Show ADOPTION BY INDIANS RACKET writer declares it merely a fake ceremony adoption ot of white men into indian tribes has developed into a moneymaking racket according to some indian leaders regular as well as take fake ceremonies are discussed in an article in the christian science monitor by ulsa miss mabel knight upon whom the name ta do win was conferred when she was adopted by the omaha tribe in gratitude for tier her lee lec turca iturea and writings on indian subjects when indiana don war av paint dance around a white wan man and then give him a name miss K knight writes it way may flatter the ho latter hitter and tile the fo former r will be richer by 5 but bui these indians indiana will not consider such it a ono one an adopted member of the tribe for this bought and paid for ceremony Is only a mock adoption this fako fake adoption Js Is getting to be a racket said charlie wilson prominent nez kez perce indian during a recent celebration of the tribe tile the adoption of white people into nto the tribe and then giving them the ilia indian equivalent of chief fine alne white whiskers and princess brook idith the sliver silver voice as names should be stopped indians indiana with no tribal standing continued wilson have been inviting whites with no tribal connections to attend our or ceremonies and to become members after an exchange of gifts the he gifts of the abe indians being native trink trinkets acts of little worth while the gifts of the whites are large amounts of the good old cash 11 no white man ever becomes a bonn bona ade member of a tribe by aska jig ing for that favor first he must prove his worth by really helping the indians out of some difficulty find and those who like the indians well enough to do that would not think of imposing upon them thelby by asking for the greatest of all honors that of being adopted into a tribe probably no tribe numbers more than a halt dozen really adopted white members when a white man Is judged worthy of adoption the honor cornea comes upon him quite unaware usually and the ceremony Is dignified with the president or chief of the tribe pro bouncing noun cing tn in his native tongued tongue the words which give this now member adame a name not only a tribal name but one which also makes him a of some clan of that tribe with q a tho the honors pertaining to it IL when tho indians finally decide to honor a 0 man or woman by making almor ker her it a of 0 the indians indiana give not take and impress I 1 press s this fact upon the new members so that tile the latter la Is prohibited at that time from showing hisae his appreciation by making presents to the indians quito quite the reverse the indians indiana like to show their gratitude by giving the new members such able gifts as aa blankets cases and ancient beaded buckskin pieces instances of legal adoption are comparatively rare mrs harriet maxwell converse ofner of new york was wa made de a member of the seneca tribe trib and later given a chieftainship chief in the six nations but that happened only after aiding them by preventing unfair lie legislation gi both tn in albany and washington more than that her home la in new york was open to any indian who found nd himself robbed or swindled ledin in the city and frequently an indian would leave him her home bome the richer by a new suit of clothes in small adall things and big ones mrs converse proved a real rea friend to the in blang and ni the tribe delighted to honor tier her in every possible way A white hit man cannot buy d a mem be into tiny any tribe rather kather I 1 he must enra earn it |