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Understanding Indian's PsychologyFirst Essential In Helping HimGovernment And Mission Workers Who Realize That HaveGreatest Success, Says Local Man Who Knows From Expert*ence; Cites Many Examples In Which Wit And Hu*mor Meant More Than Education.lt;Editor's Note: BwtaM mt his fsaitUtty with the NstsJ* In d itm of Arts an who have hern conMderablrlLatrir. Mr. Endirott was asked to write this artlrle. He served ter several year# as inspector of Indian affairs, and,«L V , ■ jKA‘r'K*“’‘jtermer I’nHrd Indian Affairs# it Vinton# la.( ommiatietier ©f k. who once iireiforn*f**lyeditorial writer ©n this *aner, worked Infoarteen slates with wmw fm tribfs of Indians.),ween forty modBY W. I. ENDICOTT 'J'HE AMERICAN Indian simply oozes psychology. But It’s not the white man’s kind. The physician. the missionary, the teacher, the government employe, to really help the Indian, must have wit, humor, an understanding of the Indian mind, and he must be able toDut-fox the tribal medicine men at their own game.A maximum of humanitarian work and a minimum of talk about It impresses and wins the Indian. The man who can cure him, and especially the man who can cure his wife or child, is great; his rating is the highest that can be given. He Is assured of confidence, friendship, and, in case of need, of defense. The missionary who digs a well and affords a watering trough for sheep, goats, cattle and ponies is a greater svangel than the one who preaches eloquent sermons, none of which can be correctly interpreted and most of which miss the point.So the Information that 300 per-10ns, Navajo Indians and white physicians, nurses and teachers recently have been menaced by death from freezing at the Presbyterian mission at Ganado. Arizona, and ;he news of the rescue of 1.300 Nav-ijo and Zuni from freezing in the jigher lands of the Zuni reservation n New Mexico have reassuring fea-;ures for those who are informed, ftegrettable as was their suffering, he news means the mission is mak-ng pronounced gains. And it also ihould serve to disabuse the minds f the general public who think of Arizona and New Mexico as hot reather states. Northern New Mex-co (the Continental divide runs hrough the Zufti reservation, south if Gallup) and Arizona, north of he Little Colorado river, have aver-ige temperatures as low, or lower, Dan Iowa. . ’ ji;When the writer Visited Ganado he school had a rated capacity of ixty-five. The capacity must now, iccording to news dispatches, be two lundred. The hospital had a rated apaeity of twenty-five. Due to lack if funds it was not functioning, rhat it now accommodates eighty-patients proves that its spon-W. I. ENDICOTT.The Indian believe* what hesees.—He may not believe all hehears.’* m I'sort have realized their opportunities and that Dr. Saulsbury has made headway against the Indian medicine men. -Battle Of Wit*.That the school has gained ismatter for congratulation; but theUnited States is under agreementwith the Navajo people to affordschool facilities for all persons of school age, and instruction would be afforded regardless of missionary effort. The United States has been less successful in the development of hospitals; not that congress has been niggardly with appropriations, but because, in assigning physicians and surgeons to the work, schooling and experience were given preference over Wit. humor and psychology.In some specimens that might be selected for experimentation the Indian would be found to be 98 per cent psychology. This psychology, which is not of the white man’s kind,Is the condition that must be overcome by superintendents of hospitals maintained for Indians. It is suspected that Dr. Saulsbury is a wit and humorist and that he is not wholly unfamiliar with sleight-of-hand or black art. The latter accomplishment is necessary for the person who must meet and defeat the medicine men, some of whom are conjurers of no mean attainments. That the Ganado hospital is successful needs no further proof than that it has eighty-one patients. By the same token the physician in charge deserves the approbation of all humanitarians, regardless of the necessary truth that his bag of tricks is more important than his case of medicine or his kit of implements.The Indian believes what he sees. He may not believe all he hears. If the Navajo greets you with “Yata” you are endorsed. If he greets youwith “Hoola” go south and get going while the going is good. Do not tell an Indian what you propose to do. Do something, and allow him to form his own opinion of whatyou can do. Do not, in the presence of an Indian, start anything you cannot finish. Failure means condemnation. The Indian does not readily change his opinion.Therefore it is stated as a fact that the Ganado mission is a success, although eleven .years have elapsed since the writer, who had been a guest at the Hubbell home at Ganado, paid the place a casual visit.Outside Jurisdiction.Mission schools and mission hospitals were outside this jurisdiction. They were responsible to the National Board of Education, composed of seven members, representing as many denominations, and were not under the care of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.As to that, the Navajo makes no careful study of doctrines. He classifies missionaries as either “longcoats” or “shortcoats.” Catholics are longcoats and all Protestants are shortcoats. The Mormon is listed