Show ADOPTION BY INDIANS RACKET writer declares it merely a fake ceremony adoption of white men into indian tribes has developed into a moneymaking racket according to some indian leaders ns as well as fake ceremonies are discussed in an article in the christian science monitor by miss mabel knight upon whom the name ta de win was conferred when hen she wits was adopted I 1 by the omaha tribe in gratitude for her lectures and writings on indian subjects when indians indiana don war paint dance around a white man and then give him a name miss knight writes it may fritter flatter the latter and the former will he richer perhaps by 5 but these indians will not consider such a one nn an adopted member of the tribe for this bought and paid for ceremony la Is only a mock adoption this fake adoption Is retting getting to I 1 be a racket salt said charlie wilson prominent nez nex perce indian during a recent celebration of the tribe the adoption of 0 white people into the tribe nod and then giving them the indian equivalent of chief fine white whiskers an and princess brook loithi the silver voice as names should be stopped indians with no tribal standing si standing anding continued wilson haie been inviting whites with no tribal connections to attend our ceremonies and to be 1 come members after an exchange 0 of f I gifts 1 the gifts of the indians being native trinkets of little worth north while the girls gifts of the whites are large amounts of the good old cash no white man ever becomes it a bonafide bona fide member of a tribe by asking for that favor first he must prove his worth by really helping the indians out of 0 some difficulty and those who like the indians we well it I 1 enough to do that would not think of imposing upon them by asking for the greatest of all honors that of being adopted into a tribe probably no tribe numbers more thin than a halt half dozen really adopted white members when a white man Is judged worthy of adoption the honor comes upon him quite unaware usually and the ceremony Is dignified with the president or chief of f the tribe pronouncing noun cing in his native tongue the words which give this new member a name not only it a tribal name but one which also makes him a arl ingber aber of some clan of that tribe with all the knors honors pertaining to it when the indians finally decide to honor a man or woman by making him or her a member of 0 their tribe the indians give not take and impress this fact upon the new dew members so that the litter latter Is 13 prohibited at t that time from showing his ata appreciation by making presents to the indians quite the reverse the indians like to show their gratitude by giving the new members such valuable gifts as blankets par fleches cases and ancient beaded buckskin pieces instances of legal adoption tire are comparatively rare sirs mrs harriet maxwell converse of new york was made a member of oc the seneca tribe and later given a chieftainship airship in the six nations but that happened only after aiding them by pre preventing prevention ventin unfair legislation both in albany and washington store more than that her home tn in new york was open to any indian who found himself robbed or swindled in the city and frequently nn an indian would leave her home the richer by a new suit stilt of 0 clothes in sm small all things and bl big ones mrs airs C converse on proved a real friend to the alie in tiring dlan and the tribe delighted to honor tier her in every possible way A white man cannot buy a membership into any tribe rather he be must earn it |