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CORRESPONDENCELesser Slave Lake Agency, Driflpile, Alberta,April 20th, 1933.To the Correspondent of Eureka River:—Dear Sir,1 have read vour article on the Indians of Clear Hills Reserve, Eureka River District. Permit me to sav that Dr. (). J. McEadven’s report on the Indians of that Reserve. is correct to some extent, but i think it most unfair to blame theIndian Department and the Agentfor the condition in which these Indians are living Before publishing such things, one should look on both sides of the story.These Indians, perhaps, have not told Dr. McT adyen that they had been getting regular rationsmonthly, which consisted of Hour,■ bacon and tea. I cjuite believe that this is not much of a variety, but they are expected to hunt,. trap and do a little work to provide for their other requirements,1 as the Indian Department, as well- as the Provincial Relief Depart-. ment, has no funds available forsuch luxuries as canned goods, * ? butter, eggs, vegetables, etc., but f wid allow for illness and tubercular * Indians: rice, rolled oats, sugar and milk. To give you a fair idea7 v %- of what the department is doing ^ for Indians, just in the LesserSlave Lake Agency, the Indians *- have cost $24,Id 1.47 for relief : t from the stores, besides what was (supplied direct from the depart- (- ment, from .January, 1932. to De- ‘ * cember, 1932, and $30,186.63 for (medical expenses. _ iit is the department’s policy to ’- better the condition of Indians, fand to bring thorn into a state of 1 seif-support and self-reliance as tapidlv as possible. It also considers it its duty to prevent suffer- * . ing to a certain extent, but it •'- wishes to guard against issues 1 1 which, if continued, would repre- :sent a dole, and would result in ' the support of Indians who should ' work for their living. It does not, either, to encourage gam- 11 bling, drinking and immoralities, J 1 wlrch are the main causes of the \ . poor state in which this small band . is living. They are getting interest money twice a Year, tind I 1■ know, from facts, that I am -no • f sooner out of the reserve, thatsome white people from Fairviewand Hines Creek are already there. selling homo brew and robbing the Indians of the money. I amt • i I r \ \ \ 4 i* t i / iFirw i f \ f lii \wirn
Newspaper Details
Peace River Northern Gazette
Peace River, Alberta, CA
Fri, Apr 28, 1933
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA 05 Sep 2019
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Peace River Northern Gazette
Peace River Landing
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