the annexed and foregoing petition amongst the Indians of the Yankton Sioux Indian Reservation, and that all of the signers to said petition are members of said tribe of Indians, and that all of the signatures to said petition are genuine and was annexed thereto after the said petition was read by the respective signer, or read to him. RAY FLYINGHAWK. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 5th day of April 1939. [SEAL] A. J. CASSIDY, Notary Public, South Dakota. RESOLUTION Whereas the Yankton Sioux Tribal Business and Claims Committee, elected on September 22, 1938, for a period of 2 years, and who have been delegated according to provisions in their constitution and bylaws to act in all tribal matters, including claims of whatsoever nature, met at the home of Charles Picotte near Marty, S. Dak., on February 22, 1939, for the express purpose of raising the necessary funds with which some members of the tribe might be delegated and empowered with full authority to represent the Yanktons in matters pertaining to legislation before Congress this session, and also to appear in behalf of the Yanktons before the lawful legal counsel now headed by Judge Charles Kerr, Mr. Shipe, and others, and to also appear before the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in all matters pertaining to their interest, or to deal with any other individual in behalf of the tribe; and Whereas it was unanimously agreed upon by the tribe that a petition be circulated over the entire reservation with two main objectives: 1. That a petition be struck off under the heading that all signatures attached to such petition shall voluntarily endorse a bill which will be presented to Congress this session asking that the Yankton Indians be exempted from the so-called Indian Reorganization Act. 2. That all Indians who might be interested in exempting the Yanktons from the act shall be given an opportunity to make small contributions or donations to be used and expended for the purpose of sending a delegation to Washington. Whereas Clement Smith, chairman of the tribal council; Clarence Forman, secretary; John St. Pierre, Jr., and David Simmons, were elected as official delegates to Washington, provided that sufficient funds could be collected to undertake this enterprise: Therefore It is resolved, That responsible Indians be delegated with the power to circulate petitions to carry out the proceedings of this resolution. YANKTOWN INDIAN AGENCY, Greenwood, S. Dak., February 24, 1939. We, the undersigned lawful members of the Yankton Sioux Tribe of Indians, all over the age of majority, residing upon the Yankton Indian Reservation, in Charles Mix County, S. Dak., do hereby delegate to Washington, D. C., Clement Smith, David Simmons, Clarence Forman, and John St. Pierre, who are all members of the Yankton Tribal Business and Claims Committee, elected by the tribe on September 22, 1938, to represent the Yankton Tribe in all matters concerning their people and tribe in general. We also do hereby respectfully petition the Seventy-sixth Congress to repeal the Indian Reorganization Act, enacted June 18, 1934, for the following reasons: 1. It deprives us of certain citizenship rights. 2. It compels us to live apart from other citizens in a segregated status of communism, with all Indian property and resources held in common, discouraging private ownership and private enterprise. 3. It does not change our status as wards and put us on a plane of self Secretary of Interior, and Indian Bureau in general, and entrenches our rights as American citizens deeper and deeper. 4. It encourages class hatred among our people, as present activities upon our reservation proves this to be a fact, thus causing much suffering and privation due to discrimination. Therefore the petitioners urgently request that the Congress give this matter a careful and thorough consideration this session. Respectfully submitted. Frank A. Connigher, Ed. Chas. Irvine, Alfred Hopkins, Keeler Hop- Wallace [No. 2] AFFIDAVIT AS TO SIGNATURES STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, County of Charles Mix, ss: Willis Zephier, of lawful age, being first duly sworn, on his oath, deposes and says that he is a Yankton Sioux Indian, and that he speaks both the Sioux and English languages, and that he circulated the annexed and foregoing petition amongst the Indians of the Yankton Sioux Indian Reservation, and that all the signers to said petition are members of said Yankton Sioux Tribe of Indians, and that the signatures to said petition are all bona fide signatures, and were annexed to said petition after the same had been read and fully understood by each signer. WILLIS ZEPHIER. