destroyed family unity Money has hns been blen used to l b buy from the Indian his self re- re respect respect and his freedom I be be- be believe lieve the Bureau of Indian Af fairs calls it th their ir sacred trust to control Indian trust lands i hele a proverb made by Abraham T has not been Is eded You help peo-j peo Pt oi nl air perm I by doing for them thiat whirl which thy can ean do doand doand and do for themselves doI I I I II I REAL ICE pL what I have writ writ- written ten goes d per than hit hilt if it will belt i our Indian citizens to gain equal I justice before the law and andI I be free to develop theIr own resources or 01 shall we say again practice living as all God fear fug ing citizens citizen of our great land have an inherent right to do then I will feel justified We sincerely appreciate your interest and concern for all cit of Uintah County and the state of utah and we wish you success in your efforts and hope the 1967 Legislature will find the answers and be an instrument In solving these pro in Uintah County an and the state of Utah SincerelY yours ours Hyrum Byrum C Toone Director |