separately. He buys wool, goat hair, skins and pelts in general. sells whatever he can at a profit and the length of his coat is not taken to indicate his doctrine. As for the Navajo himself he is “Ya-bitcha” (if that is the way to spell it.) That is his national rejjgion. Father Webber, head of the St. Michael’s, Ariz. mission expressed the idea: “Yabitcha they are born.Yabitcha they are confirmed, and Yabitcha most of them will die. He devoted himself to humanitarian work, sound advice on materialaffairs and helpfulness wherever he could help. As a consequence hisfollowing was great.Cured Fatal Malady.But the physician must provewhat he can do. The Indian paysno doctor bills for a dead patient.Among the Navajo the medicine man who lost his third case was in bad repute. He had reached the“age of retirement.” He had earnedhis release. His practice, being based on superstition and upheld by sieight-of-hand, the medicine man so unfortunate as to lose his third case was compelled to invent an incurable ailment, In which case hecould not in reason be held to account. When a patient had been “shot with a coyote tooth” there was no help for him. This case was beyond the skill of man and the help of kindly spirits. He was “chindy,” which is the Navafo summary of all hard luck, evil spirits, and future torment. Regardless of the fact that no one ever was shot with a coyote tooth, many died from that cause. Vital statistics of the Navajo would have disclosed that as a cause of death the coyote's tooth was out ahead of tuberculosis, measles and smallpox and was going strong.Something had to be done about it. The United States had employed at Fort Defiance. Ariz.. Dr. Wigglesworth, called by the Indians Dr. Wiggs. who combined with his understanding of medicine and surgery a full appreciation of wit, humor and psychology. In the American language ha went loaded for the medicine man. His pockets were receptacles for charms of many kinds. He had at his command st all times a handful of mystical knowledge and oc juit powers. He was approached by an Indian with the sad information:“Dr. Wiggs, somebody shot mewith a coyote tooth.“Who told you?”“John Wagonman.” Wagonmanwas a medicine man.“Wagonman good doctor; he ought to know,” replied Wiggles-worth who never disputed with an Indian whose mind had been made up. Awument would changenothing. . „Dr. Wigglesworth carefully examined the patient; felt of his pulse, took his temperature, applied the stethoscope, sounded his lungs, subjected his tongue and eyes to careful scrutiny, in fact went through all the motions employed by any physician who intends to charge $10 for the first offense and $25 if you happen to be a repeater, and announced:“Wagonman all right. Somebodyshot you with a coyote tooth.”I got to die?”«ithat coyote tooth is and I get it.Stepping behind the Indian he took a coyote tooth from his vest pocket, slipped it into his mouth, made a slight incision In the Indian’s shoulder, sucked a little blood and spat the blood and tooth on theground , , .“There is your coyote tooth. Youare cured.” i^ A:: The Indian picked up the treasureNo doubt he has it yet. “Coyotetooth all right. I show John Wagon-man.” i * „ _ __„“Sure vou show Wagonman. Tellhim Dr. Wiggs say he good doctor.he know when man is shot withcoyote tooth. Tell all Indians when they are Shot with coyote tooth to come to Dr. Wiggs. He get themevery time.”The fatal malady abated and was heard of no more. The medicine men knew that Wigglesworth wasmunity and submit to recommendation for sentence.What have you done?”“I am not practicing medicine ac-f a king; that he had out-faked them; they did not know how but were willing to can it quits. They therefore rallied around “Dr. Wiggs,” offered to practice with him, and hishospital became a somewhat popular resort. It is suspected that the good doctor at Ganado, being only about thirty-three miles from Fort Defiance, may have heard the story of Dr. Wigglesworth and profited from his experience. •IIHonorable Racketeering.Superstition being false and based on falsehood may properly be combated by deviation from the truth. The prophet said: “Answer the toolaccording to his folly.” He would have said compel the Indian medicine man to take his own medicine, but the prophet did not know ofthe Indian.The United States doctor among the Jicarilla Apache at Dulce, N. M.,had elaborated a racket of his own for which he should have been decorated and elected to the chief office of the American Medical association. (For information: Jicarilla, Spanish, in English “basket” is pronounced “Hic-a-re-a ” accent on the first and third syllables. The writer, when ordered to proceed to the post asked for aticket to Jicatflla, just like that. The young lady at the window had never heard of such a station on the Denver and Rio Grande. She wasshown the telegram. “Oh, you wish a ticket for Hic-a-re-a?” “Sure, thanks so much.”This doctor among the Jicarilla*reported in haste when he learnedthat an inspector had arrived, offered to plead guilty, to waive im-cording to the rules of the American Medical association.”“Are you getting results?”I sure am; big results.”That is what you are paid for. The United States is not hiring the American Medical association. How do you do it?”