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 5th day of April 1939. [SEAL] PETITION A. J. CASSIDY, Notary Public, South Dakota. YANKTON INDIAN AGENCY, Greenwood, S. Dak., February 24, 1939. We, the undersigned lawful members of the Yankton Sioux Tribe of Indians, all over the age of majority, residing upon the Yankton Indian Reservation, in Charles Mix County, S. Dak., do hereby delegate to Washington, D. C., Clement Smith, David Simmons, Clarence Forman, and John St. Pierre, who are all members of the Yankton Tribal Business and Claims Committee, elected by the tribe on September 22, 1938, to represent the Yankton Tribe in all matters concerning their people and tribe in general. We also do hereby respectfully petition the Seventy-sixth Congress to repeal the Indian Reorganization Act, enacted June 18, 1934, for the following reasons: 1. It deprives us of certain citizenship rights. 2. It compels us to live apart from other citizens in a segregated status of communism, with all Indian property and resources held in common, discouraging private ownership and private enterprise. 3. It does not change our status as wards and put us on a plane of selfgovernment; it increases the authority of the Indian Commissioner and the Secretary of Interior, and Indian Bureau in general, and entrenches our rights as American citizens deeper and deeper. 4. It encourages class hatred among our people, as present activities upon our reservation proves this to be a fact thus causing much suffering and privation due to discrimination. Therefore, the petitioners urgently request that the Congress give this matter a careful and thorough consideration this session. Respectfully submitted. Joseph Picotte, Marty, S. Dak.; Lucy Pretty Feather, Marty, S. Dak.; Howard Flute, Greenwood, S. Dak.; Joseph War Chief, Wagner, [No. 3] PETITION YANKTON INDIAN AGENCY, GREENWOOD, S. DAK., We, the undersigned lawful members of the Yankton Sioux Tribe of Indians, all over the age of majority, residing upon the Yankton Indian Reservation, in Charles Mix County, S. Dak., do hereby delegate to Washington, D. C., Clement Smith, David Simmons, Clarence Forman, and John St. Pierre, who are all members of the Yankton Tribal Business and Claims Committee, elected by the tribe on September 22, 1938, to represent the Yankton Tribe in all matters concerning their people and tribe in general. We also do hereby respectfully petition the Seventy-sixth Congress to repeal the Indian Reorganization Act, enacted June 18, 1934, for the following reasons: 1. It deprives us of certain citizenship rights. 2. It compels us to live apart from other citizens in a segregated status of communism, with all Indian property and resources held in common, discouraging private ownership and private enterprise. 3. It does not change our status as wards and put us on a plane of selfgovernment; it increases the authority of the Indian Commissioner and the Secretary of the Interior, and Indian Bureau in general, and entrenches our rights as American citizens deeper and deeper. 4. It encourages class hatred among our people, as present activities upon our reservation proves this to be a fact, thus causing much suffering and privation due to discrimination. Therefore, the petitioners urgently request that the Congress give this matter a careful and thorough consideration this session. Respectfully submitted. Helen La Pointe, Lake Andes, S. Dak., February 24, 1939; George Indians, and that the signatures to said petition are all bona fide signatures, and were annexed to said petition after the same had been read and fully understood by each signer. WILLIS ZEPHIER. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 5th day of April 1939. [SEAL] PETITION A. J. CASSIDY, Notary Public, South Dakota. YANKTON INDIAN AGENCY, Greenwood, S. Dak., February 24, 1939. We, the undersigned lawful members of the Yankton Sioux Tribe of Indians, all over the age of majority, residing upon the Yankton Indian Reservation, in Charles Mix County, S. Dak., do hereby delegate to Washington, D. C., Clement Smith, David Simmons, Clarence Forman, and John St. Pierre, who are all members of the Yankton Tribal Business and Claims Committee, elected by the tribe on September 22, 1938, to represent the Yankton Tribe in all matters concerning their people and tribe in general. We also do hereby respectfully petition the Seventy-sixth Congress to repeal the Indian Reorganization Act, enacted June 18, 1934, for the following reasons: 1. It deprives us of certain citizenship rights. 2. It compels us to live apart from other citizens in a segregated status of communism, with all Indian property and resources held in common, discouraging private ownership and private enterprise. 3. It does not change our status as wards and put us on a plane of selfgovernment; it increases the authority of the Indian Commissioner and the Secretary of Interior, and Indian Bureau in general, and entrenches our rights as American citizens deeper and deeper. 4. It encourages class hatred among our people, as present activities upon our reservation proves this to be a fact thus causing much suffering and privation due to discrimination. Therefore, the petitioners urgently request that the Congress give this matter a careful and thorough consideration this session. Respectfully submitted. Joseph Picotte, Marty, S. Dak.; Lucy Pretty Feather, Marty, S. Dak.; |