“It is like this: These medicine men are as good as myself on diagnosis of symptoms. Among the Indians they are probably better. They come to me at the hospital, always at night, describe the symptoms of their patients and I prescribe for them. If they want liquid medicines, they must bring their own bottles. If they want powders, they must bring their own wrappers. Capsuleswould never do. Tablets would be as bad. Either would arouse the suspicion of the patients. Better wra the powder in a clean leaf, muc! better in a corn husk. The camp Indian has no clock. He never supported a wrist watch. I could not make him understand when to take his dose. Before or after meals is not so good among the Apache. They may have two meals today andfour tomorrow. That depends. They are not slaves to formalities of the kitchen and dining room. The medicine men can and do make them understand how, when and why to taka the medicine. They obey the medicine men. They would pay no attention to me. If they had wanted me they would have sent for me in the first place. They did not send for me. They sent for the medicine man. The medicine men are having astonishing success. The Apache never before had such medicine men. They do all the traveling about the reservation and I cover the territory without leaving my office.”He. too, had a hospital that was gaining in favor. The medicine men were all his supporters. He wasin a position to spill their racket and to utterly spoil their reputations. He was recommended for anincrease in salary and for honorablemention among progressive scientists. He saves life. That was what he was hired to do. It is believed that the only order the Honorable Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane ever issued to field workers among the Indians was: “Save human life.” Matters of less importance were left somewhat to he discretion of the field men and altogether to the division of the commissioner of Indian affairs That cue order was mandatory. Secretary Lane did not allow the personal convenience, even the personal safety, of a field worker to interfere when the life of an Indian, baby or patriarch, was at stake, and dollars and ceiits were not. to be , counted until afterwards, then only to be paid without objection.unalterable facts. More psychology was needed. The physician and theinspector opened a brand new car-Ba lancing Accounts In Souls.Physicians among the Indians must keep all sorts of accounts, even to striking a balance between incoming and outgoing souls. It’s a fact. Sounds Irrelevant, but it is really important.At Fort Duchesne, Utaij* a Ute post, the physician reported that he was in great trouble.“What is wrong?”“Oh, I have built up quite a maternity practice. The number of young women who come to the hospital in anticipation of confinement is on the increase. That is what makes the trouble. The old people in the hospital say that if a new soul comes ’in an old soul must go out. They are not ready to go out. As a personal matter they do not wish to be crowded toward the exit by new souls.”Trouble enough. All the cases needed attention. They all came under Franklin K. Lane's command. The ideas of the older Indians were fantastic but so far as they were concerned those ideas were based onton of hocus-pocus. The troops had been removed from Fort Duchesneonly a year before this hospital complication arose. There were officers’ houses, barracks and other buildings in good repair—other buildings as good as the hospital and unoccupied. Indian police were detailed to clean up the rooms selected by the physician for a new maternity hospital; cots in sufficient number were removed from the old hospital to the new. Supt. Major Kneale, who knew nothing of the plan, was mildly surprised to learn that ha had two hospitals instead of one. A telegram was sent to Washington asking authority to make the arrangement, after the arrangement had been made, as Washington knew it had been when the request was received, and an answer came “Authority granted.” A great deal is heard of “red tape” at Washington. Franklin K. Lane approved of employes who carried scissors.The physician at Fort Duchesna became more and more popular and was persuaded to join with other physicians at Vernal who needed a high class psychologist who had an understanding of Indian humors to make their clinic complete. The soul business had been bothering them.Tepee Two Tepee High.A misguided enthusiast • induced the United States to erect and equip several two~storjr brick hospitals on Indian reservations. The hospitals fulfilled every wish of the white man. One was located among the Sioux on the Cheyenne river reservation, South Dakota. When the writer Inspected it there were two patients, a white employe and a mulatto charity case. An explanation was sought among the Indians.“No Indians sick on reservation?” “Plenty of Indians sick.”Why are they not in the hos-If(Continued On Page 6, This Sec.)No 9 Of An EdacattowJSeriesABtCLIMITED PAYMENTof LifeInsuranceA limited payment life is designed, in effect, to giveyou free insurance at the expiration of your paymentperiod, which may be for ten, fifteen or twenty years.This policy particularly appeals to the man who wants,in his later years, to,relieve himself of as many obligations as possible.J_____11_ 1- -^ 1 •___^T1- 2*1^ • 1- ^
Newspaper Details
The Sunday Gazette And Republican
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
Sat, Dec 19, 1931
Page 4
Full Page
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IA, USA 23 Jan 2019
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